The Queen of Constantia, Camilla Mc Dowell of The Desperate Housewives of Cape Town, South Africa.
14 June 2022
✨PHOTO REVEAL✨ with our gorgeous client @camillamcdowell one of the housewives from realhousewivesofcpt coming soon to @mzansimagic DSTV SA.
“Fashion is about us…. about how we look and present ourselves, how we can change ourselves and our perceptions. You can dress up to be quite Glorious Creatures, it’s all a very important part of life.”
Location: @metropolisphotostudio
Hair: @maggiebowpinup
Fan: @sunkissedhandmade
Dress: @velvetletter
Our gorgeous client Camilla Mc Dowell - one of the housewives from The Real Housewives of Cape Town, coming soon to @mzansimagic DSTV SA.
How to prepare for your Pin-Up shoot
06 May 2022
We are so excited that you decided to share this experience with us, and while you may be slightly nervous we promise you will be in expert hands, surrounded by ladies who's aim is to ensure that you have the most amazing Pin-Up shoot that will get tongues wagging!
But before you let out that inner Pin-up, we have a few points for you to check before we see you on shoot day...For the purposes of this guide remember that your makeup and hair will be done once you arrive at the photoshoot by a qualified makeup artist and hairstylist (MUAH) however, it still serves as a pre-shoot preparation checklist for our clients.
The week(s) leading up to your photoshoot is the time for planning and preparation: what clothing styles do you plan on working with? What outfits will work well with your chosen studio concepts? What beauty routines are you planning on doing before hand and when and how will you fit them in? Think of the following guide as a step by step checklist leading up to your shoot;
How to prepare for a photoshoot.
The 7 steps
- Face
- Hair
- Skin
- Hands
- Clothing
- Travel & The day of your shoot
1. FACE
Facials… if you already have a beauty regime that includes a facial then you’ll know what works best for you. Generally it’s worth planning a facial around 7 days before your photoshoot, this allows sufficient time for any redness to subside leaving your skin feeling soft and refreshed. If you have enough time before your photoshoot, then consider a trial run and pamper yourself; a night in with a good book or movie allowing time to relax, focussing on nothing but you and that book.
Sleep… it may sound obvious but a night out on the town is not a good recipe for you looking your best the following morning. Wherever possible, try to get at least 3 or 4 good nights sleep leading up to your photoshoot day. A healthy 8 hours sleep will leave you feeling and looking amazing.
Pimples… If you do have a breakout, that’s fine and totally normal, just please please don’t pick or squeeze anything! It’s really easy to cover a pimple, it’s much trickier to cover broken skin! Most of all don’t worry, as it will only make things worse! Good photographers are a dab hand at removing blemishes during their image editing, so relax, we’ve got it covered!
Eye area… our eyes tell a story. They’re like a window to your soul. If you’re burning the candle at both ends it will show in or around your eyes first, so if necessary you may want to re-read the paragraph above about sleep!
Eyebrows… do you regularly have your eyebrows waxed or threaded? If so, plan your next appointment to fall a few days before your photoshoot date (you’ll know whether you need a couple of days or more) If you’ve never had your eyebrows waxed or threaded before (and you plan on having it done) then we would recommend a trial session well before your photoshoot OR if you prefer the good old pluck and trim method; we would again recommend you schedule this in a few days before your photoshoot.
Lips… use lip balms regularly to avoid dry and chapped lips.
2. Hair
Colour… Touch Up Your Roots. If you dye your hair, touching up your regrowth three days before your photoshoot is ideal. Note: this is not the time for drastic changes! Trust me. As a word of caution: don’t plan on dyeing your hair within 3 days of your photoshoot, treat it like you would your wedding day hair! Don’t make any drastic changes without planning!!
Cut & Style…Get a Trim. Neat, healthy hair is youthful and vibrant. If it’s been a while since your last haircut, even a subtle trim can make a world of difference. Make an appointment for 2 to 3 days prior to your photoshoot.
Conditioning… Your salon can do a professional conditioning treatment, or you can use your favorite deep conditioner or protein pack at home while watching Netflix!
Washing… pre-shoot preparation. Clean, fresh hair. As a rule, we usually suggest that you wash your hair the night before your photoshoot unless you would consider your hair as “oily” in which case we’d recommend the morning of your photoshoot.
3. Skin
Exfoliate… your regular beauty regime may already include exfoliation, so stick to what you know! If not we suggest that you exfoliate your skin 2 or 3 times prior to your shoot; leaving 3 or 4 days in between each exfoliation session and 3 or 4 days before your photoshoot day. There’s nothing better than a soothing pamper session in the tub armed with an exfoliating scrub or washcloth to reinvigorate the skin on your face and body.
Hair removal… if you prefer waxing give yourself sufficient time to heal before your photoshoot. Shaving can be done the night before if you don’t suffer from redness afterwards. REMEMBER shave your legs and underarms and if you plan on shooting in lingerie or swimwear your bikini line.
Tanning… If you usually have a faux glow, get a spray tan a couple days before your shoot. And please no "temporary" tans or creams as these often leave marks on our carpets and even props! Honestly, though, I fair skin photographs beautifully - embrace your inner pale.
No Marks… if possible, avoid wearing tight fitting clothing on the day of your shoot. We ask this as no-one wants that elastic sock line on their beautiful picture. This is completely dependent upon the level of clothing that you will be shooting during your photoshoot. We also recommend wearing a “clear” antiperspirant on the day of your photoshoot. This will prevent any white marks on the outside of your clothing as you’re getting in and out of dresses etc.
4. Hands
Nails… Get your nails done, or at least give them a little tidy and paint yourself, and if you are wearing open shoes, don’t forget your toes! Remember your hands will be visible and possibly featured in a lot of your photos, so don’t forget the attention is in the detail!
Nail Polish… this is down to personal preference as you may want to re-visit your photoshoot brief, and wardrobe selection to choose a colour that works for you. If colour is not for you or the wardrobe you have selected, then consider going with a nude or clear varnish.
5. Clothing
Clothing… Bring 5-6 outfits. Your photos should be a reflection of you, just more polished..and Pinned Up! Choose outfits you love. Dressed in the right clothes we look and feel amazing, but a word of caution, the opposite also applies! If you’re not happy with what you’re wearing you’ll feel uncomfortable, awkward and generally out of sync and I can tell you now “You’ll never truly like the photographs” as you’ll instantly be transported back to remembering how you felt wearing them!
Whatever the purpose of the photoshoot we always recommend you take a range of “basic essentials” with you; we recommend this includes a nude thong, strapless bra, a white and black lingerie set, Spanx, stockings/hold ups, tights and shoes… we mustn’t forget shoes; Only Heels (unless we have discusses a different shoot look), and no strappy sandals please.
Ladies… attending a makeover & photoshoot the same rules apply when it comes to clothing, you should always take a selection of your favourite outfits! We suggest packing your clothing, accessories an shoes in a sy=uitcase - and one with wheels if you have as its so much easier to transport. Remember “be prepared!” and lastly… you can never bring too much to your shoot.
Packing… when it comes to packing your bags for a photoshoot be methodical, group items together so you can lay your hands on them quickly and easily, if possible lay the items out when you arrive, taking extra care not to crease them (Ideally ironed and hanging before arrival so as to not waste valuable time at your shoot) wherever possible and don’t forget to check and double check you have everything! This also applies to when you leave the studio.
Accessories… it’s always good to accessorise and there will come a time when you’ll be glad you packed that item of jewellery, hairpiece or prop. If you’re working to a brief it’s always good to try to imagine the looks beforehand in order to build a mental image of the desired look and style. Think of props that you can bring to match your outfits – For example if you are doing a tropical themed shoot, you could bring a parasol, some bongos, or a coconut cocktail mug! Props can make a photo more believable, and will also give you something to do with your hands, which is important if you are a little nervous or a little awkward.
6. Travel & Day of your shoot
Familiarisation…. As mentioned earlier familiarisation is the key to avoiding stress, no one likes to be late or rushing around, so it’s worth taking the extra time needed to familiarise yourself on where you’re going and how you’re going to get there!
Google Maps… it may sound silly but Google (other search engines are available) where you’re going, is there a coffee shop nearby? It may sound silly but building a picture in your mind will also help to put your mind at ease.
Plenty of time… Rushing anyway just makes you anxious, so opt to arrive early and find somewhere nearby to collect your thoughts over a coffee, than be stuck in traffic getting more and more wound up as the minutes tick by! The last thing you want is to be rushing into a photoshoot all hot and bothered with everyone stood around waiting on you! Take your time and leave in plenty of time, allowing that little bit extra to catch your thoughts when you arrive.
Safety… it’s not our aim to cover the topic of personal safety here, that’s another guide all by itself and a lengthy one at that, so I’m going to leave it here by saying follow your instincts “Stay aware! Stay safe!”
Hydration… it’s vital that you keep yourself hydrated before and during a photoshoot. Dehydration can affect the skin so drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol prior to your photoshoot as this can cause you to become dehydrated.
Food… it is important that you make sure you eat something before your photoshoot. You’ll need to keep your energy levels up, feeling hungry depletes your energy as well as your attention span.
Inspired by Art Nouveau
22 August 2021
Inspired by Alphonse Mucha's iconic art nouveau posters, we recently took part in a fun project with @thetravelingdress.co.za together with our official photographer Sam Hanlon
Shoot details:
Model: @mindthecurvesza
Crown: @sunkissed_handmade
Image: @Sunkissedstudio photography
Location & Set Design: @metropolisphotostudio ⠀
