Belle Couture & King Street Photo Weddings: A Picture-Perfect Day

Recently, I had the privilege to work on a photo shoot with some creative, talented individuals. Michel Berda of King Street Photo Weddings had the idea to photograph models on location through large portrait frames. Michel is a man on a mission when he shoots; and always has a story to tell, which keeps rapport easy and flowing. His vision had stunning results.

Thanks to Sarah Black and Kelly Greene of Belle Couture Bridal for showcasing some of their amazing gowns. That store is full of dresses that are stunningly beautiful and not run-of-the-mill. These ladies are detail-oriented and cater to their clients lovingly.

Havens Frames of Mount Pleasant provided the large frames.

Boone Hall Plantation was the backdrop on a lovely day. Spectacular scenery that captures the essence of a Southern Wedding.

And the models. . . this was a tri-fecta of lovely ladies. None of us had met prior to that day, but each contributed to what was to be a true team effort by all. Thank you to Angela Finley of Charleston; Angela Turner of Greenville, and Emily Breeze Ross of Charlotte. Each of these striking ladies can be found on Facebook and Model Mayhem.

Thank you all for making this a wonderful day with great results!

www.KingStreetPhotoWeddings.com

www.BelleCoutureBridal.com

www.HavensFineFraming.com

www.BooneHallPlantation.com

All makeup by Pamela Lesch, Makeup Artist Charleston.

Longlasting L'oreal Lipglosses

"Sangria"
"Petal"
"Suede"
"Barely Nude"

With compliments to my FB/blogger friend, "Lulu Darling". . . holla!!!!

I have ongoing, electronic/internet relationships, based on MAKEUP, with several different like-minded gals. My Nashville friend, Melissa (aka "Lulu Darling"), has turned me on to a line of L'oreal Infallible lipglosses that last up to 6 hours! They are readily available at any CVS, Wal-Mart, or Target.

Indeed, they do last a long time. And who would have thought that a true GLOSS could have such lasting power and great pigment, too!

My pal suggested I try the shade "Sangria" (her personal fave) which is a deep, rosy pink. . . it's a great match for a lot of brunettes with naturally deep-pink shaded lips. I've grown to love this shade best.

The other shades in my current Infallible rotation are: Petal (a light, frosty pink), Suede (a goldish-nude), and Barely Nude (a pinkish-nude). I've labeled each color under their respective photo.

Thanks, Lulu Darling, for the recommendation. Please check out this talented fashionista/yogini's blog. . . and encourage her to write more! www.LuluDarling.com

Thanks, L'oreal, for the great product.

Equal Lip-Time for Blondes!

Last week I had the privilege of working with a very makeup-savvy bridesmaid, who is blonde. This was someone who knew exactly what she wanted (colors, coverage, etc.), and so we struck up a great conversation. I'd say she was an amateur pro. She was makeup friendly, has tried lots of formulations and colors, and had definite opinions on what looked best on the traditional blonde haired, blue-eyed gal.

One of the things I looked into after our conversation was the product pictured above. Loreal's Color Juice in "Pina Colada." It's the perfect nude lip for blondes. . . just a hint of color, and divinely glossy. Not to mention it can be found in most drug stores.

So, thanks, Elizabeth! I appreciate the advice, enjoyed our chat, and LOVE the look. Blondes. . . if you would prefer your baby-blues be the focal point of your makeup, go out and buy this great spring/summer shade for your lips.

(If you'd like a little more staying power, I'd recommend MAC's soft lip liner, limited edition, in a shade called "Naked" applied underneath.)

"Hair-Friendly"

First of all, let me state for the record, that I am no Hair Stylist. But, let me also say that I am "hair-friendly."

The more photo shoots I work, the more I realize how handy it is to incorporate a few other skills. . . this is where my hair-friendliness comes into play. I've held lighting equipment for photographers, clamped clothing for stylists, and the list goes on. I think it comes down to being willing to jump in and help wherever needed; being a part of a team.

Make no mistake: my passion and talents lie in makeup artistry. But back in the day, I can remember my sisters, father, mother, and grandmothers lining up for haircuts, styles, and Toni perms. I don't know why they thought at 12 or 13 years old, I could do it, but they had confidence in me, so I did it. And those Toni perms (on my grandmother) lasted. . . somehow, I even made sure the hair ends were covered with those little papers and neatly wrapped around the rods. No frizz on my watch!

Anyway, this role came back to me last week at a photo shoot. Thank goodness for a comb, hurricane-proof hairspray, and bobby pins.

Like I said, make no mistake: I am hair-friendly, but by no means a hair stylist. THAT is an art form in itself, and my hat's off to those wonderful stylists who make hair gorgeous every day.

All photos courtesy of Michel Berda; shot on location in Belle Couture Bridal Salon (Thanks, Sarah & Kelly). Stay tuned for a forthcoming blog about that glorious day.

Sweat out the bad til the beautiful shines through. . .

It's been a long time since I've felt this pretty. I know that's an out-there thing to say, but it comes from a good place, not from conceit.

Today I attended my first bikram (hot yoga) class in over a year. My first obstacle was just getting out the door, and I'm so glad I did.

Honestly, in this day and age of fast everything (food, chores, errands, keeping up with family and friends), it's easy to let yourself go. I started feeling that way. . . like I was letting myself go. I don't want that for me, my husband, or my children. I need to be at my best to help keep them at theirs. So, this new leaf was turned, and I decided hot yoga was just the detox I needed. All the coffee, red wine, sodium, sugars. . . all the bad stuff I've consumed recently, needed to GO!

Ninety minutes in a room heated to 105 degrees, along with a packed class of 40 plus people, is enough to put your head in a weird place. I know enough about yoga to know that a capacity class, heated to that temperature could lead to some ugly happenings. But, I was ready to let it all pour out. And indeed, it did. I managed to get a spot at the back of the class, with enough arm space between me and the girl to my left and the guy to my right. Lots of men in this class, and I couldn't help but think they were there to prep for the Cooper River Bridge Run (this upcoming Saturday, March 27).

I'm not usually a person who perspires much, let alone sweats. But bikram is the magic trick for me. About a half hour into the class, and after several "lions breaths" to stoke the internal fire, I felt the glorious drops of sweat leaving my body and drenching my towel and mat. It felt amazing. I felt strong, capable, and "in the moment." That's what yoga does for me. Keeps me grounded and in the present. No thoughts of yesterdays or tomorrows. . . only about that one foot, rooted to the ground, supporting me and my body. As a Libra, balance is a theme in my life. Yoga is such a blessing because it's based on balance. What you do for one side of your body, you do for the other.

So, when the class came to an end, and I was lying there in corpse pose, thanking my body and my god for allowing me to do the entire class, I was sad to see it end. But happy to be leaving the guy next to me who was swishing around on his mat full of sweat.

When I got out to my car, I looked in the rear view mirror. I thought I looked really good. Not a stitch of makeup; hair matted down and wet, ponytail askew . . . but my face was flushed and glowed. I love yoga and all the natural beauty it brings to a body and a face.

Namaste.

FStoppers Features Brownie Harris

If you've followed my blog, you'll know that Brownie Harris is a photographer and gentleman whom I admire greatly. Have since the day I met him. I was especially pleased that two young photographers from Charleston chose to do a short feature film about Brownie's life and career. This is an informative, entertaining 10 minutes. . . I hope you'll watch. I know you'll enjoy.

During my correspondence with Lee Morris, one of the filmmakers, I learned this about his company, FStoppers. . .

"Fstoppers was created in 2009 in an attempt to organize online information pertaining to professional photography of all kinds. Founders Patrick Hall (www.patrickhallphotography.com) and Lee Morris (www.rlmorris.com) wanted to have a site that could not only feature high quality videos of photographers working but would also create a community for creative professionals to discuss their work and the work of others."

Fstoppers Profile: Brownie Harris from FStoppers on Vimeo.

www.BrownieHarris.com

A Look I Love. . .

Kara DioGuardi, judge on American Idol, has been rocking a great look this year. Just sending props her way. . . or more likely, I should send kudos to her makeup artist and stylist.

I love, Love, LOVE the combo of brunette with great, strong eye brows along with a pop of pink lipstick. (See previous post about MAC's Viva Glam in "Lady Gaga.") I think that's what Kara's sporting these days on AI (though not in the photo above). I hope her MUA has plenty of Lady Gaga on hand because it sure is hard to come by at the MAC counters right now. Thanks to this look, it's been a sell-out everywhere.

In any case. . . great look, great job!

www.maccosmetics.com