Melbourne Hair and Makeup Artist in Glen WaverleyMakeup is NOT photoshop!
Posted on January 30, 2019
Don’t be fooled into thinking that everyone on social media has amazing flawless skin!
Unfortunately, it’s becoming ‘the norm’ to edit photos. From removing wrinkles, smoothing skin texture, changing eye colour, the list is endless.
Have you ever seen a before and after photo where the clients scars, raised acne, wrinkles and fine lines have miraculously disappeared in the after shot? Believe me, this is not the work of a makeup brush or the artists mad skills, but more like “ALAKAZAM’ some great iPhone app skills.
The constant editing of images is building unrealistic expectations from our clients (of all ages) and it saddens me that there are so many artists heavily editing their work and misleading potential clients into what is achievable.
Dark under eyes, pigmentation, non- raised skin marks and discolouration can be corrected and disguised, but any texture on the skin will not just disappear into thin air. Skin texture cannot be removed.
Whilst makeup can still create amazing before and after results, I tell all of my clients that your makeup will only be as good as the skin its sitting on top of. If you struggle to even wash your face, remove your makeup at night, and use supermarket grade skin care, then please don’t expect that the makeup artists brush will have some crazy Harry Potter wizardry.
If you want to see real unedited work, then follow makeup artists who don’t use these filtering tools on their photos. Once you’ve seen the editing you won’t be able to unsee it! Signs of edited work are ultra-smooth skin with zero pores, no lines, insanely good before & after photos, fuzziness or shadowing, areas of the face blending into others, blurriness in the eyeshadow and brows, and every single person’s face looking exactly like the last one posted!
If you want your makeup to look amazing then please do yourself a favour, invest in quality professional skincare with active ingredients. Have regular skin treatments, use SPF daily and stay out of the sun. AND always take your selfies in great light, it really does work!
Please don’t put crazy high expectations upon your makeup artist. We go into every job with the very best of intentions, and that’s to make our clients look and feel beautiful.
Have you ever heard anyone say “I really regret looking after my skin”?…
Brides guide to creating a stress-free wedding morning
Posted on January 22, 2019
You’ve no doubt been scouring Pinterest and getting lost for hours in the images of happy carefree bridal parties in their robes. I too have been a bride and it was many (many) years before the craze of social media took hold. The things I stressed about just paled in significance to the magical day I had. Brides put so much pressure on having ‘the perfect day’ that sometimes they can forget to relax and take in the moment.
Here are my 12 top tips to help you create a calm, stress free wedding morning:
CATCH THOSE ZZZZ
Get to bed early! I know it’s tempting to stay up all night with your bridal party chatting over a few wines, but the last thing you want is to be tired or hungover. Jump into bed early with some beautiful fresh linen and a nice cup of herbal tea.
TIMING IS KEY
Ensure you have a running schedule from your hair & makeup artist and from your photographer. Your suppliers have been working weddings for many years and they always include some extra buffer time just in case a problem arises. Each and every step should be relaxed, not rushed. If you think your day is starting out a bit earlier than what you had thought, please just trust your wedding suppliers.
BOOGIE
Prepare a Spotify playlist of your favourite tunes. Music is a wonderful destressing tool. It’s also a nice way to break any silence and to get everyone in the mood for the fun day ahead.
NOURISH
It’s a good idea to have some pre-made platters and nibbles. Nothing greasy or messy. Fruit, sushi and finger sandwiches are always devoured. Also drink lots of water, hydration is key!
SPICK, SPAN AND READY TO GO…
If you’re getting ready at your home then make sure its spick and span. You’ll be surprised, but this can save time for when the artists and photographers arrive. The last thing you want to be doing is vacuuming or tidying up. Also have someone designated (Dads are always a good option) to tidying up any mess created throughout the day and preparing any bags to be taken to the ceremony/venue.
ARE WE THERE YET?
If your home is 45 minutes away or more from your venue then consider booking accommodation close by. This way you won’t be worried about being stuck in traffic and you won’t be up as early in the morning. Just be sure to write yourself a checklist of what to take with you.
IF THE DRESS FITS
Make sure everyone in the bridal party tries on their dress a few days before the big day. You don’t need any unexpected zipper malfunctions.
READ THE FINE PRINT
Please read all of the information your hair & makeup team provides on skin and hair preparation. Don’t go and have any last-minute waxing or buy some new beauty product you’ve never used. The last thing you want is a reaction!
ALLOW EXTRA TIME
Don’t wait to the last minute to get dressed. Surprisingly this can take time. Bridesmaids should all be dressed before the Bride. Also, if the brides dress has a button down back, take note of how long it takes to do this up. Some buttons can be fiddly, and can take much longer than you think.
WEATHER CHECK
Check the weather forecast, if its looking like rain, then think about purchasing a few clear umbrella’s. They’ll keep you dry and look amazing in your photos too.
DELIVERIES
Make sure important things like flowers, cakes etc. are being delivered exactly where you need them to go. Who wants to be rushing around picking up orders, or worse be the person responsible for holding the cake!
ENJOY BEING PAMPERED
Put down your phone and relax while your hair & makeup team are pampering you. Having a mobile service is a luxury, so sit back and enjoy every moment, as it doesn’t happen every day.
Your wedding morning is what you make of it. It’s a fun time, so relax, get pampered and enjoy quality time with your bridal party.
Jane xo
Avalon Castle Styled Wedding Shoot 7.12.16
Posted on December 20, 2016
When I was invited back by Wedding Services Melbourne to do hair and makeup for another styled shoot, I of course jumped at the opportunity. I was super excited when the location was revealed. Avalon Castle in Cockatoo, Victoria.
Who knew a Castle only an hour or so from Melbourne’s CBD even existed.
As I was driving through the beautiful hills of Emerald into Cockatoo, I knew it was going to be a great day. The sun was shining and I was working at a Castle (like who does that!!) with other amazing wedding suppliers.
The estate Avalon Castle is situated on is just breathtaking. It truly was a Castle, tucked away in Melbourne’s beautiful South East. The Castle boasts medieval styled architecture, a chapel with stained glass windows, grassed tiered outdoor amphitheatre, luxurious dining area, and stunning accommodation for the bride and groom.
I worked with some familiar faces again, and also a few new ones. Everyone on the shoot was so friendly and down to earth and having the upmost professionalism and dedication to their craft.
Location | Avalon Castle
Hair + Makeup | Ava Jane Hair & Makeup Artistry
Photography | Amanda Kilbourn Photography
Dress | Thafnis Dress Making & Alterations
Shoot Organiser | Wedding Services Melbourne
DJ | Matt Jefferies Entertainment
Jewellery | Valerene Bespoke Jewellery
Flowers | Floral by Design
Videography | Post Film Productions
Cake | Langfords Patisserie
Celebrant | Sharon Kershaw – Civil Celebrant
A few highlights on the day were seeing our stunning faux bride emerging in her handmade princess gown by Thafnis Dress Making. Also to our event organiser Matt Jefferies of Wedding Services Melbourne who bought along a dry ice machine. Watching the smoke pour from the machine onto the dance floor, surrounding our bride and groom was mesmerising.
For this shoot I kept the makeup natural, fresh and glowing, bringing out all of our models best features. Our beautiful bride Nola has the most amazing skin, so why cover that up! We used soft purple and grey tones on her eyes and a one of my favourite lip colours MAC Viva Glam V. For Nola’s hair, I curled it all first to create body and texture. Then it was put up into an elegant chignon, allowing the backless gown to shine. One of the products I used in Nola’s hair was Batiste Oomph My Locks XXL Volume Spray. It adds volume to limp hair and creates a gritty texture on the hair shaft, allowing you to create beautiful full styles.
A huge thank you to Matt once again for organising such an amazing day, and an extra special thank you to Amanda Kilbourn Photography. The amount of work Amanda puts into each and every photo is amazing. It’s always exiting receiving a file filled with stunning photos.
Jane xoxo
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