"Oh, you're a model! That must be SO glamorous"

Yeah.

Or something.

Being a make up artist involves lots of standing around, often cold, a bit damp, holding too much stuff.

It's so much easier being a model! And if you believe that, you'll believe anything.

Now there are models, and there are models. Some are pretty laid back and easy going, pretty happy to do most things required to get the "money shot" (if only, most of the time) and then there are those that are just plain and simply bonkers.

Gingerface Model is one of them.

I've worked with her a couple of times, this was the first time. It was November, and this is a pond - completely covered in algae; in Bristol. She was not asked to do this - she asked to do it!

Probably some of the best behind the scenes images I have!

And being a photographer is just as glamorous, as Angi Wallace so beautifully demonstrates!

And just to prove that this is not photoshopped - a wee bit of video...

So who wants to be the next model? 

Fine Art Fashion Photography

On 24th August I was really lucky to participate in the final part of Sophie Pycroft's week long photographic art exhibition at the beautiful Penarth Pier Pavillion.  

http://www.penarthpavilion.co.uk/events/show-swish

A collection of beautiful models beautifully showed off this seasons new trends from Karen Millen, jewellery by Stella and Dot. Plum colours in large patterns, beautifully tailored rain coat and trilby and a beautiful fluid white robe dress were just some of the highlights. 

The setting is just glorious, with the late summer light pouring in through the ceiling windows...

Being just one of the make up artists working on the event I was very pleased to work with four girls - none of which I'd worked with before and all of which are beautiful, unique, talented ladies in their own unique ways. My make up tutor was one of the other artists - no pressure then! It was fabulous to work with her again. Inspirational.

After the catwalk, the girls mingled and chatted with the the audience giving an opportunity to examine pieces more closely. I should at this stage apologise for the poor photography - I had camera issues that day and was just grateful to have taken any images that weren't completely out of focus! 

Beautiful Victoria.

Gorgeous Rhiannon.

Just two of the girls I worked with that day. Sophie did a mini-shoot with all of the models individually so I'm hoping to be able to share those soon.

And just to round off a brilliant Sunday of work and fun, being sat on the beach eating Krispy Kreme donuts in the sunshine laughing with several like minded ladies - that was just the icing on the proverbial cake. 

Confessions of a Packaging Addict

My name's Bethan and I have an addiction to silly, pointless quizzes on Facebook - and PACKAGING.

I can't help it. I really try hard. I'm ruthless. I try to picture the factories where these things are made and the stacks and boxes of the things and try to think about what my home would look like if I kept all the lovely packaging that I'd ever had the pleasure of. That would just be silly. 

But it's soooooo pretty! I have a variety of carrier bags from MAC, e.l.f, Lush, all sorts of places that I neither use nor can bring myself to throw out. Ridiculous.

This one is causing me real problems:

It will come as no surprise to you that I had it for Christmas. It's now half way through September and I still haven't opened it.

I try really hard not to keep clothes for "best". When "best" comes you either don't like them any more, they don't fit or they're wrecked by dust. Just silly. I refuse to get annoyed when I smash a nice plate - I just don't see the point in being precious about things. They are just "things".

So why the flipping heck can't I just open and use my lovely Soap & Glory gift set?! I LOVE the stuff - but it's just soooooo pretty! 

And I know that once I do open it, the box itself will become another source of stress. It's too "useful" to throw out.

Just like all the other "useful" boxes I have...

Is there some kind of support group I can join? Shall I set one up?

We're really lucky in our house. We have awesome neighbours. Not only do they help us out all the time and come to our parties but they let us colour their faces in etc when we're practicing new things!

It's lovely when someone is inspired by the work you've been a part of. Even more lovely when it inspires them to create something that's truly fantastic also.

You may remember this picture I shared a little while ago...?

Photogaphy by Emma Bradbrook

Well yesterday we had a lovely surprise when Sarah popped over and gave us this gorgeous sketch that she had done.

It's really genuinely gorgeous and very, very good - we needed to share it with you! 

Turquoise Green Eyed Monster

I like to think of my self as being someone who has more than enough confidence.

That's not to say that I think I'm generally brilliant or anything, it's not that, it's just that I know that if there's something I need or want to do, there'll have to be a damned good reason why I can't make it happen in one way or another.

But every now and again something comes along to wrong foot me.

So there I was yesterday tea time, minding my own business coming out of "our local German supermarket of 4 letters" juggling some supplies and this vision appears before me (well, technically to the side but for purposes of illustration I'll stick with it).

Clearly some kind of beauty therapist (wearing swanky tunic/trouser combo in turquoise blue) long glossy, shiny, bouncy red hair like Farah Fawcett - I felt myself coming over all Johnny Bravo. Her face was polished to perfection, lipstick appeared immaculate. Nails - gleaming, nice diamond ring, polished toe nails and smooth, tanned feet in dainty matching turquoise sandals. She swanked effortlessly in through the door.

I took issue with several things,

1.  My feet are like hobbits feet at best.
2. It was tea time, not ten minutes after getting ready in the morning.
3. My hair wouldn't shine like that if I coated it in chip fat.
4. I can't even walk in sandals properly, let alone do a day's work.
5. I have never swanked effortlessly anywhere.

So what's going on here? I'm supposed to be the one with all the answers. I'm the make up artist. I know the fancy pro hair people, I know how it's done. So why isn't she writing a blog post about me?

Well, I tell myself, for starters, she probably hasn't been nursing two very very (differently) poorly senior dogs constantly, night and day for 3 weeks nearly. She probably has a swanky fully fitted house that she's lived in for ages and has it just as she wants it. I don't. She's probably not trying to fulfill a lifetime's huge career ambition in the fashion world - from the outside. She probably didn't graduate two months ago. Probably hasn't got suspected gall stones and  high cholesterol she's trying to manage through lifestyle and diet. She probably didn't spend 12 days on top of a mountain working 18 hour days living in a tent helping make a music festival happen and surviving on one and a half showers in the whole time 2 months ago as her summer holiday and I'm pretty sure she didn't arrive on a motorbike. 

I did all of those things.

But still, I felt jealous, I felt incompetent, in some way less of a "lady" than her. Her (beautiful) appearance totally eclipsed my hard graft, my studying, my ambition, my drive, my passion and my ability to roll one's sleeves up and get on with the real stuff. Is shiny hair, dainty shoes and fresh lipstick the be all and end all? Is it right that beauty is perceived as the ultimate personal quality and it doesn't matter if it's real or fake?

I flipping hope not.

Yes, that's my trade. Do I do it to hold all other qualities to ransom? No. I love to make people look good whether it's for a catwalk, wedding, party, and I love to look good myself. But it isn't always absolutely necessary. And surely, if you look that good on a Tuesday tea time in Aldi then what have you got left in the tank for Saturday night?

Make up is costume, amour. I use it to mentally signify that I am "ready to go" on a daily basis. I do wear make up most days but I was running late for an appointment this morning so I went with a box fresh face. Did anyone cower behind a postbox? No, because I look like me with no make up on. That's different to me with make up on. Not better, or worse, but different.

I'm a big advocate of feeling ready to face the outside world, best foot forward, making the best of yourself, confidence boosting, etc. but not at the expense of realising that sometimes it just doesn't matter. There's a job to be done, things to get on with, no one is inspecting my naked or vaguely made up face. If they are, then they should take up a hobby instead. 

Looking after yourself is imperative. No one wants to end up a wrinkly old grot bag, but if I have to make a time based decision at 7:30am as to whether I'm going to get the tea ready for tonight, give the dogs their antibiotics or polish my face into a frenzy, I know what it'll be. And I probably won't be wearing sandals while I do it.

I guess what it boils down to is that, for some, looking the very best they can every single day and maintaining an appearance of virtual perfection really is very, very important. And I'm jealous of that. Because it's not as important to me by a mile. But if I did put that amount of effort in, it would have to be at the expense of things that make a difference to me, my (canine and human) family and the people around me. I don't want that. It seems to me that I have the best of both worlds. I can dress up, make an effort, totally enjoy every bit of that. But I don't have to do it every day. I have so many different aspects of my existence that sometimes it's not appropriate or necessary. 

I'd flipping love to swank about at tea time looking all glossy, mind. Tricky under Gortex and Kevlar, and no one would see my tanned dainty feet in my bike boots...

She did look amazing. I was jealous.

Student Life

I'm in the middle of putting together my portfolio to go to some agencies and agents and I came across these images.

I'd forgotten just how lovely they are.

The set is for a final year couture collection by an incredible fashion designer Siddra Syed and final year photography by the super talented +Sophie Leigh . They're from some time ago, but it's lovely when you stumble across some work you did ages ago and you're still proud of it.

This collection was exquisite and Siddra won "Best Collection" with it.