Lipton Iced Tea – The Photoshoot

May 2005

It all started with an advert on the forum

“ Beetle Needed For Photoshoot near Crawley and there's £100 plus some expenses in it for the owner (who can stand in the background as an extra possibly) Its an ad for 'tea'
Anyone interested in a few easy quid and a little brush with fame”

Kim called the number to find out more details. They wanted a “colourful VW Beetle” to use in some magazine adverts for Lipton Iced Tea. They wanted to create a new look, “The Taste of Summer” , to compete with Coca Cola etc. in the UK market.

After a rain abandoned attempt on Tuesday it was all systems go for the Friday. I was needed in Crawley for 9am so an early start was required. I was up by 6am to give our 1303 Roobarb a clean and get a head start on the traffic (a bit too early a head start as I was over an hour early arriving). Once at the studio I was introduced to the models for the day and told what would be happening, then we set off to the first location for filming.

On route to the shoot we picked up the camper that was also to star in one of the ads, and met up at Priory Park in Reigate. A makeshift campsite was set up with 4 of the models positioned on a blanket relaxing and enjoying “the product” whilst other models milled around the 2 tents in the background. After loads of photos had been taken and approved we moved on to the second location.

A quick break for lunch and a chance to chat about the look of the next batch of photos and we were ready again. The location was a small gravel carpark on Reigate Heath. After the camper had been photographed and moved away it was time for our turn.

The look was for a casual gathering around our Beetle with “the product” on display. Then came the words every car owner must dread: “is it OK if we sit someone on your roof, then?” After being assured that no damage would be done the smallest and lightest model was chosen and she duly clambered up onto Roobarb. Two other models were selected and stood next to the car and the camera clicked away.

With the roof intact and the model safely back on the ground the last shoot of the day was set up. One of the models had arrived in his lowered Mk2 Golf and it was decided that a picture with both cars in it would look good. ”Steve, could you park up next to the Golf facing the other way… oh do you want to be in this shot?” All I had to do was sit in the drivers seat, look happy and relaxed and chat to the other driver. It's very easy this modelling lark.

With all the pictures safely downloaded to the laptop, and the kit packed away it was time to leave. The models made a bee line for the nearest pub and a sunny Friday evening pint and I headed back to the studio to collect my fee for the day. Mark the photographer thanked me for my work during the day (this amounted to me moving Roobarb half a dozen times) and I hit the M25 for the journey home.

It was an amazing day, getting the chance to see behind the scenes and “star” in my first photoshoot. The end result will be close-ups of the scenes with a banner advertising “the product” across the bottom. You probably won't be able to see much of our 1303 in the end result, but when I catch the merest hint of Rallye Yellow it will remind me of my days shooting and my 15 minutes of fame.

Steve Prior (Speedman)