Journal

The second invite was to attend a hen do and see Mark (performing as Cheri) preparing for his performance, during his performance, and just after. During this photography shoot there were strict guidelines as it was in a nightclub with another act being The Dream Boys. This act I was not allowed to photograph.

Again, I wanted to take photographs from the perspective of the drag queen in their normal everyday life then transitioning into drag, and back out into their usual persona.

I photographed from the time he began transitioning, adding his makeup, getting dressed and then beginning his set where he performed as Cheri. I then photographed him removing his costume and makeup. The focus of the photographs was him and his props (makeup, costumes, mirrors).

The Hen do event took place at Atik, in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. This venue is a nightclub, set in the city centre with buildings surrounding it.

 The photography shoot for Mark was very different to the first.  It took place on the ground floor in the lounge at the back of the nightclub.  The room was very spacious with seating and tables separately around it, a dance area in the middle and a bar at the back.  The nightclub was locked whilst Mark and the other act were getting ready, access to the venue was through the front entrance.  There was no natural light in the nightclub, so the venue depended on artificial light and other forms of lighting, it was extremely dark. There were large mirrors on the walls, arty gold wallpaper with black swirls and a mixture of carpet and wooden flooring. The events room where the hen do took place was a similar design to the back room.  It did have a larger wooden dance floor with grander separate sitting areas and tables to suit. Mark’s performance was in this room, during the party he would be at the front of the audience doing the set. The guests were already aware that Mark and The Dream Boys were the acts for the night.

During this photoshoot, I used two cameras both with manual settings, and a flash.

As I had worked with Mark before I was aware of what he expected from me.  This photoshoot was very different to the first, it was more chilled and laid back.  When I arrived, Mark sat down on a chair with a table in front of him.  He had what looked like masking tape on his forehead and going down his cheek bones, I believed it was to help him achieve the look he wanted from his makeup. The white dressing table mirror with lights around the edge was directly in front of him as before at the last shoot.  Again, as previously discussed after saying hi, he made me aware of the photography within the club and that no videos were allowed.  I was then introduced to the manager and the bouncers at the nightclub.  Unlike the previous shoot there were more time checks with Mark, he would be constantly checking the time with Donna. Once again Donna was there to help as she was last time.

Mark had two costume changes already laid out on a chair, both of the dresses were very glitzy and sophisticated along with shoes to match. The wigs complimented what he was wearing, and the jewellery was fluorescent and bright.  Mark’s makeup was in different cases according to what they were, they surrounded where he was sitting for easy access.  Seeing and capturing the transition from Mark into Cheri in this venue was very much of him going out on the town, the time and effort applying the makeup for this seemed that he was striving for perfection. At times, he requested that no one was to be around him particularly when he was applying his false eyelashes as he could become very frustrated.  The choice of makeup colours he used was so vibrant and at one point I remembered him asking me what colour lipstick I thought he should have.  When I suggested green, I remember the way he looked at me and said that if it didn’t work, I was to blame!  That was just his way, I had realised at this point we had mutual respect for each other.

There was a moment for me at this shoot when I saw the glint back in Mark’s eyes.  It was when he was looking in the mirror applying his makeup, that the person he was becoming, Cheri was the confident, bubbly and loved individual he felt most at ease being. Then with ten minutes to show time it was time for Cheri to come alive once more. Wig on, lippy, shoes and microphone in hand, off she goes!  The atmosphere was buzzing, the drinks flowing, and the audience is captivated by Cheri’s first set.  She leaves after twenty minutes only to have another costume change to do her second set.  Again, as before she enters the room, reading the audience as she goes. The audience is so memorized by her, they are like putty in her hands.  Cheri chooses her victims for her party games, the ones she knows will get the others going and the fun continues.  Now is the time for Cheri to shine, she does not need to hide or be unconfident, No!  It’s time for her final moment, a song, Shine like the diamond you truly are. Finishing her second set with, This is me!

It stops everyone in their tracks, everyone sings along, and Cheri feels the love.  In a blink of an eye, it’s time for Cheri to become Mark once more. This time it’s not behind closed doors, it’s where she is most vulnerable in front of her audience. She opens up the suitcase at the side of her grabs a towel and wipes her makeup from her face, takes off her costume and becomes Mark once more. The audience applauds as he leaves.