Ideas for retro bathroom stall photoshoot

October 2, 2011 7:43 PM

I'm working on a photography experiment with a friend. We'd like to shoot me dressed in some nice-looking monochromatic getup inside a retro bathroom stall. We've got the wardrobe down, but we're lacking on actions: what interesting actions can I pretend to be doing in a bathroom stall that would appear edgy-but-not-vulgar?

Props are more than welcome in this scenario, as are wacky accessories and/or loud makeup. I'm mostly photogenic and tend to gravitate towards a cutesy demeanor on camera more than anything, though we are not opposed to other styles. We're open to most ideas. Go!

posted by monichacha to clothing, beauty, & fashion (40 answers total)

Licking the stall might be a bit gross for you to actually do but could work in terms of edgy-but-not-vulgar, if you pretend to do it in a cute, will-I-or-won't-I kind of way. Or it might not work—depends on how cute you look sticking your tongue out, heh.
posted by limeonaire at 7:47 PM on October 2, 2011

Alternately, lighting a cigarette? Depends on your mores, of course.
posted by limeonaire at 7:48 PM on October 2, 2011

Broken Doll, of course.
posted by peagood at 7:48 PM on October 2, 2011 [3 favorites]

Graffiti. "For a good time call..." Lines. Toilet plunging. Unsticking TP from your shoe. Covering the toilet in like 42 layers of toilet paper. Tearing up a photo and dropping it into the bowl. Sobbing on the toilet.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:49 PM on October 2, 2011

Sitting, fully clothed, on the loo and reading a Rob Liefield comic book.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:50 PM on October 2, 2011 [3 favorites]

Peeling and eating a banana?
posted by limeonaire at 7:50 PM on October 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

Eat a sandwich, or anything, really. Mixing food and bathrooms freaks some people out.
posted by Alison at 7:51 PM on October 2, 2011 [2 favorites]

Doing drugs, obv.
posted by auto-correct at 8:01 PM on October 2, 2011

Retrieving a stashed weapon? (If you're dressed appropriately film noire, of course.)
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:01 PM on October 2, 2011

One leg on the toilet and adjusting you stocking or shoe. Peeking around a half-open door with another pair of shoes (mens??) just visible behind you - with you holding a finger to your lips in a "shush" guesture. Carving graffiti into the door with a knife.
posted by ninazer0 at 8:03 PM on October 2, 2011

Holding a glass goldfish bowl with a (fake, floating belly-up) bright orange goldfish inside, while you're wearing an expression of petulant discontent?
posted by mochapickle at 8:04 PM on October 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

Squatted on the seat? Cutting your hair so it falls into the bowl? Drinking from a flask (or bottle of liquor or martini glass)?
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 8:11 PM on October 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

Talking on an old-style dial phone. Eating McDonald's fries. Playing a musical instrument. Doing a crossword. Lighting a stick of dynamite.
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:28 PM on October 2, 2011

Standing on the toilet seat and looking over into the next stall.
Standing on the toilet seat looking at a toy (mouse, roach, dinosaur) on the floor
posted by BoscosMom at 8:30 PM on October 2, 2011

writing on the mirror with lipstick
breathing onto a mirror and making it foggy.
peaking under a stall
reading
posted by dchrssyr at 8:31 PM on October 2, 2011

Here is some youtube inspiration.
posted by BoscosMom at 8:35 PM on October 2, 2011

Fake cocaine or other drugs. Makeup as appropriate

Use clear plastic film on the wall for any licking. Make sure to smooth out all bubbles

Playing an instrument

Knitting/other craft while seated; pants up or down

Cleaning the seat or floor

Wearing hair curlers and or adjusting a girdle

Playing chess on a board w the pieces glued down, as in that xkcd rollercoaster scene.
posted by bilabial at 8:39 PM on October 2, 2011

Changing into a superhero costume.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:46 PM on October 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

Wide stance.
posted by TheShadowKnows at 8:51 PM on October 2, 2011

Eating a full roast dinner, with a knife and fork.

Yoga.

Cat's cradle.

Painting a mural on the wall.

Fishing in the bowl.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:55 PM on October 2, 2011 [2 favorites]

Painting your toenails
shaving your legs
posted by obloquy at 9:10 PM on October 2, 2011

As a victim of a crime? Say a mugging or worse?
posted by the noob at 9:17 PM on October 2, 2011

Christiane F style where the bad junky forced his way into her stall and stole her fit
posted by the noob at 9:18 PM on October 2, 2011

An old film changing bag? You could be reloading film.
posted by bz at 9:35 PM on October 2, 2011

Looking through a peep hole or listening to the next stall with an ear up to the wall... maybe we can see two sets of feet over there
posted by jenmakes at 9:49 PM on October 2, 2011

Not edgy but incongruous: chessboard on a low parson's table, sitting and concentrating as if in mid-game.
posted by The Deej at 9:52 PM on October 2, 2011

Counting a wad of cash.
posted by dg at 11:47 PM on October 2, 2011

Playing an electric guitar.
posted by DoctorFedora at 12:15 AM on October 3, 2011

Wiping blood off of a knife.
posted by theperfectcrime at 12:47 AM on October 3, 2011

crossing off another in a long line of tally marks?

I'd be going for complete incongruity - sitting on the toilet seat and typing on an old manual typewriter? Stirring something gooey-looking in a mixing bowl?
posted by lemniskate at 4:32 AM on October 3, 2011

Ironing.
posted by flabdablet at 4:55 AM on October 3, 2011

Looking at a pregnancy test
posted by lakeroon at 5:27 AM on October 3, 2011

Primping with a compact mirror--the whole comically unselfconscious/unselfaware bugeyed, lash-out, vulgarly wide open mouth as you apply lipstick or check for gunk between your teeth. A private moment, feminine, common in photos.
posted by ifjuly at 5:36 AM on October 3, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh, and while sitting on the closed lid toilet seat.
posted by ifjuly at 5:37 AM on October 3, 2011

Legs out/leggy pose/akimbo, or one all femme fataled out straight, the other bent, too.
posted by ifjuly at 5:37 AM on October 3, 2011

You'll just have a cup of coffee and you'll be fine, dear.
posted by ouke at 6:20 AM on October 3, 2011

Fixing the toilet with a huge wrench.
Aiming a gun into the toilet like you're waiting for something to pop out of it.
Lighting the toilet paper roll on fire, possibly while smoking a cigarette.
Trying to get a dog or cat to use the toilet.
Dumping odd things into the toilet, such as beer bottles, bricks, saw blades.
Stealing a purse from the other stall.
Gluing broken glass to the toilet seat.
posted by orme at 6:28 AM on October 3, 2011

Ok, taking the goldfish idea further:

You should be holding a goldfish bowl FULL of goldfish on your lap. Teeming with goldfish. You should be sitting on the tank (if there is one). Your legs should be open and feet resting on the toilet rim. Red/pink/dark lipstick. Wild nail polish. Big hair.
posted by 200burritos at 7:19 AM on October 3, 2011

Nothing vulgar about pissing.
posted by coolguymichael at 10:49 AM on October 3, 2011

climbing out a window above the toilet
posted by WeekendJen at 11:46 AM on October 3, 2011