All posts by Mike Turner

Fashion Makeup Tips

Our professional makeup artists who take part in our Makeover photoshoots are often asked by clients for tips and tricks used in makeup application, so we have put together some interesting content to walk you through the process. Please feel free to ask any questions (below in the comments) you may have that are left unanswered and we’ll try to give you the answers you are look for.

Leah Richardson who was the makeup artist in the video above, has outlined, each stage of the process below.

Fashion Makeup Tips

fashion makeup tutorial steps1. Eyebrows

Using an angled brush and powder of appropriate colour, shape and define the eyebrows.

2. Eyes -Primer

Prime the eyes using a foundation or concealer, this gives the eye shadow a base to bond with,

3. Eye shadow

Use a medium shade eye shadow to emphasise the placement of the socket line. Then work back into the socket line with a darker pigments, not taking the pigment as central as the previous colour. this deepens the socket line and builds up layers of colour. Apply the darkest colour pigment, focusing mainly on the very outer corners of the eyes. For a well blended effect, always use circular motions when applying eye shadow.

4. Eyeliner

Using a fine brush, sweep the liner across the eye. Start with a thin line of which you can build thicker. When applying liner to the inner corner of the eyes, always get the model to look outwards as this opens up the inner eye allowing you to apply with ease. To apply liner to the water line, always allow your model to blink whenever needed, this will stop a watery eye from running down the face, this could ruin base make up if previously applied. Work in small sections to prevent irritation.

5. Foundation

When applying eye shadow, excess pigment falls from the brush and eyes and down onto the face. By applying foundation after the eye shadow has been done, this stops the falling pigment from clouding the foundation and creating a muddy effect which can appear as bags under the eyes.
Start central with the foundations then work outwards. Apply a layer of foundation then buffer into the skin using a strong circular motion.

6. Contouring

Using a medium shade powder, work into the face from the temple down onto the cheekbone, again working in circular motions. Using a darker powder work back into the face in more specific areas. Work the product into the face underneath the cheekbone, the temple, the hairline and if necessary the nose, chin and jaw line.

7. Under eye

Although you can use any colour for a smokey eye, for this fashion look the chosen colour which was previously used in a 3rd layer of the eye shadow was a purple pigment. Using the same chosen pigment, work into the lash line wight he colour then blend outwards.

8. Lip Liner

Using a liner that will match the lipstick of choice, create the shape of the lips using small stokes like sketching with a pencil, this makes the line more accurate than trying to create a full line in just one stroke. Fill the lip with a rough layer of liner, this encourages lipstick to stay on for longer.

9. Lipstick

Apply lighter coloured lipstick onto the insides of both the bottom and upper lip. Using a darker colour, work into the outside of the lips, meeting the the lip liner. Using small flicking strokes, blend the darker lipstick into the more central lighter lipstick.

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Wedding Makeup Tips

Our professional makeup artists who take part in our Makeover photoshoots are often asked by clients for tips and tricks used in makeup application, so we have put together some interesting content to walk you through the process. Please feel free to ask any questions (below in the comments) you may have that are left unanswered and we’ll try to give you the answers you are look for.

Melissa Hardman who was the makeup artist in the video above, has outlined, each stage of the process below.

Wedding Makeup Tips

1. Primer, Concealer and Foundation

Using a buffing motion apply a small amount of primer over the entire face, paying close attention to areas which maybe dry. If necessary hide any blemishes using a concealer of your choice. To brighten under the eyes use a highlighting pen such as MAC Prep and Prime, this will lighten the eye area where any dark circles may be lurking. Following this, apply a small blob of foundation to the back of your hand rather then directly onto your face, so that you can avoid putting too much on, making the base appear too heavy. Buff the foundation into your face starting from the center working outwards.

2. Eyebrows

Using a fine angled brush and the appropriate coloured powder, carefully fill in the eyebrows, following their natural shape using soft strokes to create definition. Set using an eyebrow setting gel.

3. Eyes

If you haven’t already, base your eyelids with a coat of primer to help the eye make-up stay in place and not smudge, this is particularly important for your wedding day as you will want to look immaculate in all the photos!

Pat on a light shimmery eyeshadow to the first half of your eyelid, using a round eyeshadow brush. Using the same brush now apply a matte brown eyeshadow to the outer part of the eyelid and up into the crease. Blend the brown into the crease using soft circular movements and a fluffy blending brush, such as a MAC 217. Line the upper lash line with a soft, dark brown eye kohl to make the eyes appear more defined, blend the kohl into the lashes to soften the look. To brighten the eyes and make them appear bigger, line the bottom waterline with a flesh coloured eyeliner. Highlight the inner corner of the eye and under the eyebrow to help make the eye area bright and fresh looking.

In this demonstration the model is wearing individual lashes. This may be something you could consider doing to create thicker longer lashes that appear more natural for your wedding day.

4. Contouring/ Highlighting

Dust bronzer over the areas where the sun would naturally touch, such as the forehead, the tops of the cheeks and the nose. Contour the temples and under your cheekbones using a powder a shade lighter than your skin tone, this will create shape and definition. Lightly dab on blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend up onto your cheekbones. Start of slowly and build the colour up if desired. Highlight the very tops of your cheekbones with the same powder used to highlight around the eyes, this will give you your bridal glow!

5. Lips

Prepare the lips by applying a lip primer, this will soften them and help the lipstick to stay on for longer. Line the lips with a lip pencil which matches your lipstick, to prevent the lip colour from running outside the lines of your lips. Start in the center of the lips and work outwards on both sides as this will guarantee the lips to look even. Finally apply the lipstick using a brush for precision.

If you wish to hire Melissa she can be found via the links below:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/melissaalice93

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MaliceMUA/

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Having Fun with Video

I seem to have a developed a growing interest with video in recent months, not in a professional capacity but as a fun thing to do. Maybe I can use it to develop the blog over time also.

Having been a stills photographer for many years, I have an increasing interest in Video, both capture and post editing. While I am at a very basic point in my learning, I am really enjoying the learning process. I have recently done some makeup tip tutorials to compliment our makeover photography (coming soon) but used my DSLR for this.

goprohero 3 and sony vegas platinum image

Here are a couple of recent efforts (be kind) captured using a Go Pro Hero 3 and edited using Sony Vegas.

What’s the point?

The first video was done to learn how to speed up and slow down the footage using the editing software and was very easy to do in Sony Vegas.

The second was done to join different video sequences together and adjusting the volume between background music and the audio track from the original captured video. I was advised to keep the video capture sequence down to short bursts 30 seconds to 1 minute to make it easier to edit later, but having used Sony Vegas a few times now it is just as easy to split the video into shorter sequences later.

HD capture

The camera is also capable of capturing in HD, although I have not done so in the two examples above. I figured the lower resolution is ok while I am still playing around with it.

Portability

I love using the GoPro Hero 3 mainly because it is so handy to carry around with me being small enough to fit into my pocket. Unlike my Canon DSLR, which is also great to use for video capture (used in the makeup tips tutorial I mentioned earlier) but much harder to conveniently carry around.

Weatherproofed

The GoPro Hero also comes in a protective case which keeps it weather proof and water proof, so will be looking to put that to the test in future.

Photos of Leigh

photos of Leigh Lancs

Leigh is the nearest town to our studio in Lowton and a place I have spent much of my early life, actually living in the town for many years. As I have got older I have become increasingly interested in the towns history and begun to take notice of the towns older buildings and architecture.

Although the town has changed dramatically over the years with the decline of the mills, the closure of the mines, and emergence of a more retail oriented town, some of the towns past still is there to be discovered.

It amazes me how little I had noticed as I went about my visits to the town, walking around with my eyes wide shut much of the time.  The town has some great architectural heritage which is sadly poorly maintained.