Part of expat life in Beijing is people leaving, or moving away yourself. This summer many people are moving on, after many years, or just a few in Beijing. One last time to the Wall, one last time stocking up at the Pearl Market. One more hotpot, one more cheap foot massage. I have been following people over the last two years leaving and relocating. These times are a little sad, but so exciting for the families moving on to new adventures.
One of the moms leaving had not one but two makeovers before moving to Dubai. Pamela McManus has been featured already in the last issue for Indulge. But she went out with her Beijing girlfriends, and they got dressed up as Chinese Opera ladies. You might think this is an easy project, but it’s not; they have to sit and get dolled up for several hours. This project is actually longer than the Indulge shoot.
McManus explains that the process was fun but hard work, taking from 10am to 4.30pm. The ladies who make this transformation possible are true artists, and stick real hair onto their subjects’ faces. They took every step of the process very seriously. The pictures don’t lie, and this is one of the best keepsakes I have seen in a long time. Marking your goodbye does not have to be sad, it can be very pretty indeed. See the pictures below of the transformation.
This event cost RMB 688 per person, for which the ladies each got eight printed pictures and one larger one, plus all the 14 digital images. Find more information on the website here.
Photos: Pamela McManus