Thursday 5 December 2013

New Studio Before and After Shots

Well it took quite a lot of work to transform our new studio from office space to the beautiful boudoir boutique it is now, and just to show you how much effort went into it here is some before and after pictures.

We had such an amazing team of people helping us move and decorate and myself and Kirsty would never have managed it by ourself so I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Kirstys mum and dad for being master decorators and to my own mum for managing to scrub up the floors as if they were new again and for helping so much with our launch night!!







I do also have a little treat for you all, some gorgeous boudoir before and after pictures!!! I think we can all agree that our girls here look FANTASTIC!! 





Wednesday 4 December 2013

Moving To A New Studio

I have been so quiet on my blog recently and thats because here at Memento Studios we have been so busy!!

I work within my friends amazing photography studio 'Memento Studios' where we work together providing boudoir and make-over shoots. I also offer Bridal and evening make-up and some beauty treatments and kirsty offered a variety of different shoots. It has been on both of our minds for quite some time to open a more specialised boudoir and make-over studio however we did think it would take us a long time to get there.

Well... the good news is we have moved to a much bigger studio and are now the only boudoir and make-over specialised studio in our area.

We both love making women look good and also feel good about them self!! I know how difficult it is to feel glam at times and sometimes we all need a little pick me up. Boudoir and make-over shoots are the perfect way to give a little boost!!


This is what we do and this is what we love!!!









Friday 30 August 2013

How I Arrange My Make-up Kit!!



Hello gorgeous readers

I'm doing a little blog post today about my professional make-up kit and how I arrange it!! I used to have a large metal make-up case on wheels and although at the start I loved it, towards the end I loathed it!! Its so heavy and I was constantly carrying it upstairs!! Also as there were so many small compartments that i couldn't store everything together the way I wanted and had to rake around for products!!

Here is what I do now!!

I am based in my make-up studio around 80% of the time. Most of the photo shoots and personal make-up clients I provide make-up for are in the studio so I need to ensure that I have an organised set up with all of my make-up easily accessible.

I separate everything into these clear plastic vanity bags and line them up at the back of my make-up table. these bags are fantastic, I got them from Tesco and its £5 for a set of 3 different sizes.
I also have wipes, brushes, cotton wool, tissues, IPA and my airbrush set up and ready to go!!

Here is how I separate my make-up, Im not going to go over every single product as I have hundreds, Its just a general idea of how to separate your make-up kit!!




General Skin Care
cleanser, toner, eye make-up remover, exfoliator, moisturiser, primer, setting spray, wipes
I really love the olay skin products to have in my general skin care kit. They are perfect for removing every trace of make-up on your skin and are also perfect for sensitive skin!!
I keep a few different primers in my kit to accommodate to different skin types and of course Illamasqua hydra veil!! Also always carry an exfoliator for a quick scrub at extra dry skin then pop on some moisturiser!!



Foundation And Concealers 
Variety of concealers and foundation shades
I am sooooo in love with derma colour palettes!! These concealers are just amazing for anyone and everyone and they even cover tattoos, what more can you want.
Illamasqua skin base is an essential in my kit, I really love it, but alas I just dont think it is long lasting enough for brides so I use l'oreal infallible. it is AMAZING!!



Eyelashes
Strip lashes, cluster lashes, fashion lashes, variety of glues, glue remover, disclosure forms
I always carry a variety of eyelashes including natural and full strip lashes as they can just finish off a make-up and help to open up a clients eyes!! This simple application can transform a clients face!
Also cluster lashes are fab for people who want a really full look or just a little kick out in the corner.
The cluster lashes require a stronger glue, so always carry remover and ALWAYS carry disclosure forms. It is essential for a skin test to be carried out 24 hours prior to using this glue, however this may not always be possible so inform the client of this and of the possible reactions, check for any allergies and if they still want to go ahead have them sign a disclamier.






Dermalogica Skin Care
Cleanser, toner, moisturiser, exfoliant, masque, samples
Personally I just love dermalogica so I always carry the sensitive range to use on my paying clients.



Face powders, Blushers and Bronzers
Cream blush, powder blush, bronzers, highlighters
I absolutly love the Illamasqua blushers, they are so highly pigmented that you only need the smallest amount so they last forever. Dallas is such an amazing bronzer and Ohhh Myy the elf bronzing quad is AMAZING!!! It is sooooo shimmers and I love it as its great for us pale faces aswell for just a hint of glow!!



Eye Shaddows 
Variety of eye shaddows and gel eyeliners
Well Im sure you can guess I LOVE LOVE LOVE Illamasqua!! I have lots of liquid metals and a few cream pigments along with powder and pigment eyeshaddows. I also recently bought an urban decay pallet which is amazing and super shimmery!! Then there are some randoms I have gathered here and there.



lip Colours
Selection of different lipglosses and lipsticks
I cant help but buy Illamasqua lipsticks and lipslosses in bright and crazy colours, they are so amazing and beutiful and look great on fashion shoots. I do also stock a variety of natural colours that are perfect for natural and bridal looks!!




Mascara
I generally go through mascara very quickly so  I often just pick up lots from boots etc. Ensure you have black, brown ans waterproof.




My Everything bag
This is my little lifesaver bag! I throw in  lots of things that I think will be useful on shoots or on location at weddings etc. Its always great to have eyelash curlers (although i let the client do this them self if they require this) tweezers scissors nail files etc as these are things people always ask you for!! I also include deodarant for warm days, a compact mirror just incase, eye lid primer, a selection of kirby grips, sharpener and anything useful I can get my hands on!! 



Eyeliners And Lip Liners
I try and find eyeliners and lip liners in  every colour possible, ve got lots of Illamasqua ones that are just beautiful!!


Wednesday 28 August 2013

Ripped Out Heart Step By Step

Hello gorgeous readers!!

So last week I had a play with some special effects and here is what I did and some tips on how to recreate it yourself!!






What you will need!!!
-D32 concealer or any red/ orange concealer
-Mastix glue
-Pale foundation
-Glycerine
-Gelatine powder
-Liquid latex
-Talk
-Grease Paints
-Jelly
-fake blood
-Sponges
-Brushes
-Hearts (I used lamb hearts)

First mix 1 sachet of gelatine powder with 2 tbsp glycerine and 2 tbsp boiling water, pop in the microwave for 10 secs and continue stirring.
Once its cooled paint some mastix on your skin in the desired area then use the back of a spoon to apply some of the gelatine mixture.


Sponge a thin layer of liquid latex around the edges just of a little extra security!!!

Allow the latex to dry and powder!!


Cover the area in the foundation.


Take some d32 and use a stipple sponge to stipple it all over the area lightly, and stipple around the edges quite a bit.

The grease paint i used was a bruise wheel, I used the red colour with my stipple sponge around the edges.

This is the fun part, stick your finger in the middle of the gelatine and start ripping.

Rip a few pieces from the center outwards.

Apply mastix on  the back of the ripped pieces and glue them to your skin so it looks like something has been ripped out.


Fill in the hole with black grease paint


Then fill it in with red grease paint and stipple D32 over the ripped pieces of flesh



Melt the jelly in the microwave (i only had purple jelly so mixed some fake blood in with it) and once it is cool enough spoon it into the open wound and appow to run down in big drips. splatter some onthe the flaps of ripped skin and the area around the wound.
Finish it of with some fake blood in and around the wound then splattered around the whole area :)
Voilla!!










I hope you all like this!! I hope it has been helpful, let me know what you think everyone!!!