PRE SHOOT MORNINGS:
I usually wake up between 6:30 and 6:45 AM, go downstairs, and have at least 16 ounces of water. Most days, I add Athletic Greens; occasionally, I just use fresh lemon juice, and sometimes I include one of my favorite electrolytes. Then I make a double Nespresso, add a capful of half-and-half, go upstairs, get back in bed with my iPad, and read the morning newspaper.
On days when I don’t have a shoot, I exercise immediately; otherwise, I never seem to fit it in. However, on this particular day, I needed to arrive on set ready to go. Although there was a hairdresser on set, I had one of my regulars, Gabby, meet me at my house to give me a simple blowout while I caught up on emails from the night before.
On the way to the set, I drank a protein shake. I quickly blended my favorite chocolate Vital Proteins, a scoop of natural peanut butter, almond milk, Greek yogurt for extra protein, and ice. I sometimes add a frozen banana, but I was fresh out.
When I get to the set, I put all of my things in the green room, hand papers to my assistant with tasks that need to get done, and quickly apply some makeup so I don’t look as tired as I usually feel. For me, it's always Miracle Balm, mascara, and a brush on my brows—just enough to get me started.
The first official thing I do is say hello to everyone, thank them for coming, and look at the monitor to see the pictures that my photographer, Ben Ritter, has taken of the girls without a stitch of makeup on. I always choose the most flattering ones, but I love the way people look without makeup, and it really helps me decide what kind of makeup we should do.
AT THE SHOOT:
Next, I look at the clothes I've styled for the shoot. Once Ben is ready and the models have had their manicures done by Roza and hair styled by Louis, we dress them in their first outfit. I do the models' makeup from start to finish on set so my videographer can capture all the necessary content.
The shoot typically goes until five, and we break for lunch as a team around 1pm. My lunch usually consists of some kind of protein, salad, and a mix of fats and carbs. This combination keeps me full, energized, and ready to continue. I'm often asking for my water because I tend to carry it around, set it down, and get occupied with something else. Recently, I've started adding LMNT electrolytes to my water; it's delicious and helps me feel well-hydrated. While everyone else orders various forms of coffee and tea from the local takeout café, Red Eye, I stick with my water because I feel better with electrolytes in the afternoon than I do with caffeine.
Time to get back to work and see what needs to be done so we can finish the day without a lot of stress. Afternoons are usually really fun because we try to get the more tedious tasks done in the morning, leaving us time to play with makeup and outfits—whatever pops into my head. Some days, my favorite days, I get a visit from my granddaughter, which is quite amazing. This kid has grown up on a set, and I don’t think she’s going to be a makeup artist. I think she’s going to be president, but that remains to be seen.
I have found that I feel better in the afternoon when I include a small snack with protein—usually either a piece of turkey, string cheese, some almonds, or oranges or apples. I'm grateful that my assistant hands these to me on busy days without me asking. The photo shoot takes place at 18 Label Studios, where we finally have an amazing sound system. Some of my favorite songs on set are the throwbacks.
POST SHOOT:
At 5 o’clock on Tuesday, at the end of the first day of the shoot, Lloyd from Live with Lloyd came to give the Jones Road team a hip-hop dance class. Around 15 to 20 people joined in. I didn’t feel like doing it, and neither did anyone else, but we did it—maybe that's peer pressure, but it’s the good kind. And you know what? It was really fun. As soon as I started moving, I felt so much better.
One takeaway from my shoot days is that if I could just have a chair massage person or a yoga instructor to have everyone stop and stretch once or twice, we’d all feel a lot better.
I love my shoots. I’ve perfected them so they’re easy, effective, and so much fun.
IG MENTIONS:
ROZA- ROZA.ISRAEL
LOUIS- @LOUISANGELO
LLOYD- @LIVEWITHLLOYD
You are amazing Bobbi Brown!! I love hearing all about what you are doing! The diet diary is so helpful- I’ve been doing lots of ecomm art directing so am going to borrows these tips. 💯Elaine Farley (former bty director of self magazine and glamour/cosmo fashion director) 🤩❌
Love this Bobbi! AND thank you for introducing me to Live with Lloyd — I’ve been taking Boogie Burn in Montclair on Saturdays! Love him