Based on exclusive interviews with Jakarta-based models featured on INDO18, the panic follows a predictable trajectory:
In the polished world of entertainment, authenticity is currency. While end results are often photoshopped to perfection, the blooper reel is what humanizes the artist.
The "Ada orang liat" (There are people watching) phenomenon speaks to a deep cultural nuance in Indonesia. Unlike the West, where public photoshoots are common, in many urban Indonesian settings, a professional photoshoot can attract unwanted attention—from satpam (security guards) asking for permits, to curious locals assuming something scandalous is happening, even if it is a standard fashion shoot.
To understand the phenomenon, we must first understand the fragile ecosystem of a photoshoot. A studio is a controlled environment. The lighting is perfect. The music is curated. The only eyes that are supposed to be watching belong to the photographer, the stylist, and the creative director.
But the moment a stranger appears—a janitor walking by, a curious office worker from the next floor, or worse, a friend of the photographer who "just wants to watch" —the dynamic explodes.
The "Doi" Factor In INDO18’s coverage, the word "doi" (slang for dia/them) is crucial. This isn't just any stranger. "Doi" implies someone the model knows, or at least, someone whose opinion matters. Imagine a scenario: In the polished world of entertainment, authenticity is
A model is dressed in avant-garde fashion—perhaps a daring crop top, ripped denim, or the bold lingerie sets often featured in INDO18’s entertainment segments. They are serving face, striking a fierce pose kuda-kuda. The photographer is clicking away. Suddenly, the model’s eyes widen. Their neck stiffens. Their jaw drops.
"Astaga... doi lihat."
It is the classic "deer in headlights" moment. The confidence that was there five seconds ago evaporates. Why? Because we are wired to perform for the camera, but not for the judgment of an unfiltered human eye.
During a closed shoot for an INDO18 editorial titled "Midnight Silk," the model was posed on a velvet chaise lounge wearing only a lace bralette and high-waisted briefs. The set was locked. Or so they thought.
An elderly security guard doing his nightly rounds opened the wrong door. He stood there for a solid five seconds, flashlight in hand, looking the model up and down. Raya spontan membungkuk ala ninja dan bersembunyi di
The model’s reaction? She screamed, threw a pillow at the guard, and ran behind the backdrop. The guard simply said, "Wah, gak pakai banyak ya, Neng?" (Wow, not wearing much, Miss?) before closing the door. The model refused to come out for 20 minutes.
Raya spontan membungkuk ala ninja dan bersembunyi di balik ban serep mobil.
“BIM, MEREKA LIAT GUE!” bisik Raya panik, padahal kostumnya masih keliatan dari samping.
Bima malah motret momen itu.
“Ini namanya tampil doi panik ada orang liat. Bagus ekspresinya,” bisik Bima sambil terus menekan rana. MEREKA LIAT GUE!” bisik Raya panik
Ibu-ibu justru mendekat. “Wah, masaknya pake sembunyi? Malu-maluin aja, dek. Cakep kok,” kata Ibu Dewi, mantan model era 90-an.
Raya keluar dari balik ban dengan wajah merah padam.
As we move into 2025, the INDO18 lifestyle and entertainment brand is leaning into this raw, unpolished reality. We are launching a new series called "Operation: Panik" where we intentionally set up photoshoots in semi-public places just to capture the moment the doi realizes they have an audience.
Why? Because perfection is boring. The gap between "high art" and "public humiliation" is where true entertainment lives.
One of INDO18’s contributing photographers, Alex (not his real name), recalls a classic example of "pemotretan model tampil doi panik".
"We were shooting a vintage lingerie set on a secluded rooftop in Jakarta. The model was posing against a sunset—very dramatic. My assistant, who is also her boyfriend (the ‘doi’), was directing her to be bolder. Suddenly, he looked up. An elderly man from the apartment complex across the street was videoing us with his phone, drinking coffee and smiling. My assistant panicked so hard he threw a reflector over the model and yelled ‘BATHROOM BREAK!’ The model fell off the stool. Total chaos."
That video never made the final cut, but the memory became a legendary story within the INDO18 community.