Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
An Open Letter to BRIDES Magazine
Dear Editors, Copy Writers, and general informers at BRIDES Magazine,
As a beauty professional in the wedding industry, I have subscribed to your magazine for several years now. I think it's important to keep up-to-date on wedding trends, fashions, and what brides these days are thinking about. You typically have several great campaign spreads that tip me off as to what I will be asked for in the upcoming wedding seasons. There's also usually a few beauty products in there that I would not have been exposed to, otherwise. For all this and more, I thank you.
However, in this most recent edition, June 2011, I really have to ask...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!
"No Makeup Artist, No Problem?" Really? Do you have any idea how much money these women spend on their photography? It is, by far and large, one of THE most important parts of their wedding day. When the flowers have died, and the cake eaten, and the presents unwrapped, what are they going to have left besides new housewares? That's right, their photos. And the one thing that will be in almost 80% of their shots will be THE BRIDE. So, why on earth would you suggest the possibility that they jeopardize their investment on photography by not having professional makeup?
Of course, I had to read the story. You must have been joking when you published that. Starting with a beautiful woman: DUH. The mark of a good makeup artist is NOT how pretty she can make and already pretty woman. But guess what? Most brides don't look like that! They have their own concerns- pimples, wrinkles, dark circles, small lips, small eyes, wormy looking eyebrows... THAT'S really what we are there to help them deal with. It's great and wonderful and all that you used such a naturally perfect girl for your piece, but come'on...that's about as realistic as an ice-cream wedding cake in the Vegas summer.
So let's say that by some chance, the woman reading these is as flawless as your model. DO YOU REALLY THINK BLACK AND GREEN EYESHADOW IS THE WAY TO GO??? I can count the number of times on one hand that the situation warranted green eyeshadow. And shimmer? Course I have a lot of shimmer in my pallets. But green and shimmer at the same time for a wedding day? Assuming that combo is pretty, as your spread does make it look pretty good, how many girls do you really think that's gonna look good on? The rinky-dink caveat that you put two pages later suggesting other colors does not nearly make up for the gigantic full page demo of makeup that really doesn't suit most women. You could have at least offered a bigger disclaimer somewhere in there.
I was married three years ago. I have been a makeup artist for seven. Guess what? I had a makeup artist on my wedding day. I knew damn well how to do my own makeup, but I not only was shaky with nerves, I sure could use someone else's perception. In fact, I've done SEVERAL weddings where other beauty professionals have hired me just for those reasons alone.
Your article really does your target audience wrong, and if your going offer DYI advice, stick to what you know...programs and favors.
Kindly,
Amelia C
As a beauty professional in the wedding industry, I have subscribed to your magazine for several years now. I think it's important to keep up-to-date on wedding trends, fashions, and what brides these days are thinking about. You typically have several great campaign spreads that tip me off as to what I will be asked for in the upcoming wedding seasons. There's also usually a few beauty products in there that I would not have been exposed to, otherwise. For all this and more, I thank you.
However, in this most recent edition, June 2011, I really have to ask...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!
"No Makeup Artist, No Problem?" Really? Do you have any idea how much money these women spend on their photography? It is, by far and large, one of THE most important parts of their wedding day. When the flowers have died, and the cake eaten, and the presents unwrapped, what are they going to have left besides new housewares? That's right, their photos. And the one thing that will be in almost 80% of their shots will be THE BRIDE. So, why on earth would you suggest the possibility that they jeopardize their investment on photography by not having professional makeup?
Of course, I had to read the story. You must have been joking when you published that. Starting with a beautiful woman: DUH. The mark of a good makeup artist is NOT how pretty she can make and already pretty woman. But guess what? Most brides don't look like that! They have their own concerns- pimples, wrinkles, dark circles, small lips, small eyes, wormy looking eyebrows... THAT'S really what we are there to help them deal with. It's great and wonderful and all that you used such a naturally perfect girl for your piece, but come'on...that's about as realistic as an ice-cream wedding cake in the Vegas summer.
So let's say that by some chance, the woman reading these is as flawless as your model. DO YOU REALLY THINK BLACK AND GREEN EYESHADOW IS THE WAY TO GO??? I can count the number of times on one hand that the situation warranted green eyeshadow. And shimmer? Course I have a lot of shimmer in my pallets. But green and shimmer at the same time for a wedding day? Assuming that combo is pretty, as your spread does make it look pretty good, how many girls do you really think that's gonna look good on? The rinky-dink caveat that you put two pages later suggesting other colors does not nearly make up for the gigantic full page demo of makeup that really doesn't suit most women. You could have at least offered a bigger disclaimer somewhere in there.
I was married three years ago. I have been a makeup artist for seven. Guess what? I had a makeup artist on my wedding day. I knew damn well how to do my own makeup, but I not only was shaky with nerves, I sure could use someone else's perception. In fact, I've done SEVERAL weddings where other beauty professionals have hired me just for those reasons alone.
Your article really does your target audience wrong, and if your going offer DYI advice, stick to what you know...programs and favors.
Kindly,
Amelia C
Friday, June 10, 2011
Las Vegas Mad Men
MAD LOVE FOR MAD MEN
An inspired shoot, presented by Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings and Victor Sizemore Photography
Hair and Makeup by Amelia C
When Summer Watkins from the design extrodinare blog Grey Likes Weddings called me for a Mad Men themed shoot, I just about squealed. I'm not a TV watcher, but have gotten hooked on 1960's drama and was totally enamored with the beauty trends of the time period. Set in the ever posh Palms Place, I could not have asked for a better team. Photographers from all over the globe attended this workshop to glean from Victor the telling of a story thru photography. I now, humbly but excitedly, present the fruits of our labor.
Thanks to Evonne & Darren Photography, Eliza Jane Photography, Erin Lassahn, and Ashleigh Taylor Photography for these awesome pictures!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Shoot @ Trump International Hotel
You know something good is about to happen when you take a bunch of chicks, tell them to have at it, and end up designing a mock-up wedding just for the fun of it! Special thanks to Savannah, our "bride.". My doll, you are truly beautiful, inside and out.
Catherine from Layers of Lovely Floral Design did her usual exquisite job on the floral arangements, and she is so fun to work with! Kristin from Gimme Some Sugar didn't skip and beat and produced desserts that deserve their own editorial spread.
The delicious candy bar was set up and stocked by Erin from For the Love of Candy. Nancy from Creative Coverings provided the gorgeous linens for the rental furniture provided by Niki from Rebel Party Rentals. The beautiful day was made even more beautiful with the help of Annette from Chaviano Couture who provided the jewelry and wedding dress and Nicole from Tux One who provided the tuxedo.
The whole day was planned and designed by Lacy and Kaila from Plush Weddings and Events and the invitations were made by Lori and Paper & Thread Studios. These beautiful pictures were taken by Amy Campbell from Amy Rae Photography.
As always, I had a great time doing what I love to do!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Krista rocks the martrimony like none other...
Krista was married on February 19th and she was such an wonderful person to work with. She had such a fun and colorful wedding. Krista wore a pink crinoline and a smasgubg pair of shoes by Betsey Johnson.
Good times were had by all!
Thanks to Brian Saculles for taking these beautiful and playful pictures of Krista and her husband on their wedding day.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Photo Shoot with Tricia Bennett, inspired by Elizabeth Taylor in the film Butterfield 8.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
You waxed what?! A hairy tale...
On one of my infrequent days off this spring, I ended up in a small boutique spa near my house. I live on the outer edges of Las Vegas, which means that in order to get most of my product, I have to commit to at least 30 minutes in the car. Refusing to go more than a handful of miles for a new exfoliating mask, I found myself at Elements. Earlier that day, I had come to the awful realization that I had short, little black hairs coming out of my nose. Great. All I could think of what how many clients had gazed at me for an hour close up while I did their makeup, all the while noticing this. This is why, after a lovely esthitician named Cheri helped me, I ended up on my back in her room with a glob of wax stuffed up my nose.
Note: I am generally not in the habit of letting strange women put hot wax into my orifices upon first meeting. Cheri was exceptionally charming.
To say I was terrified is an understatement. I made her do only one nostril at a time. After the wax hardened, she pinched my nose right above the booger-on-a-stick and pulled down fast. I hardly felt it. It was amazing! By far the least painful waxing I have ever done! I was flaring my nostrils in delight, checking myself out in the review mirror all the way home.
Just when the beauty profession thinks they've got it covered, along comes something new. Not that nose waxing was new, but it's not exactly on the "Specials" board. In my life both as a woman and a makeup artist, I have waxed all the major stuff you've heard about before, except for the armpits (STILL cannot bring myself to do it). Maybe because I'm in people faces all day, I'm hyper aware of any fuzz that doesn't belong to a lash line or eye brow. I have to say, now I'm an addict. I must get my nose waxed again, if only for the satisfaction of knowing I've finally found something to wax that doesn't hurt!
Note: I am generally not in the habit of letting strange women put hot wax into my orifices upon first meeting. Cheri was exceptionally charming.
To say I was terrified is an understatement. I made her do only one nostril at a time. After the wax hardened, she pinched my nose right above the booger-on-a-stick and pulled down fast. I hardly felt it. It was amazing! By far the least painful waxing I have ever done! I was flaring my nostrils in delight, checking myself out in the review mirror all the way home.
Just when the beauty profession thinks they've got it covered, along comes something new. Not that nose waxing was new, but it's not exactly on the "Specials" board. In my life both as a woman and a makeup artist, I have waxed all the major stuff you've heard about before, except for the armpits (STILL cannot bring myself to do it). Maybe because I'm in people faces all day, I'm hyper aware of any fuzz that doesn't belong to a lash line or eye brow. I have to say, now I'm an addict. I must get my nose waxed again, if only for the satisfaction of knowing I've finally found something to wax that doesn't hurt!
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