The Times Magazine

Friday 19th November

Time to get in to the party spirit and get your glad rags on! And if you want a new party dress and need inspiration on what to buy, then get hold of The Times Magazine on Sunday 5th December (I think)! I was assisting Liberty Shaw on the shoot for party wear. The hairdresser was about 3 hours late, as his flight was delayed from Glasgow that morning, so it was a long day! We had four models to make up, one of which, Signe Kayser, should be a Supermodel, she was so beautiful! Most of the clothes were ridiculously expensive, but there were a few shockers in there from Mango, but you would never have guessed!! I particularly liked the red number..........

Hair and make-up for Sarah Harding

Wednesday 17th November

Sarah Harding is working on her first presenting job for a TV show, Dating In The Dark. I was up at 4:50 to get myself ready and make my way on public transport (boo hoo), all the way up to Highgate West Hill, to start at 7. Oh someone get me a taxi, lol! I never knew hills like that existed in London, blimey!!! The house that is being used for the show is huge, and beautiful. I am told that a family with two kids live there, and that they have moved in to a flat in Belsize Park for a couple of months, whilst renting out their house for the filming, (and are making a few bob whilst they are at it too)! It's not as big as the house directly opposite though, which apparently is the house used for Fame Academy, and is the second biggest residence in England after Buckingham Palace!!

Anyway, Kolbrun Ran is the key hair and make-up artist. I assist her in getting Sarah ready from 7 until 9am, when Sarah should be ready to start. When 11am comes, Kolbrun is free to go home, and I stay with Sarah all day, touching up her hair and make-up in between takes. After each bit of filming is done, Sarah and I hang out in her room whilst the crew are setting up for the next section. As you can probably imagine, it did seem a little strange at first, hanging out in her dressing room just the two of us, but she is so lovely, and quickly made me feel really comfortable in being there. I'm sure it was a little odd for her too!

So what can I tell you about Sarah..... well it was her birthday on this day. The days are soooooo long and tiring, but Sarah didn't complain one bit that it was her birthday and she was working. We didn't finish until about 9pm, and she still has about an hour and a half drive back to hers, and has to be back for 7am the next morning. She is very professional and just gets on with the job. She doesn't complain when we are filming outside and she's freezing. She is partial to oysters (her boyfriend made them for her the day before to celebrate her birthday), and brings in her favourite mug from home to have her coffee in, bless! She is a natural at presenting- I am sure many job offers will come from this, and she is STUNNING!

I got home about 10ish that night, and had to be up the same time the next day to start at seven again. OMG, I felt soooooo sick on my way there it was awful, but worth it! I was fine after a few hours, lol!

L'uomo Vogue Shoot

Wednesday 10th November

Well aren't I a lucky girl! The amazing, super inspiring photographer Iain Mckell asked me if I wanted to do male grooming for L'uomo Vogue! Obviously I didn't have to think about it for even a second! He was shooting two portraits- Matthew McGuinness who is an artist, and Evan Calder Williams who is a philosopher. We used Matthews house in Honor Oak Park to get the guys ready, and shot in the local area. David Nolan was doing the styling, he knows Iain from being at the same agency. I had such a great day, everyone was sooooo nice, and that always makes such a difference. I've had a sneak peak at the pictures since, and they look beautiful. But of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from Iain!

http://www.iainmckell.com/

Belle Amie for Look magazine

Wednesday 3rd November

The amazing James Molloy, whom I have a lot to be thankful for, as he has taught me so much over the years, was who I was assisting today. Belle Amie, who sadly just got eliminated from the X Factor last Sunday, were going to be posing for a shoot for Look magazine. They arrived straight from having to leave the X Factor house for good, and so had quite a lot of belongings with them! But despite the unfortunate events of the last few days, the girls remain positive about their future, and seem confident that they will suceed.

I did little Irish Rebecca's make-up first of all. She has a lovely little face. All the girls were delightful, and for the record, they get on like a house on fire.

There was a black, white, and red theme to the styling, so we carried this through to the make-up, and kept it quite expensive looking. All the girls' nails were terrible though, so I had quite a job making them look half decent! But in the end, they all looked super cute, and the make-up suited them to a T!

So keep a look out for the shoot coming soon, I hope you like it!

Pam Hogg film

Saturday 30th October

Up just after 5am to get to the other side of London (Hackney), for 8am. I was very excited to be involved in Pam Hogg's SS11 film- To Kingdom Come, so I didn't care what time it was! I was going to be assisting make-up artist Kate Lindsey, whom I haven't worked with before, and she was extremely lovely and very down to earth, just like me! ;o)

The make-up was almost identical to that of Pam Hogg's SS 2011 catwalk show. I especially loved the black twig like eyebrows, and the gold heart on the cupids bow! Very cute. We had just a couple of hours to make up the 7 models, including Jaimie Winstone, in the photographer's (Julia Kennedy) home, before the team needed to set off to the forest where the film would be shot. As usual, things ran slightly late, Jaimie Winstone caused a considerable amount of stress, as she didn't turn up until about 10:30, due to over sleeping I think, and everyone should have been ready, and left at 10am.

I made up Betty from Models 1. The other models were Ben Grimes @ Models 1, Milly @ Union, Danielle @ Elite, Sadie @ Elite, and Lakiza @ Profile.

I can't wait to see the finished result! And I should get some stills too! :o)

Exhibition for the BBC

Thursday 28th October

Actress Elizabeth Nestor was my model for this project, who has appeared in Eastenders and The Tudors, amongst many other TV and theatrical productions. Sarner LTD are designing an exhibition for Doctor Who, and part of the exhibition requires a special effect talking head shot. This involves shooting the face only, in a rig to keep the model as still as possible. A life cast of the actors face is made, and the footage is projected on to the cast. Elizabeth would be acting with her face only, the rest of her would be blacked out, so I needed to bring out her eyes, but keep the make-up neutral, and quite natural.

The exhibition opens in Spring next year.