Working with Minna...

So last week, as everyone probably knows by now (as I wouldn't stop harping on about it!) I was the make up artist for a Finnish designer called Minna. Her garments are so beautiful and delicately made it was a treat seeing them up close! The garments are made using gorgeous vintage materials, making them even more appealing to my vintage loving self!

I first heard about this opportunity thanks to my lovely friend Chloe Hooper (she's a very pretty ginger) who tweeted me Minna's link saying she was looking for a make up artist in the Dorset area. I emailed Minna explaining I was an aspiring make up artist at university etc etc. And amazingly she emailed back explaining dates and what she was planning! I was extremely excited and because I really love the clothes, the website, Minnas blog I was passionate about the job.

So anyways, finally shoot day came along and I was up at 5.30am getting ready for an hours drive to Minna's cottage in beautiful Dorset, making sure I wasn't late! I did spend a fair amount of time parked outside the wrong house... Her neighbors house. But, other than that the journey went swimmingly! So after introducing myself to Minna, I went on to meet the photographer Karoliina Barlund the model, Anna Herold and Lizzie Steele, the studio manager for Minna in London. It was quite daunting but I was just excited to be honest!

I started the make up, aiming to achieve a natural but quite haunting look on Anna, at first I caked the foundation on a bit too heavy, being used to studio shoots I needed to adjust my eye to a more natural face. However, after the minor cock up, I feel the make up looked beautiful, a darker smudged kohl underneath the eye really brought out Anna's piercing blue stare and a very natural nude lip helped soften the look. I am pretty sure Minna and her team are happy with the images as well which is always a bonus! (Hehe)

So the day went from there really, the weather was perfect and the location was stunning. We had a lovely lunch in Minna's beautiful Garden made by her mum (it was really yummy homemade pizza with parma ham and tuna! DEEELISH!) and then back to shooting. The last location was at about 5.00 and the light was just amazing. The sun going down and just kissing Anna's windblown hair was amazing. The images can be found on Minna's website http://www.minna.co.uk/collections/autumnwinter-2012

It was such a great experience and I feel motivated and excited at the prospect of creating more make up for a lot more shoots in the future!

Below are some images I really love!

Class shoot

Model - Kate Sutton
MUA/Photographer - Grace Revington
Styling and hair - Kiera Liberati

Today in lesson was pretty hilarious and a bit of a joke! But at least it allowed me to do more make up and take some more pictures! The dress was a gorgeous red so I'm going to edit another shot not in B&W to show this off! Love the shape of the garment and the way it moved. Also pretty pleased with my contouring. Even though I was hungover I'm glad a dragged myself into class after all!

Tom Ford beauty

SS12 - Tom Ford Make Up

MUA/Photographer - Grace Revington
Model - Kate Sutton

MUA's - Grace Revington, Chloe Warner, Amy Nash
Photographer - Grace Revington
Model - Lauren Estill

Two different looks here based on Tom Ford. A softer but still strong make up on Kate. Then a night time glamorous make up on Lauren. I am a massive fan of plum/berry coloured lips so I am loving Laurens luscious pout. However the green eyes on Kate really suit her skin tone and her bright blue eyes! So overall I am very happy with both looks! REEESULT! 

NAKED palette

Urban Decays 'NAKED' eye shadow palette is definitely one for the make up bag, the shadows are highly pigmented giving full coverage and a long-lasting finish, for just £35 it's a bargain! The shades can be used for day and night make up; for the day I've been using 'Naked' which can be blended, matching your skin tone, giving the lid a matte finish but extremely natural. I've been using 'Buck' on top of this to define the crease of my eye and then a kohl eyeliner (Lancomes 'Le Crayon Kohl in Noir' is my choice) blended along the lash line very softly finishes the look.

However taking in to account the SS12 beauty trends 'Virgin' 'Sin' and 'Toasted' are a trio which would create a healthy, fresh and sparkly glow on the eye. 'Virgin' is a well rounded pearly base, giving the luminous finish which is going to be widely lusted over this season. 'Sin' a pinky shade with glitter to again create a luminosity on the lid. 'Toasted' a darker pink but still a fresh, young and feminine tone to define the outer corner of the eye.

One of my favourite things about university is going out. Not because I'm a right lad and love getting drunk, but because getting ready is literally my most favourite thing to do ever! I especially like to focus on the eyes so having so many shades to play with is very exciting! A combination I used the other evening which looked great was 'Virgin' in the socket and underneath the brow. 'Half Baked' on the majority of the lid (as I have quite big eyes this is more effective!) and then along the crease and lower lash line 'Creep'. The gold and dark smokey blue worked really well and I will definitely be donning the look again!

In the picture below the lighting causes the gold to look a bit green however it was actually very gold and sparkly!






I would highly recommend the palette, so much choice, such complementary colours which are versatile and can be applied lightly or heavily! BUY IT!