TBC project journal: February 2015

Tutorial feedback - 10th Feb

Before my last tutorial I had been veering away from the idea of doing a website because I wasn't sure the layout would put across my concept very well. However during the tutorial we talked about how actually even with a book I can't force the viewer to look through in a certain order, because realistically who looks through a photo book in the right order! After looking through a few sites that might be inspiring for me I came back to the idea of online but in the form of a simple stylish blog based on classics rather than a heavily structured website. This will also allow me to show any test shoots that I do and include features on catwalk looks, inspirational make up looks, history of classics and new classics, making it a much broader topic but with a specific theme of classics too.

One of the websites/blogs I was shown was 'Keep It Chic' by Preston Davis (http://keepitchic.com/), I particularly liked it because of its simple style, focusing on images and minimal but stylish writing. I think one of the reasons it is such a popular site is because of how easy it is to browse and get the idea without having to read for any length of time, I hadn't really thought that a blog could work like this before, a sort of medium between a blog and a formal website. The style and layout also relate back to my initial concept that I wanted my outcome to be image based as a collective of inspiration for looks, allowing me to post more images and have them all linked together in some way (eg. a keyword) for interest in individual topics/classics.

Another point we addressed in the tutorial is that I need to better establish my audience to give myself a clear idea of what they would want from my blog to make sure the topics are most relevant. This is something I really need to work on/research, whether that be a more clear viewer profile or some sort of picture board depicting my audience.

I next need to create the structure of the blog in my next IT lesson so I have the basis to create regular posts on and can work on tweeking the layout and design as I go along.

Shoot - Bun - Images & Review

Some behind the scenes make-up from the shoot:

My favourite photos from the shoot:

Overall I think this look worked better than I thought it would, I was concerned the handmade petals would look to crafty and distract from the overall image. I'm really pleased with the photographic side of the image too, there is a soft but clear effect and actually although I wasn't going to use a colourama I think it complimented the look well. Hairspray wouldn't stick the petals so I ended up using hair gel which overall worked well (thankfully for the model, no glue).

Although I originally did this shoot as a test shoot I have decided that I like it so much I would like to have it as one of my final images not just a test, great result!

Shoot - Bun - Shoot prep

In place of dried flowers/real petals I made some petals for the test shoot. I water-colour washed white tissue paper and then cut out petal shapes, I think they will look quite effective for the test shoot because they are thin and fragile like the flowers would be and should sit in a similar way on the hair. At the moment I am thinking that I will attach the petals to the hair/bun using hairspray but I will also take hair gel and liquid latex (as a last resort as it isn't very pleasant for the model in the hair!).

Photoshoot - Bun - Design & Prep

Mood board for my petal bun shoot...

As I will require a lot of petals for this shoot I have decided to make them to save myself the cost of buying fake flowers, this also allows me to get the shape, size and colours that I want. I am going to make them out of white crepe paper to recreate the fragileness of petals and then watercolour wash them with pinks and purples so not to create block colour. I will then cut petal shapes out of the dried paper and keep them safe ready for the shoot.

Face chart for the look...

Model requirements for this look:

- Clear skin

-Fairly pale skin

- Naturally quite long lashes

- Long hair to create the bun without need of other methods

- Straight hair so the petals sit in the right place

Boards created on Pinterest to begin and develop ideas and inspirations for the shoots for each topic, ready to start test shooting and shooting for real. Here are the links:

BUN

Classics so far

I have compiled a list of what I have so far found to be classics in both fashion and beauty, I need to do a bit more research on them though to make sure that they are all seen as classics to most people not just some! Here is the list as it stands:

Hair and beauty -

Eyeliner flicks
Red lip
Buns (both ballet and other)
Dewy skin
Plaits
Freckles
Nude nails/french manicure
Power brows
Pearls
Center parting

Fashion -

Little black dress
Court shoes
Camel coat
Backless?

I also now need to research each classic further to gain both inspiration for my looks and also to find the historical background of how each classic came to be.