Look 4

Like my other shoots, I want to keep to theme of keeping it simple. For my shoot 4, I have a vision of all white. I feel an all white suit can look very classy and fashion forward. 

I want to keep the hair completely slicked back off the face, mimicking 'boyish' hair. 

The reason for wanting all white is because I want the whole shoot to look very pure and crisp.

And also really focus on my makeup skill and really push the idea of no beauty retouching and celebrate the use of makeup and creating beautiful skin and makeup with no editing! 

I want to create a makeup look that is on trend and different. For example experimenting with bleached brows or combing foundation through them to create an almost blonde textured brow. To contrast against a plum smokey eye, I chose plum to pop against the white. 

I chose to collaborate with a photographer for this shoot as I had trouble with lighting i the studio last time and the photographer and I both agreed to have an off white/light grey background as I didn't want to loose any of the white suit. I am a bit nervous about working with someone else but I'm sure I'm in good hands!! 

I knew this look was quite challenging so I managed to practice before the shoot.

On the day of the shoot, I may use individual eye lashes, as I felt the models eye lashes were a little sparse and I didn't want this to look odd on camera, seeing as I wont be able to retouch or add any. 

Am I on schedule?

I am slightly behind according to my schedule, I think this may be because at first I was struggling with my idea. However I still feel confident with my timing and everything seems to be working out. I am shooting 3 times this week so fingers crossed!! 

Planning Shoot 3

Time is definitely starting to catch up with me! I didn't realise how quick the time would go!

For this shoot I decided to team up with Fashion Stylist Miné Sonmez. I felt I needed a bit of help and inspiration with my shoots, so thought this was a perfect oppurtunity to see what Miné came up with and again to influence upcoming shoots aswell.

To help Miné get a clear idea of what we were creating, I set up a pinterest board for us, to bounce ideas off one another around my theme 'androgyny.' I let Miné know that I wanted it to be again quite simplistic like the other shoots, again keeping the styling quite masculine. With elements of femininity, like the use of jewellery and shoes.

Like my second shoot, I want to keep the makeup quite simple, nothing too over dramatic to take away from the styling. yet still executed and flawless. 

To add texture and dimension to the eyes, I thought about using an eye gloss over the lid of the eye, hoping it will catch the light beautifully. 

L O C A T I O N 

I decided to change this shoot up a bit, and try a location shoot. I still want the look to be quite editorial inspired and felt a simple background would work best. 

I have found quite a high class area, with various cream, grand buildings that I think will work well with the styling. 

Here is an example of styling put together, I am still unsure about the hat, but will see what it will look like on camera. 

Taking inspiration from the catwalk by Charlotte Tilbury

Model Problems!

Sourcing models have been one of my biggest problems so far within this unit, I've had two of my models drop out last minute! I had to use two of my closest friends luckily!

Shoot 2 Analysis

So of course I feel it's important for me to analysis each shoot and reflect how it went.

UNEDITED

Like my first shoot, I wasn't happy with the lighting. I wished it could of been brighter. This shoot was done the at the first time which is why the lighting is the same. At least I know for next time.
This shoot came out exactly how I imagined it. the styling really worked and I love how masculine it looks, contrasting against the sexy red lip.

Pylot Magazine

PYLOT is a concept magazine that was born out of frustration with the fashion and photography industry and its portrayal of models at present. The idea not to beauty retouch is a backlash to all of the overtly retouched images that we see in fashion and advertising photography on a daily basis and they still show how beautiful the models can look with the confidence of knowing this is how they actually look.

I found it helpful to research into PYLOT magazine as it was interesting seeing how they produce their images with no beauty retouching. Each spread/image in their magazine is innovative and different to the next. 

This magazine has an ethical and academic approach to the fashion photography of today.

I was actually lucky enough to do my work based learning here at the magazine, along side editor in chief Max Barnett. 

It was an absolutely amazing experience that I really took inspiration from, especially being behind the scenes as I got to see the creation of the next upcoming second issue of the magazine. This really motivated me to keep going with my shoots. Below are some images from the magazine. 

I Did It! First Shoot...Done!

UNEDITED

So, I did it! Completed my first official shoot. I really love the way the styling and makeup turned out. The blue and white work really well together. Giving it that feminine touch but with a twist of masculine, by using a smart shirt and oversized coat.

I am undecided on whether I like it with or without the shirt. I feel both works really well and will probably use one of each for my final outcome. although the image without the shirt can be seen as quite sexy, I feel it still looks quite tasteful without looking too glamorous or promiscuous. As there isn't a lot of cleavage, it almost looks more 'boyish'.

These images are obviously both post production (Remember no beauty retouching) the images will only be enhanced, with tools such as brightness, contrast, curves and colour balance, etc. Although I do wish the lighting was brighter in this shoot. I feel the background could of been crisp white. I think I wouldn't of needed to alter the images as much if the lighting was better.

However, I am very happy with how the skin turned out in the end. In my practice look, I remember saying it looked too heavy, whereas in these photos the skin looks beautiful and the glow on the cheeks catches the light beautifully.

For my next shoots I will keep in mind the lighting.

Practice

Experimenting with colours and textures. I love how the gloss turned out and feel it would work really well with photography. 

Look 2

Above, is a mood board I created for my second shoot. Again like my first one, keeping it very simple, using just black and white for the styling. Again using a plain white background to compliment the outfit.
I wanted to create more of a masculine vibe with this shoot, so the styling will mimic a male suit. Using a typical white shirt and black blazer. I feel the white and black work well together and very effective on their own.

M A K E  U P

Because I want to really play on the word androgyny and keep it all very masculine, I don't want to over do the makeup. Therefore will keep it very simple and light.

Using warm browns around the eye to slightly define and bringing it up to the brow slightly, so create a shadow, which almost mimics more of a 'manly' frown.

To contrast well with the black and white, I will try a pop of colour on the lips.
Although my first shoot was a mixture of both masculine an feminine touches along with the 'sensual' styling. I still wanted to add a little bit of a sexy edge to this shoot, without being too promiscuous and obvious. which is why I thought a red colour on the lips would work well. Red lips is instantly sexy by itself. Without taking away from the androgynous edge.

Planning My First Shoot

When planning for this shoot I put together a mood board of some of the images that inspired my ideas and to also create a clearer idea of what I want to produce.

S T Y L I N G  A N D  S E T T I N G 

For my first official look I want the setting to be very simplistic and feel the best way to produce this is in the studio with a clean white background and keeping the styling very minimal as well. I have started to buy a couple of items. I was strongly influenced by the very young Kate Moss in the Calvin Klein advert (top left) I love how simple yet effective just a blazer can look. However I still would like to try and style my model in a shirt as well to really play up that masculine edge. But still choosing pastel shades to keep a little bit of femininity. I can try both looks and see which I like best.

Like last S/S Cool blues are very much back on trend again, on the high street as well as on the catwalk.

Also seen in the colder months too... Hanae Mori By Yu Amatsu Fall 2015 Tokyo Fashion Week

I feel the baby blue will contrast well with the simplistic background and compliment the androgynous edge. As I don't want everything to be so masculine, so the pastel colour gives it that feminine touch. 

Because the shoot is very much androgynous inspired, I also feel it's important to direct my model in terms of posing and facial expressions. The way the model acts and poses will definitely determine and portray the masculine feel I want. 

For each shoot, I wanted to play on the word androgynous in different ways, so for this shoot I would like to really combine both feminine and masculine. So keeping the colours and makeup very feminine but the poses and facial expressions quite hard and masculine. Although the blazer and shirt can be quite masculine, I thought wearing just the blazer gives it that sensual feel, whilst keeping it very tasteful with a masculine touch. 

M A K E  U P 

Like I've said before I want to keep it very fashion and trend forward. As seen on the catwalks most seasons, the skin is always kept very natural, dewy and fresh. It was really about playing with textures upon the skin. This is something I really wanted to include in all my makeup looks. 

S K I N 

As I am not doing and beauty retouching, I want to make sure the skin is flawless, yet still looking natural. So touching up where I need to but still letting the natural skin show through. 

I will really play on the high points of the face, where the light naturally hits the face. So using light reflecting products and highlights to bring them forward. I want to ensure this is quite full on to make sure it shows up on camera, the studio lights should hit this beautifully. 

E Y E S 

Using soft browns and hits of a bluey/green to compliment the blue in the coat. I will also really smoke this out to create a sensual, sultry effect. 

L I P S 

As for lips, I will keep very minimal to keep the eyes and styling as the main focus. 

H A I R 

Again, playing on the androgyny theme and almost mimicking male hair. Keeping it very sleek and away from the face. I think a side parting would work well, giving it that feminine touch. 

As this was my first shoot I wanted to practice this look before I shot as I was feeling quite nervous! 

P R A C T I C E 

Overall I was happy with the outcome of the practice, however up close I was worried about the skin looking too heavy. As I explained in the plan, I want the skin to look very natural. This is sometimes down to the models skin and also touch ups. 

however I was happy with the outcome of the eyes and feel the smokey brown worked well with the nude lips. Without looking too over the top and glamorous. which I did not want.

w h a t  w i l l  I  d o  n e x t  t i m e ?

I think to help I will prep the skin more, so really working in the moisturiser, get the blood flowing! And other hydrating creams if I need to and ensuring everything is smooth. Again like I said using light reflecting products and I will definitely use less foundation and do the eyes first, that way I can clean up any fall out without disturbing the face and having to touch up and add more. 

Shopping for styling

Today I went shopping for some of my final shoots, as my theme was androgyny! I knew I to use oversized coats, to especially enhance the shoulders and also some suit like trousers. 

Influences

I was recently looking at past trends and came across Haider Ackermann Autumn/winter 2013 catwalk show and loved the use of shape against the contrast of the pale skin. As well as the over sized boyfriend like blazer. This is very similar to what I would like to use as my styling direction. 

Gill Sandler Fall 2014

Another trend that is massive recently and especially this summer, is the slicked back look. Celebrities like Kim K has been sporting this especially. 

Inspiration

I have been using my pinterest to collect inspirational images that help define by concept.

Comme des Garçons 1987

I absolutely love this image, simplistic yet effective with the black and white outfits, powerful stance and serious expressions. 

Kate Moss by Peter Lindbergh, especially influential with his use of photography and support of no beauty retouching.  

The difference between this image is amazing and how different skin can look before! The freckles are actually quite beautiful.