Channel 4 Racing Promo

This week I’ve been up in Liverpool working on a Channel 4 Racing promo ready for the start of the Grand National. The production was huge. We had up around 250 extras to look after alongside the jockeys, stuntmen and other key characters that were to be featured on camera. With the main focus being the horses of course, it was just mind boggling to see them be put through their paces, dealing with different set ups and stunts that they had to ‘act out’. All the horses were fully trained ‘film horses’ that are used to such environments. You shout action and they perform!!

After thinking that I’d be in the Makeup Room a majority of the time, I was hugely mistaken. I was out on set by 6.30am in the freezing cold (albeit beautiful weather on one of the days, rain on the other), and on my feet all day until 5pm with the rest of the makeup team; tidying hair, touching up makeup and making sure all the cast were looking spot on ready for their milliseconds of fame as the camera flies past! Our brief was for them to look as ‘normal’ as possible. If they came with makeup already applied, our job was to literally make sure that they don’t have any unsightly smudges, that their foundation was as blended as possible and that they kept their faces free from ‘cousin It’ style hair so they can be seen clearly. However, baring in mind were were in Liverpool; So orange skin, scouse brows and jet black hair were a trend that I noticed featured heavily amongst the crowd. But time was tight… So orange was how they stayed (much to their delight I’m sure)!

They were long days but I can’t wait to see the finished edit in a few weeks time!

6.30am on set… The sun is a rising!

The horse and jockeys arrive,

Preparing for a stunt!

Running the streets!

Another man made set up… the pond!

Hazey days at the end of Day 1.

Thank god for Wellies!

Just SOME of the extras on set.

Pam Wrigley

Today I attended an intensive one day hair course with Pam Wrigley in order to make a start on polishing up my hair skills (one of my New Years resolutions!).

I figured that I wanted to not only feel more confident and able on my fashion and beauty photoshoots, but that I also wanted to invest in the package I offer to my brides, therefore being able to eventually do both hair AND makeup for my brides-to-be.

Its was predominantely a demo based day, but with plenty of opportunities to try a few techniques yourself. And with there only being about 7 of us in the class, is allowed a lot of time for questions and discussions about different ideas and suggestions. It definitely gave me an insight into what is required to create these beautiful up-dos that are full of volume and body. So with this fresh in mind, and my dummy head already on order, I can’t wait to get stuck in and practise practise practise! :)

Tropicana

Here’s the final edit of the Tropicana commercial I worked on…airing on primetime ITV now!

 

My New Year Promises to Myself…

Me enjoying the stylists accessories from a recent shoot! This headpiece is made out of an actual Frisbee! You'd never guess huh! ;)

I’ve made myself a few promises this New Year.

Firstly, as I’d mentioned before, I am seeking out a Hair Up course so that I can polish my skills. I am a great believer that you NEVER stop learning… especially where anything creative is concerned, because ideas and possibilities are endless. So want to grow as an artist! That means that I will be able to confidently offer hair as an option for my services as opposed to agreeing to it and panicking about it later! :D

It’s not as easy as it looks though when you don’t want to do “Hairdressing” (colouring, cutting etc) and just want a styling course, but seem to be making headway the more I speak to people and search the www (whatever did we do without it!?).

Alongside the hair promise, I’ve also promised to get “more involved” in my kit. By that, I mean getting creative on my own face. I can’t seem to pluck up the courage to create a video just yet (I physically cringe at the thought of it), but WILL happily play on my own face and take pics. So hopefully, in time, I’ll be able to blog some step by step images of how to get fancy pants with both natural/evening looks AND fashion/creative looks for fun.

So that said, I hope to get down to it this weekend while the fiance is watching his beloved team!

Hair Inspiration…again!

You might be aware of my LOVE-HATE relationship I have with fringes. I LOVE them because I love the heavy hair around the face look, but soon get wound up by the constant need to trim it and get bored easily, leaving me with 8mths + of a seriously annoying growing out period!