“One of my most difficult shoots I’ve experienced is the billboard and banner shoot I did for Tropicana Garden Mall; it was also my very first high fashion shoot. It was a challenge but it was definitely worth the try. The whole shoot took more than 12 hours; it was tiring. I also had to stay in the same pose for a few hours, what an experience.”
Photo provided by Lu Yin of Tropicana Garden Mall Billboard & Banners
“Another unique experience I love was being able to go to locations I thought I would never be able to step in. One of them was having a shoot in a mansion near Genting! It was a once in a lifetime experience.”
Lu Yin mentioned if she was given a chance to start all over again, she would never go about it differently. “I like the way things are right now. My dream was to be an air stewardess. I gave up that dream after realising that I had to sign contracts. Since I was the kind of person who cannot stay in a place too long, this job was all the more unsuitable for me. Looking back, I’m glad to have given it up since right now flights can’t take off and I would be left jobless.
Photo screenshotted from CORE STUDIOS
“One of the reasons I am here today is because of my friend, Billy. He helped and introduced me to quite a few jobs and if there’s any modelling event in Malaysia, he would notify me so I can try to apply for the jobs. He was the one who helped me step up and get me more jobs and familiarise myself with this industry,” said Lu Yin.
This pandemic has affected her job. It is harder to get jobs because most of them require her to travel. “It’s very troublesome, we need permission to travel. Usually, we have to travel to a location for casting before the actual shoot, it is time-consuming and there will be a lot of people there for casting, but only a handful of people will be selected. Most of the time, I will go for casting only if I think I have a big chance of getting selected according to their requirements.”
“It is also very risky for us as the virus is everywhere, sometimes we do need to also take Covid swab tests, so I rather stay home and stay safe,” she added.
Do you have any advice for the youth?
“Play hard, work hard, do whatever that makes you happy, as long as it doesn’t hurt your health or your body.”
photo provided by Lu Yin from Motherchuckers
“Don’t just work hard all the way. Don’t have that mindset where you want to work and get more money to use in the future, have balance in your life. Spoil yourself once in a while. Don’t compare yourself to others, carry your own confidence and features that were given by God. Never change your look just because it is not up to their “standard”. Be unique, be you.” she said.
“We might not be blessed with appearance or wealth, but little do we know, we are blessed with a lot of little things in life that we tend to neglect or even take for granted.” Lu Yin added.
Do you have any advice for future models?
“Don’t get influenced by the bad, get influenced by the good ones.”
By Emily Cheah