Feel like a model

I think it's great fun to feel like a model for a day, even if you're a plain Jane most of the time. Why not, right? Thanh Nga is no different. She knew about my beauty services through a friend of mine & she knew I could take some decent photographs. So, she came to me for a makeover and a photoshoot (twice actually). Her reason? Simple. Let's see... She got a good collection of nice dresses though she wore jeans most of the time. She knew she's in shape and looks great in her dresses; ... but, she had very few chances to show them off. Like all of us women, we know we don't look great in our dresses forever. So, she wanted to have her youthful appearance captured before she turns older. You'd be surprised how great she looks in a dress ...

Let's start by a before/after, and then some (un-edit) photos from our session. By the way, don't be fooled. She's not a "natural" in front of the camera. She was actually very shy within the first 30m or so, but once she felt comfortable & confident, she gave such beautiful and contagious smile :)

Our first session was great too. She got a different makeup look ... Actually it could be really interesting to compare... Next post then... ;)

Commercial shoot for Belleza

I did this shoot for Belleza fashion shop in Vietnam back in March. They wanted to advertise their new shoe collection. Honestly, I was a little bit nervous (direction wise) because the style & popular trend here of course would be different compared to California trend or the U.S in general. I looked through many beauty-related pages in Viet magazines & also observed the kind of makeup women wear on the streets.  Yes, it's totally different! To sum it up, majority of women in Vietnam (or Asia at large) tends to favor light pale skin and pink lipstick (bright, noticeable pink).

So, I came to the shoot with a "just natural look" in mind, according to the stylist/PR person. Natural makeup for a shoot isn't as easy as you think it would be. Everyone has a different version of "natural" in their mind.  And I'm sure the California version of "natural" isn't the same with the Vietnamese version. And to make things even more complicated, when I checked with the photographer as I arrived, he said just do whatever I want as long as I make Thanh Truc, the model, looks "nhẹ nhàng & mỹ miều" (in my interpretation) meaning soft & mesmerizing.  So, I had to decide on the spot how to keep things "natural looking" but still making her appear "mesmerizing" enough for the photographer. It was pretty darn hard. It would be so much easier if just going one way or another: natural or mesmerizing/glamorous. But, I totally pulled it off. I'm happy with the outcome. Below are some photos from the shoot... :)

Multiple looks for Rebecca

Though I've worked with many models, I have to say Rebecca is one of my favorites. I knew it would be a blast work with this girl from the first handshake, and I was right. She was smart, friendly, and fun to work with. She delivered what the shoot calls for, considering she was quite new in the industry. I think it was only her 3rd or 4th time doing a serious modeling shoot at the time. Typically, it's harder to work with new models because as a photographer, you have to give them more direction and as for a makeup artist, you will encounter more blinking & more moving around because they are nervous or finding it hard to stay still.

Rebecca did a lot more than I expected from a new model. We changed makeup & styling 3 or 4 times, and it was fun each time. We went from a clean, minimal makeup look at first, then slowly moving toward a more editorial bridal look with purple/gray smoky eyes. I did this shoot to freshen up my portfolio, and also for fun.  I photographed her myself because it would be tough to collaborate with a photographer on a weekday morning - the only time I'm free. Our shoot lasted for about 4 or 5 hours, including makeup & hair time, testing outfits and sipping on hot milk tea. We truly had a blast, and for that, she came to work with me 2 more times after this :)

Below is her before photo and the 2 photos after this are un-retouched (no photoshop):

She followed my direction really well throughout the shoot & tried this very difficult pose with no hesitation.

Below is a natural bridal look, the makeup was still minimal and I only dressed up her hair with a hairband. I could imagine this look for a beach wedding: low-key, relaxed, yet elegant & beautiful.

Rebecca brought with her a box full of antique/collected watches and asked me to take some photos with those on. Here's 1 nice shot. I love her hair in this.  

Our editorial bridal look. I did her hair in 5 min

I think Rebecca had the most fun when we put this wig on. She felt totally "transformed".

To wrap things up, I changed her lipstick to a deep cool red and had her put on her favorite red coat. It was a perfect ending!

Semi-natural makeup and fancy side-bun

Today Devi - a bride who got married last year, sends me her wedding photo link, so after viewing through her pictures, I decide to blog about it. I think my makeup & hair work on her is 1 of my most-requested style: semi-natural. I consider my makeup & hair skill is very versatile, all depends on who I'm working with, but throughout my years working as a bridal makeup artist, I'm always get asked for something in between - not too made-up & not too natural, glamorous but not overdone. I call it semi-natural or semi-glam. I think semi-natural makeup will suit those who wears little or no makeup everyday; and semi-glam will be great for those who's not afraid of makeup & wears it often.

Based on exchanging emails & after a consultation or trial, usually I can figure out which hairstyle will best compliment the client's face & dress, how much makeup will the bride be comfortable wearing, and most of all, how far can I go with my skill (achieving flawlessness or keep it nice & real).  

With all that said, below are photos of Devi's trial and also her wedding day. At the trial, Devi told me she normally doesn't wear much makeup and probably wants something natural but still enough definition for photos. So, I suggested a semi-natural look with smoky eyes to make her eyes looking more balanced & stand out, and the updo would be best bringing to the side for a stylish & youthful feel. She booked me right after the trial. However, Devi emailed me a few days later & said she's probably prefer a lighter eye makeup on her wedding day and the low bun to be more visible on the right side. I thought so myself about the hair placement, so I said yes and on the wedding day, I did everything Devi was asking for.

Here are photos from the trial:

And, here are her wedding photos. I love how the hairstyle looking gorgeous on her, but in my opinion, she could have had a little bit more colors for her makeup because makeup does lighten up throughout the day. Good makeup last long, but you'll loose the color intensity eventually, especially if it's outdoor and the weather is windy or humid. Plus, each photographer has a different approach as far as color processing (vibrant or muted), composition, angle, and more... As with Devi, her photographer did a good job, but most of her pictures are candid moments and taken far away most of the time. Keep this in mind and do tell your photographer if you prefer to have some bridal portraits. Though I love journalistic style and candid moments, I still think bridal closeup shots are great because these will show your glowing beauty best :)

Makeup under humid weather

As I am now in Vietnam, under hot and humid weather here, what I use & the way I apply makeup suddenly have to be tweaked. I'm from San Jose, California, so I'm used to the nice and dry weather we have in San Jose. Now switched to the dusty & humid weather in Ho chi minh city, I need to do  clients' makeup plus my own makeup differently. I can't just assume or wish that what works for me in the States will work the same here, no matter how good the product is.

In this article, I will share with you some tips and suggesting some products that will do a good job for you while you're staying in a humid place, such as some Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Malaysia, Philipines...)

1. FOUNDATION vs. POWDER:

- A lot of time, liquid foundation won't be your best fit under hot/humid weather. If you have very dry skin, then it's still okay to do a light layer of your favorite foundation with a sponge, then use loose powder to set it. If you have oily or combination skin like mine, you can skip liquid foundation altogether. Your skin will feel sticky and oily quite fast with liquid foundation. Instead, use a light creamy foundation like Motives Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation or Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mouse (see images below), then set it with powder after. I find this is to be less messy to do compared to liquid foundation, and I can use my fingers to blend this creamy-texture foundation over my face (use a non-latex sponge if you prefer).
 












Or you can skip the liquid/cream foundation altogether and just use powder after sunscreen (SPF 30-45). It's quicker to apply,  looks more natural, and doesn't look shiny or feel sticky after a few hours being outdoor. It's best to apply powder with a full, fluffy brush. Here's my 2 favorite face/powder brush: Sephora Powder Brush (round) and Lancome Powder brush #7 (flat). What I love about the flat brush is that you have to kinda press it into your skin in circles when you apply the powder, not just twirls around lightly like with the round brush. Therefore, your product isn't going to just sit on the skin but actually blending in nicer. This is good for people with big pores.

I see a lot of women using the sponge/buff (that came with the powder compact) to apply & reapply powder over & over, even when the skin is oily. That is not a good habit, especially if your skin can break-out easily. If you don't wash/dry the sponge after every few days, your sponge will become dirty & bacterias got trapped in it. For sanitary reason & to endure the life of your product, do wash & dry your brush or sponge at least once a week.

3. EYE MAKEUP:

PRIMER is a must if you're going to wear eyeshadows. I heart Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. If you love makeup and wear it often, you know how great this product is.  For myself, I skip eye shadow altogether, or use a very light shade like pale pink or light shimmery brown, just 1 color, do water-proof liquid eyeliner, curl my lashes, done! The more eye makeup you do, the more chances it gets smeared after a while.




3. BLUSH and BRONZER:

Forget your bronzer. Most of the time, you'll get naturally tan in Asia. Under humid & hot weather, bronzer seems to be too much on the skin. Keep your skin as simple as possible. A light layer of powder & a nice pinkish or peachy shade of blush is your best bet if you have light complexion. Try Benefit blushes like "Dandelion" (pale pink) or "Georgia" (light peach). If you have a medium complexion, you may like Benefit bronzer "Dallas" (not shimmery).



4. LIPSTICK - LIPGLOSS:

Under hot weather, you often get dehydrated within the first 1-2 weeks of your stay & your lips tend to feel dry or chapped. Therefore, creamy lipstick won't work too well. I find that Japanese lipsticks like Kanebo, Testimo, or Beaute de Kose, etc... will work best because they're more translucent, smooth texture, light weight, & often has a little bit of a shimmery effect - just enough to make your lips look fuller. These cosmetic lines have a lot of beautiful shades that suit Asian skin tone. When I use these kinds of lipsticks, I can forget about using gloss over it. They're half lipstick/half lipgloss for me.




I hope the tips/techniques above can help you pack the right products if you know you'll be traveling to a hot & humid place. You can't bring all your favorite makeup products with you, so choose only the right ones for your need. Wish you a fun trip & looking good even if it's above 90ºF there!

Hire a makeup artist for E-session?

It's a YES in my opinion if you think these photos mean a lot to you, capturing your love & devotion for each other, though not in a formal way like the wedding-day, but more like a romantic date. This session is quite important, especially if you will enlarge one of them or put them together as a signed-in book for the guests at your wedding. It's the time that you two can relax, have fun, and learning to cooperate with the photographer (if he/she will also be your wedding photographer). If a picture worths a thousand words, then how you look in the picture should matter too, right? Also it's good to just relax and have a professional taking care of your beauty for the shoot. Even for myself, I would rather trust someone with my hair & makeup, no pressure for perfect liner, no sweat curling & teasing my hair, just saving all my best energy for the shoot ahead.

Why is it important?

1. If you look good, you feel good. And if you feel good, you'll give your best in front of the camera. You can even "flirt" with the camera and your man and the result will be interesting, sizzling photographs :)

2. Honestly, a professional grade camera just loves a face with nice makeup much more than a face with none because it captures every detail, especially with portrait shots. Unless what you need is mostly just far-away shots and the beauty of the landscape/location is more important than your look or his look.

3. A pro makeup artist will not only know to make you look good, he/she also knows (or must know) how to make you look good for the camera. For makeup, I'm talking about last-long application, high light & contour technique, choosing the right colors, and using the right lashes (individual or sets). For hair, I'm talking about the right style for the dress/outfit, minimal fly-aways, and staying power.

Therefore, choosing a good makeup/hair stylist to help you look nice and camera-ready for the E-session isn't a bad idea at all. You're paying for a good photographer, so why not a good makeup artist/hair stylist. You should look good, feel good, and smile with confident for this fun & romantic session.

Below are some E-session photographs that my past clients shared with me. I hope these can give you some ideas...

Change lipstick - change persona

Just like with Julie, I did 2 looks for Hallie: sultry eyes with nude lipstick and later with red lipstick. Both looks turned out beautiful on Hallie because she has great features to work with. Though 100% Chinese, Hallie has more of a square face, full brows, and big round eyes. Her eyes are definitely her greatest weapon.

With nude lipstick and silver/gray smoky eyes, Hallie looks stylish, cool, and somewhat innocent. Below is a before/after of Hallie.

After a few photos, we changed her look. I took off some of the shimmery gray shadows on her eyes, and replaced with a neutral brown and a light gold shimmer (to go with red lipstick). After wiping off her nude lip color, I used a mauvish lipliner (MAC - Half-red) to line & fill in her lips, top off with a thin layer of neutral shade of red lipstick to add some moisture, and that was it. I didn't bother adding lip gloss, because since this girl has such great alluring eyes, I felt that her eyes should be the center of attention, her mauvish-red lipstick can play the supportive element. The result was perfect. She looks sultry, seductive and elegant at the same time, reminding me of some Hong Kong actresses... Isn't she?

Here's a photo for you to compare the 2 looks on her. I personally love the mauve-ish red a teeny tiny bit better :)