They came, they took photos, wrangled chickens, visited hidden swimming holes and ate pumpkin pie for lunch: just another successful Summer shoot for Title Nine.
Joss, Louise and a well-placed slackline.
We take a lot of pride in having ordinary women who are capable of extraordinary things gracing our pages and website. They’re real – and so are our images. Surfing, juggling soccer balls on the beach, making fruit salad with machetes, climbing palm trees barefoot: if you see a picture of it, yes, our model athletes really did it!
Mahea is a true kama’aina who grew up climbing palm trees.
We can’t say that it’s necessarily your average 10+ hour workday when we’re out on location.
Hannah making it look easy.
“Extras” of the four legged variety (and two-legged, as we can’t forget our chicken friends,) were plentiful on location. Not only did we have the help of Ziggy complete with life vest, Kilty’s little French bulldog nugget of love, and Hebat the yoga dog, there was also Bill E. Goat – who yes, basically thinks he too is a dog… that happens to head butt on occasion.
If the Summer ’15 shoot had a model bio:
Refuses to start any shoot without: Peet’s Coffee (various locations, based out of Berkeley, CA)
Best breakfast: Paul’s Place Cafe (Hilo, HI)
Strawberry shortcake forever: Swanton Berry Farm (Davenport, CA)
Best shave ice: Wilson’s By The Bay (Hilo, HI)
Favorite surf shops: Kona Boys (Kealakekua, HI), Hilo Surfboard Co. (Hilo, HI)
Mid-day refreshment of choice during a long shoot: Ginger ‘booch’ from Conscious Culture Cafe (Hilo, HI)
Being a Title Nine model or photographer isn’t all fun locations and good eats: there’s hard work involved, and sometimes, things don’t go as we planned. Because summer shoots are done so far in advance, sometimes we have to shoot in dresses when it’s 37 degrees F out on NYE in Dillon Beach, CA. Sometimes there are no stylists on board, so our photographers pitch in to help do hair on location.
The day before scouting the rope swing location, there was pristine white sand out to the large rock in the distance. When the team arrived the day of the shoot, a huge swell had come in – so they worked with it and ended up with some great shots.
Our photographers and photo assistants go all out to capture the images. Climbing back up after some cliff-jumping shots, Shawn had a run-in with some jagged lava rock. One-woman creative team Ann got inventive with first aid and luckily, a hair tie and a tampon did the trick!
And there’s even more where that came from: check out our Flickr album for even more peeks at our Summer shoot.
The T9 team would especially like to thank:
- Our photographers the almighty Joss, Robert Houser, Martin Sundberg and Caydie McCumber.
- Photography assistant, chicken whisperer, coconut wrangling stuntman “Mayor” Shawn Pila.
- Trader Joe’s of California, Foodland of Oahu and KTA Super Market on the Big Island for keeping our snack stash plentiful.
- Brian of Kaia’akea Farms, home of our chicken photoshoot stars and Bill E. Goat.
- Ziggy the Wonder Dog for keeping us safe and Hebat pup for, well, being Hebat.
- Slowcoast for Ann’s newest addition to her ‘on location’ trucker hat collection.
Fact: Ann has a trucker hat collection comprised solely of hats from locations.
And of course, huge mahalo to Hilo, HI and Oahu for the incredible time.
Where do you think our next shoot should be and why? Share with us below!
For more information on upcoming photo shoots and how to become a T9 model, please visit our T9 Model Scout Facebook page.
For more T9 behind the scenes, follow us on Instagram.
I vote for Boise, also. I’ve been here 15 years and in that time span it’s really become Fit-USA. People engage in all sorts of sports and we have many various competitions here, from Mud Runs, all lengths of triathlons up to 70.2; mountain bike races, cycling criteriums, rides across the state. Othere activities include ballooning, zip-lining, bungy-jumping, water skiing and boarding, white water rafting. Then the horse sports– roping, reining, jumping, eventing, trail and endurance riding,,,the list continues…… Not everyone competes, but the mountains, rivers, dunes, plains, and everywhere else opens up options for everyone to move and be active. I also vote for older models, being in my early 50’s myself, active in horseback riding, running, swimming, pilates. Check out Idaho!!!
I agree with Lori — There are some incredible places and ladies in Boise, Idaho!! I run a non-profit that gets cancer survivors back out into the outdoors through river rafting, paddle boarding and kayaking, I would love to have you photo some of these amazing ladies and the amazing scenery Idaho has to offer!
Hello,
Looking for gorgeous places for a photo shoot? Vermont would make a fantastic location! Lush colors, beautiful rivers and waterfalls, incredible mountain tops and a spirit that can’t be beet. Home to the country’s first continuous mountain “foot path” (aka the Long Trail), a former great lake (Lake Champlain) and of course Ben and Jerry’s. Vermont has a little something to offer everyone. Plus its an outdoor enthusiasts hidden paradise. I would love to see Vermont captured in Title-9’s catalog. The spirit of the landscape and people perfectly embody the beauty and strength of Title-9.
Thanks for considering.
Try Vieques, Puerto Rico! It’s off the beaten path and fantastic!
Door County, Wisconsin has beautiful parks. Cave Point Park and Whitefish Dunes in Jacksonport are my favorite places. White sand beaches, caves and cliffs, beautiful hikes in undisturbed sand dune forests.
We just moved to Door County- Heaven on earth! Love all the parks and people!
While we’d all love to live in Hawaii, there’s some pretty great gals living in the Boise Idaho area! It’s got tons of mountain biking & hiking trails. Water everywhere, with mountains and hills galore. Give us a try–we have one of your stores here too 😀 (PS I’m game for your 55+ catalog)
I agree with the comments about featuring “older” women. I would really like to see more of this everywhere in advertising. After all I recently heard some statistics that women (and men) over the age of 50 or so are the ones that make the most purchases in the economy!
Agreed!
Signed,
Turning 50 Next Month!
Yes! I agree with the comment having older ( I hate to admit it!) And also… I am disabled, well I get around in a wheelchair… but I am very able. I hand cycle, nordic skip kayak I want to surf…
It would be pretty cool to see some women with disability in your catalogs, looking cute doing their sport. I am totally available, btw
I second Carolyn DuPont’s suggestion of using a “more mature” group of ladies. I’m almost 52 and would LOVE to be in a photo shoot with other “older” (using the term loosely) fit, athletic women. But search them out across the U.S., like central Ohio!
Hi Celeste,
We actually don’t actively go out “recruiting” model athletes aside from putting a post up on our page saying we need folks in a certain location – they volunteer to participate! As I told Carolyn, for info on how to become a T9 model yourself (or if you’d like to point someone you know in the direction,) please visit https://www.facebook.com/t9scout.
-Christina@T9
I have tried to throw my hat in to be a model, I even offered to fly myself to the shoot, but I was told by your organization that you only use local models and people you know.
I agree with the comment on showing more mature athletic women in your advertising. I am 53 years old and actually in the best shape of my life. I purchase off of Tile Nine frequently. Often when viewing the catalogues I think to myself, maybe I am too old to wear this???
Ditto to Lynn’s comment. Title Nine has been with me for years. Now I’m in my 50s and still buying. Some older models would be great.
You should try a shoot at Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson, Arizona. Great weather most of the time. And while you are hear, lets use a few of us locals in your shoot—and some “seniors” as well. I’m 74, healthy, and love your clothes! Have many very fit friends who would qualify also.
Thanks for the suggestion Carolyn! For upcoming information on where we’ll be shooting next and for details on how to throw your hat into the ring to be a T9 model athlete, please check out our T9 Scout page at https://www.facebook.com/t9scout.
-Christina@T9
YES! Great suggestion! I second that! I live right near Saguaro Natl Park and I second that! Tucson is GREAT! the hiking is fabulous, the weather IS awesome–uber sunshine most of the year, blue skies, tons of great running and hiking and yes swimming too (no surf tho. 😉 ) I’ll email you! 🙂
LOVE!!!! thanks for sharing I am so glad your models are adventurers!
as for the best breakfast on the Big Island you better try the Coffee Shack-best food best view!!! Keep these title nine behind the scenes coming I KNEW you were having all the fun!!!!!!