SubhaStar Make-up

First off I would like to dedicate this post to my older sister who is just recently engaged...  I jokingly refer to her as newly bethrothed.

Welcome to all you brides out there planning your nuptials, and Congratulations on your upcoming big day!

I want to give a bit of insight to the make-up application set up.  Of course starting out you will want to collect information about the make-up artists in your area.  Word of mouth and internet searches are popular and useful ways to go about this.   I try to keep my website (www.subhastarmakeup.com) up-to-date with my latest jobs and photo shoots.  I have a small section of my website portfolio with bridal pictures, but I really encourage you to check out all the pictures in my portfolio because I believe that they showcase my range as a make-up artist. 

First step in securing a make-up artist is to set up a trial application.  I think this is best to schedule on a day that you have another special event, either a bridal shower, engagement pictures, or a nice dinner out with your fiance.  That way you can enjoy the make-up fully, possibly have photos to see how it looks on film, and see how it wears for an extended time period. 

For the trial it's a good idea to bring pictures of make-up looks you are interested in, go through some of those bridal magazines you have and tear out pages of photos you like.  I have a large binder of tear sheets and I always bring that for the bride to flip through.  During the trial application I collect information to help piece together the look and feel that the bride wants for her wedding.  We go through date, times, locations and # of bridal party members who are also getting their make-up done.  I charge the same amount for each make-up application.  I know some brides are weary of requesting their wedding party to take on another expense.  A way some brides address this issue is to split that expense with their bridesmaids. 

After the trial application is completed and I have collected all necessary information I put it together in a contract that I mail out within a week.  That contract confirms that I will be booked for that date and time and # of make-up applications.  I also require a deposit which is typically half of the total amount. 

I hope this has been helpful!  Feel free to contact me with any questions.  I am available for Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana brides, travel expenses are negotiable for any brides outside that region.

This past weekend I helped finish up the last few scenes on a short film entitled Head  you can check out a clip here:

http://www.deanrank.com/videos.html#top

I helped paint and apply the prosthetic horse face piece. 

I was finally able to watch this movie and it is charming and disarming.  I knew of Edith Piaf but know I feel as though I knew her.  It is definitely an oscar movie, you are swept away in a world other than your own and the people in it are very real. 

Marion Coutillard plays her and is nominated for best actress.  Marion is a beautiful woman as was Edith.  I watched the DVD making of and was very happy with the make-up segments.  The director explained how he wanted the subtle and gradual aging of Edith and how it need to be very fine detailed work because of all the close up scenes with her at the end of her life. 

It is a pleasure seeing Marion Coutillard at all the awards ceramonies.  She is sweet, soft spoken, and utterly glamourous. 

http://www.edithpiafmovie.com/

SO this morning bright and early (5:30am) the Academy Award nominees for 2008 were announced,  and for me the most anticipated category is of course BEST MAKE-UP!

And here they are:

LA VIE EN ROSE

Didier Lavergne, Jan Archibald

NORBIT

Rick Baker, Kazuhiro Tsuji

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END

Check out www.oscar.com for all the details! 

I have just the cure...

Blush!

This is a tough time of year; holidays are over, sun shine is few and far between, and summer seems a lifetime ago. 

Now I don't recommend lathering up the self-tanner and bronzer, you aren't going to fool anybody.   And you really do have to watch out for those tanning beds, the environment is aging our skin fast enough with out additional help. 

So what are you to do? 

Go out and get yourself a new shade of blush!  or heck just some blush.  If you are from my era, you grew up post 80s Dallas and Dynasty big hair, and big make-up.  You may have a bit of a phobia about blush, because honestly it can be a scary thing, when applied overzealously.  Following that period we had the paired down grunge look that was the 90s, earth tones were in, blush, along with electric blue mascara, was out.

I am here to take you into the new millenium where we can have fun with color, yet know better than to paint ourselves up as cartoons. 

Now back to the winter blues, blahs, blech etc. 

Without the sun shining we are reduced to ashy ghosts when we venture outside, and office lighting isn't anymore flattering, so I have a tip that will make you look and feel better.

Go out and pick up a blush and not just a shade that is your skin tone with a touch of pink.  Live a little and get a pinky hot pink, fushisa, peach, and/or orange.  Now here is something you probably don't take into consideration when you are purchasing or rather not purchasing those wild bright colors:  You aren't applying to a white canvas... rather your skin is the back drop, so that blush's color is going to drop quite a few decibals.  And trust me it is going to wake up your face.  It is amazing how creamy and clear the rest of your complection is going to be, not to mention how your eyes are going to pop once you add another color into the mix. 

Oh and treat yourselve right and get the fluffiest, most luxurious blush brush out there - note I didn't say the biggest, you want the 2nd largest size so that you have control over where it's going on your face.