Wet and classy

2 More shoots were done and limits yet again were definatly pushed. Ally showed off her more natural side and Dave showed some incredible work!

We started this shoot with a more natural look. Originally these pictures were intended to be black and white but they came out so beautiful. The color with the simplicity made the photo. Ally was prepped with her foundation (We used MACs Select SPF 15 foundation in NW 45 and topped with Tartes Mineral Powder in Medium).  Just some basic eye makeup was used. Of course her liner was done with Stila's Smudgepots and Lashes were then added for a nice natural kick.  The final result was flawless!

Next came our "WET" look. This was a look we were all so excited about! I was a little hesitant about this shoot. I have never worked with water in this way before at all. I spent a few hours online researching the best way to acheive that drippiness we were going for. Thank you Canon for your wonderful forum. Someone had suggested to use baby oil all over the body, then use a spray bottle with water so the driplets would stay. We had revamped her makeup from the first look and made it slightly more dramatic with irridescent colors and by applying a bold red lip. Red lips never seem to fail. The hard part was getting the baby oil on her face where it didnt act as a makeup remover and take off the makeup.

Poor Ally was unable to touch her face at all and Dave had to shoot fast but we got what we were looking for! I still find it to look like a gatorade advertisement and I love it!

Again, we had a productive shoot. I find myself lucky to be working with such an amazing photographer and beautiful model. Again, if you ever want to review there work, feel free to search there work :)
Dave:Model Mayhem #: 560120   or FreshGraffix.net
Ally: Model Mayhem#: 2299895

Pool!

For our first shoot which was an outdoor shoot in our assistant Rosannas pool, we took on new boundries in a full waterproof look.  We started Ally off with the basics, I used "Get a Tint" tinted moisurizer by Mark. That gave her some nice hydration and just a sheer wash of neutral color (For more info, check out my Mark. boutique http://jaclynherbert.mymarkstore.com/ ). Following that, one of my favorites were brought out! Make Up For Ever Face and Body foundation in Honey Beige #34. If you have never used this foundation before, make it a point that you do! It's an extremely light weight gel formulation that's waterproof (and sweatproof  on those humid days). The formula also photographs wonderful :) A sheer application of MUFE's "HD Microfinish Blush" in "First Kiss" was added and Ally's complexion was complete.

Our next task were those eyes! Having never done a water shoot before I had to tackle a dramatic eye without it running in the least bit. As always, they started with Urban Decay's Primer Potion. As for our first sweep of color on the lids, I had used Ben Nye's powder eye shadow in Azalea mixed with Nurturing Force's "Seal the Deal". I was very impressed how this held up, hence the "Seal the Deal" being one of the products I can no longet live without!! Her definition was done again with more MUFE aqua cream shadows in the shade Anthracite. The cream blended beautifully. Finished off with a basic shimmery highlighter and of course, Stila's smudge Pot in Black and woolah! We had a look that came out exactly as planned.

Lastly, Ally's lips. We just threw on some gloss for a simple sheen. I still feel you could never go wrong with Tarte's double ended glosses!.
Feel free to check out more photos from this shoot on either our Fabulous Photographers Page (http://freshgrafix.net ) or on Ally's new Model Mayhem page! (She can be searched under MM# 2299895)

And then there was 3:

Recently I have been collaborating with a great team working on some new photoshoots. We have been trying to take things a little out of our comfort zones and make awesome photos!!!! Our model Ally, is new to modeling and already proven to be a natural! She decided to start modeling to prove to herself she is comfortable in her own skin, and what a knockout!!!! Dave, our photographer is most accustom to more active shooting like working with bands and live action work.  However, he took beauty to a whole new level. And myself, well lets just say I was dying to try some things I have never tried before and I have to say, the finished looks made me proud.

We had our first shoot done in a pool at night. This was my first shoot dealing with a full face of waterproof makeup. Thank you Makeup Forever!!! You have just proved yourself to me in more ways than one.

Our second shoot was a basic beauty shoot. We (well should I say Dave) got some great shots! It was the natural side of Ally. Some great headshot came out of this one and we had many laughs from the day!

And lastly, the most current shoot we did was a "wet" look. I still say it looked like a gatorade commercial. This was one of the trickiest shoots I have done yet. Full face of makeup taken with beads of water. The finished product kinda blew our minds!!!!!

We still have a few more shoots to play around with. As soon as I have the finished product in hand I am going to post the pics along with the makeup used for the looks! Can't wait for you to all see them!!!!

And here we are! 2 of the goofballs doing our thing :)

Temptu training

After quite a few years being in the Makeup Industry I decided it was time to venture into the "Age of the Airbrush". It has never been a main priority of mine up until recently. Airbrushing has now become one of the staple techniques in the industry.

After about a few months of consideration I decided I was better off taking a class then jumping the "gun" (airbrush gun that is) on my own. With careful research, I had decided that the courses Temptu had offered was the way to go. As the leading airbrush line within the industry, I felt they had the most to offer. And I was right

The course is given for a fantastic deal in the NYC and LA showroom. I had taken the course in the NYC location. It was offered from 10am to 4pm. The training consisted of a thorough understanding of how your airbrush operated. A puzzle that would have probably taking me days to solve having never used an airbrush in my life.  Being an ingredient junky, they also offered product knowledge in the course. And being a celiac, it was nice to learn the complete Temptu line is gluten free. After some exercises with the gun we were sent on our ways.  All in all it was a good experience. $150 for the course which is then redeemable in credit. I put that towards my compressor.

Now for the only bad part, the showroom was sold out of the gun!!! I was unable to come home with my new compressor and miniature foundation set and play with it! Also I was unable to bring my airbrush to 2 awesome photoshoots I had just worked on. And I never in 1000 years thought it would be so hard to find a Temptu gun in manhattan. Internet ordering, here I come!

Tools I currently cannot live without!

So over the past few years I have developed the few go to items in my kit that I cannot live without. Why not share them with you from the beginning!

Nurturing Force: Seal the Deal Eyes

What can I say. This is one product that absolutely took me by surprise. While walking around the NY Makeup show back in March, I stumbled upon this secret formula that no Makeup Artist should live without. Safe for sensitive skin, this aloe based water replacement turns any pigment into a stay proof wonder! (Even works great at making sheer liquid blushes)

The perfect blending brush. I dont know if I could even do a basic makeup application without this brush. I probably own roughly 6 of the same brush. Make that close to 15 if you start adding in different hairs and sizes too.


Tarte: Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler

Perfect is exactly what this eyelash curler it is. Never a pinch and easy to use on yourself and your clients. It gives you an amazing curl every time you use it. Unlike a bunch of curlers I have tried in the past, this one never leaves a seam on your eyelashes.

And lastly, Who doesn't love a great set of lashes!

The Beginning

Well, where do I start? For the past few years I have constantly juggled the idea of starting my own blog. I love testing out new products and constantly stalking google images for new looks. I have been a makeup junkie for as long as I can remember . Thanks to mom who had tried to get me over my fear of Michael Jackson’s "Thriller". Oh how I was petrified of that video. My mom actually had to sit me down and show me a behind the making. Ever since that day, I knew in my heart I wanted to be a makeup artist.

It began when I decided to enroll in cosmetology school freshly out of highschool and depsised every single moment of it!!! Finally, the rents understood and let me enroll in a makeup program called "From Dawn to Dusk". I knew I found my calling the moment I opened my giant train case filled with more makeup than I have ever owned.

From there I progressed to get my first cosmetics job which was with Sephora. What an amazing place to start out your profession in! I was able to learn about hundreds of different cosmetics brands and begin to establish my favorite lines. My store had chosen me to be part of a few amazing opportunities including the chance to work at the one and only Smashbox studios in LA for the first “Little Bra Company” runway show. What an experience that was. I was selected to do many more things with the company as well.

After a few years of working for Sephora, I ventured out into the excited world of freelance. (That was a joke lol). Every artist out there understands the instability of freelance retail. Lucky that only lasted a few months before I was promoted to an Account Executive and Education trainer for Tarte cosmetics. I had a blast. I got to travel, meet countless amounts of new and amazing people and network! After a sad short running with Tarte I ventured back out to the freelance world.

Well the freelance world wasn't exactly working too well. Any other freelancers out there have to drive 150 to 200 miles away to work a 4 hour event and not even get paid for travel time? Then you feel my pain. I took a job that wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. My amazing parents understood  how unhappy I was being out of the industry, they gave me the opportunity to go back to school and achieve my esthetics license.

Speed up to today and I am freshly out of school awaiting my test date for my esthetics license. In the meantime I am working with a few wonderful people in building my portfolio (pictures to soon follow). A shoot was just completed last week and let me tell you, it was a blast! Hopefully, anyone who decides to follow my blog will also be following the stepping stones of my wonderful career as an artist!