SAGAMIHARA FAMILY HOUSING AREA, Japan – When Sydney LeFebre had her first photoshoot for a large fashion retailer last year, the process became a whole new experience for her and her family.
Sydney, now a third grader at Arnn Elementary School, wore several outfits throughout that day as photographers, and even a camera drone, tried to capture the perfect shot of her as she modeled them.
“It was kind of exciting,” said her mother, Jami, who teaches fourth grade at Arnn. “But, in all honesty, we were underprepared. We didn’t know what to expect.”
Jami brought Sydney and her other daughter, Cammy, a sixth grader at Arnn who also desires to be a model, to the photoshoot in April thinking it would be quick. But the shoot, which had two location sites and other child models, went on for hours into the evening.
“There was a lot of down time,” the mother recalled, adding they should have brought snacks, a book to read or homework for her daughters to do.
U.S. military children living in Japan have had luck in modeling here and have been featured in ads for Gucci, Uniqlo and other fashion companies. Jami first found out about the opportunity from one of her students, who also models, and referred her to an agency. A list of agencies can also be found at Camp Zama’s Army Community Service.
