Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Is Fashion The Fickle-ist Industry Of Them All?
Aaah, so an overly discussed topic in the makeup/modelling/photography world, is going to be just an even more so overly discussed topic on my blog, but hey, its my blog, I can say what I please. I'm speaking from my experiences in the industry with the numerous amount of people that I've worked with in my short career in this field.
I read on a forum the other day, something along the lines of - "models have feelings too..." and the model went to discuss how it hurts to be rejected time and time again after attending every casting that becomes known to them, only to be rejected for another girl with the same dreams as said rejected model. Sad fact of reality, no matter how in shape, and well groomed the 'models' keep themselves, unless they are that small percent that manage to get a big break, the rest of them can enjoy modelling for ammateur photographers, and have pretty photos for facebook as payment, the good old TFCD, unless if they start doing promotions, but at the end of the day, the promotion lifestyle is not going to be glamourous as everyone thinks the modelling world is.
A lot of the models that I've either photographed or made up, have literally been doing the photo session as a means of a confidence builder in their lives, not many had admitted it but when I think about these girls, their confidence and self esteem was low at the point before the shoot where makeup and discussions of the shoot expections were being spoken about, but once that shoot is finished, they have a run of confidence and finally start feeling better about themselves and then their "professional photographs" are then plastered over Facebook and all their friends will comment and tell them how fabulous, amazing, draw-droppingly-sexy that they are.
I can't speak as though I know why all these girls and boys model, but that is the impression I get based on the experiences with many of the people that I've worked with. What grills with the generalised persons that I've mentioned above is that they do not actually take into account how much work goes into preparing for that shoot on the photographers part, as well as the makeup artists part sometimes. Yes, neither photography nor makeup artistry is rocket science, in fact its quite the opposite it is an art, and so is modelling, I am not taking that away from the models. Photography = light + time, and getting that right all the time is not easy, and what is makeup when it comes to photography shoots? Understanding the concept and vision that both the model and photographer have in mind and being able to bridge the gap, contour, highlight and emphasize as well as paint and create something that is not so everyday normal than what the model looks at in the mirror.
Its not only the models and makeup artists that suffer the rejection that the models deal with from not getting work from castings. Photographers and makeup artists are in some instances represented by agencies. Agencies that if you get into the correct and right one that they can make killer livings, however, they stil suffer the same rejection, humiliation, and constant being told that their work is not good enough... The problem, may be just that, the work is crap or the problem may be that the market for that particular area of talent may be saturated and monopolised by individuals with completely different ideas than the person looking to be represented, to make a living, ad that there may be NO WORK in that particular field that the individual is looking for work in.
Another problem, in South Africa is that our industry is actually rather small and that in fact, everyone in this business knows everyone, maybe not personally, but everyone knows of each others work and opinions on certain matters, thanks to modelbase and all those lovely networking tools that photographers exploit to market to the general public masses, such as facebook, twitter, myspace, etc etc. I think all photographers, makeup artists and models have the most friends possible on facebook, because they want to market their talent to the general public, who in fact couldn't give two hoots about whether I photographed a model with the correct lighting and contoured her face correctly in right spots to make her look even more beautiful. I fear that this industry may actually be pushing themselves onto everyone on the social networks in the hope that they get a paying customer, so they can get paid for the talents that they have instilled in themselves and the artistic eyes that they were born with in order to make a living.
Thats my little bitch and moan for today on my wonderful blog.
xo
flea
I read on a forum the other day, something along the lines of - "models have feelings too..." and the model went to discuss how it hurts to be rejected time and time again after attending every casting that becomes known to them, only to be rejected for another girl with the same dreams as said rejected model. Sad fact of reality, no matter how in shape, and well groomed the 'models' keep themselves, unless they are that small percent that manage to get a big break, the rest of them can enjoy modelling for ammateur photographers, and have pretty photos for facebook as payment, the good old TFCD, unless if they start doing promotions, but at the end of the day, the promotion lifestyle is not going to be glamourous as everyone thinks the modelling world is.
A lot of the models that I've either photographed or made up, have literally been doing the photo session as a means of a confidence builder in their lives, not many had admitted it but when I think about these girls, their confidence and self esteem was low at the point before the shoot where makeup and discussions of the shoot expections were being spoken about, but once that shoot is finished, they have a run of confidence and finally start feeling better about themselves and then their "professional photographs" are then plastered over Facebook and all their friends will comment and tell them how fabulous, amazing, draw-droppingly-sexy that they are.
I can't speak as though I know why all these girls and boys model, but that is the impression I get based on the experiences with many of the people that I've worked with. What grills with the generalised persons that I've mentioned above is that they do not actually take into account how much work goes into preparing for that shoot on the photographers part, as well as the makeup artists part sometimes. Yes, neither photography nor makeup artistry is rocket science, in fact its quite the opposite it is an art, and so is modelling, I am not taking that away from the models. Photography = light + time, and getting that right all the time is not easy, and what is makeup when it comes to photography shoots? Understanding the concept and vision that both the model and photographer have in mind and being able to bridge the gap, contour, highlight and emphasize as well as paint and create something that is not so everyday normal than what the model looks at in the mirror.
Its not only the models and makeup artists that suffer the rejection that the models deal with from not getting work from castings. Photographers and makeup artists are in some instances represented by agencies. Agencies that if you get into the correct and right one that they can make killer livings, however, they stil suffer the same rejection, humiliation, and constant being told that their work is not good enough... The problem, may be just that, the work is crap or the problem may be that the market for that particular area of talent may be saturated and monopolised by individuals with completely different ideas than the person looking to be represented, to make a living, ad that there may be NO WORK in that particular field that the individual is looking for work in.
Another problem, in South Africa is that our industry is actually rather small and that in fact, everyone in this business knows everyone, maybe not personally, but everyone knows of each others work and opinions on certain matters, thanks to modelbase and all those lovely networking tools that photographers exploit to market to the general public masses, such as facebook, twitter, myspace, etc etc. I think all photographers, makeup artists and models have the most friends possible on facebook, because they want to market their talent to the general public, who in fact couldn't give two hoots about whether I photographed a model with the correct lighting and contoured her face correctly in right spots to make her look even more beautiful. I fear that this industry may actually be pushing themselves onto everyone on the social networks in the hope that they get a paying customer, so they can get paid for the talents that they have instilled in themselves and the artistic eyes that they were born with in order to make a living.
Thats my little bitch and moan for today on my wonderful blog.
xo
flea
Monday, 19 July 2010
Recent June/ July Photography
I shot late one Friday evening with Mirinda Liza, at my little home studio in Bedfordview, as a part of my makeup (MissFitz Make-up) portfolio. I've seen many images recently, while searching various sources, such as model mayhem, of make-up of masks on the face. This was a complete experiment on my part, and I think that the image speaks for itself on the part that It really does have a dramatic effect. She was an awesome model to work with, and I would gladly reccommend her to any photographer, because she was so patient with me while I was sticking a rhinestone mask to her face! :)
One of my oldest friends, Shelly and I did our makeup course together in April. She has not had time to practice any of her new found skills on new faces since we completed the course, and I had been pestering her for a while to let me shoot the jewellry that she makes, she brought her friend Lauren Strachan to practice her make-up application on and get some free advertising for her jewellry which I think she will eventually make a facebook group to advertise both her make-up skills and her beautiful range of jewellry that she has for sale.
Lauren Weeks and Greg Dennis... aaah these photographs make my knees weak. I know I am blowing my own horn here, but the whole collection of pictures from this particula shoot with the old school, somewhat vintage, meets Pearl Harbour meets Twilight look, was an absolute blast to be Lauren's chosen photographer for her idea. We shot on location, at Gillooly's Farm and I'm so happy I got to shoot Lauren again before she moved to New Zealand, South Africa has lost a top class model.
Something a little more crazy, modern, and more fun than the outdoor vintage look, Lauren and Greg have fabulous chemistry to work with, and it was so much getting to shoot too old friends. Still bummed Lauren has flown far far away!
Kerri Rudolph, wow! One of the most fabulous models I've had the pleasure of working with and doing make-up on. We had originally decided to go and shoot also at Gillooly's, but due to it being winter and it was possibly one of the coldest days of the year, we did makeup at my studio and just played around a bit. I wasn't properly set up so the images are not my best, but Kerri made them look good.
One of my oldest friends, Shelly and I did our makeup course together in April. She has not had time to practice any of her new found skills on new faces since we completed the course, and I had been pestering her for a while to let me shoot the jewellry that she makes, she brought her friend Lauren Strachan to practice her make-up application on and get some free advertising for her jewellry which I think she will eventually make a facebook group to advertise both her make-up skills and her beautiful range of jewellry that she has for sale.
Lauren Weeks and Greg Dennis... aaah these photographs make my knees weak. I know I am blowing my own horn here, but the whole collection of pictures from this particula shoot with the old school, somewhat vintage, meets Pearl Harbour meets Twilight look, was an absolute blast to be Lauren's chosen photographer for her idea. We shot on location, at Gillooly's Farm and I'm so happy I got to shoot Lauren again before she moved to New Zealand, South Africa has lost a top class model.
Something a little more crazy, modern, and more fun than the outdoor vintage look, Lauren and Greg have fabulous chemistry to work with, and it was so much getting to shoot too old friends. Still bummed Lauren has flown far far away!
Kerri Rudolph, wow! One of the most fabulous models I've had the pleasure of working with and doing make-up on. We had originally decided to go and shoot also at Gillooly's, but due to it being winter and it was possibly one of the coldest days of the year, we did makeup at my studio and just played around a bit. I wasn't properly set up so the images are not my best, but Kerri made them look good.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Powerful Words
I love quotes, I think they spark the mind to think of life from another angle that hasn't hit your mind yet, I find them so thought prokoving and they really make you sit down and think long and hard. Some are deep home truths, that we do not let our mind wander to, and others are just funny and make us giggle. Some are sad, some are happy. Some are about heart ache, others are about how we learn to love life and everything in it. I believe there are a million quotes for every situation but only certain ones can touch your heart. We must know that we are not the only people to survive life, the way we are. They're are plenty of people in the word, too many actually, that go through the same nonsense day in and day out. Whether it be, breaking up with partners, pondering about life and the universe, or even being totally, completely and utterly head over heals in love with their other halves. I never know for sure who said what, but here are some of my all time favourites that have stuck with me for the past few years.
"The God's envy us. They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment may be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed. You will never be lovlier than you are now. We will never be here again." - Troy
"People are afraid of themselves, of their own reality; their feelings most of all. People talk about how great love is, but that's bullshit. Love hurts. Feelings are disturbing. People are taught that pain is evil and dangerous. How can they deal with love if they are afraid to feel? Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in experience of pain. It's all in how you carry it. That's what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you're letting society destroy your own reality. You should stand up for your right to feel pain." - Jim Morrison
"When the power of love, overcomes the love of power - there will be peace." - Jimi Hendrix
"Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to save the world." - Nelson Mandela
And of course, my all time favourite home truth of them all! *drumroll*
"Whatever you give a woman she is going to multiply. If you give her sperm, she will give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she will give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So - if you give her any crap, you will receive a ton of shit!" No idea who said it, but wise wise words indeed!!
"The God's envy us. They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment may be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed. You will never be lovlier than you are now. We will never be here again." - Troy
"People are afraid of themselves, of their own reality; their feelings most of all. People talk about how great love is, but that's bullshit. Love hurts. Feelings are disturbing. People are taught that pain is evil and dangerous. How can they deal with love if they are afraid to feel? Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in experience of pain. It's all in how you carry it. That's what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you're letting society destroy your own reality. You should stand up for your right to feel pain." - Jim Morrison
"When the power of love, overcomes the love of power - there will be peace." - Jimi Hendrix
"Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to save the world." - Nelson Mandela
And of course, my all time favourite home truth of them all! *drumroll*
"Whatever you give a woman she is going to multiply. If you give her sperm, she will give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she will give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So - if you give her any crap, you will receive a ton of shit!" No idea who said it, but wise wise words indeed!!
Thursday, 01 July 2010
What are they even famous for anyway?
Being drunk and involved in scandal?
Apparently, Paris Hilton is in South Africa. I don't particulary care, yet here I am writing a blog about it. The main purpose behind this blog is that there are so many celebrities nowadays and they are all so famous and a lot have a ton of respect from the public for doing good things, and others well are all we talk about. Here is a prime example of one, Paris Hilton, famous for what?
In a way, I do have to give it to her, I mean she could possibly start the next revolution, or at least a move towards the next revolution, since she is respected and disrespected by so many people, and is constantly in the public eye but to start a revolution you'd actually have to use the wonderful evolotion of thousands of years that our brains have undergone and it doesn't seem like any of these girls do use their brains, generally only their publicists. With that amount of exposure, what would you as an ordinary citizen do? Even if you did get famous and "known" for having a sex video leak of yourself?? Why not battle to solve one of the worlds major problems, instead of getting drunk and partying on tables showing your underwear or lack there of, Paris?
Sometimes, when I switch on the tv and the E! channel has been left on I find myself sitting there and cringing at the shit that they talk about, who cares who is knocking up who? Or who Miley Cyrus is dating? Or who's getting married/divorced and having babies and calling them after fruit and alcohol? I don't give a fuck, but there must be so many people in the world who actually do, for the fact that an american channel has reached South Africa, so therefore its not only the Americans that care, its clearly a large enough amount of the South Africans that actually care about the scandalous lives of the brats in America, who just influence small kids into being as slutty as possible at a young age. Let the kids be kids, don't let them be influenced by the crap that is that of the social lives of these people.
Oh well, enough about that... Thats my opinion, everyone has their own about people like this, and yes I'm making a sceptical of Paris, but she is not the only one, look at Kim Kardashian for example. They are the people that make a small minority of the models that I've had the (dis)pleasure of working with so dificult, because the models all think people like Paris, Britney, Lindsay, Kim, the list goes on are amazing, and guess what? They're just spoilt, over paid, brats.
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