Downton Abbey featured in Style Me Pretty!

So excited...just found out that a fun shoot from last year was featured in the prestigious wedding blog, Style Me Pretty!  This shoot was so much fun, and I love recreating that vintage vibe.  Several talented vendors came together to provide elements for a fully realized Edwardian era fantasy.....like Downton Abbey, but infinitely more glamorous!  Have your cup of proper British tea?  Ready to swoon?  Here are just a few images from the shoot....

 

The makeup for this look was a bit of a challenge, because proper society women of that era didn't wear makeup. Hmmm...a bit too bland! So....I had to create a look that was gorgeous, but yet very natural....easier said than done.  I used soft neutrals on the eyes for a bit of definition, created perfect, porcelain "British" skin, and just a slight flush to lips and cheeks with subtle, flirty lashes.  Like the look?  It's a classic look that would actually work for any bride!  (Note: Be sure to check back to see the same model made up for a totally different shoot...you'll be shocked at just how different she looks!) 

 



We had the most fabulous, talented and FUN group of vendors working on this project, I was thrilled to be a part of it!  We're all incredibly proud of this gorgeous shoot, we hope you enjoy the results.

 

The Creative Team

Photographer - Peyronet Photography

Planning and Styling -  Minted Artistry

Florals – Justine’s Flowers

Vintage Furniture and Accessories – Gold Dust Vintage Rentals

Makeup – Lip Service Professional Makeup Artistry

Hair – Renn Traylor

Gowns – Bridal Boutique of Lewisville

Linens – La Tavola

Cake – Romano’s Bakery

Sweets – Tart Bakery

Chairs and other accessories – May I Serve U

Venue – T&P Station

Model - Christina Conoly

Spring is here! (AKA, Can I stop sneezing long enough to write this post?!?)

I live in Fort Worth, TX...
I don't know what's in the air where you live, but here....wowza, we have all kinds of major pollen inducing plants and trees!  Allergies are MAJOR, especially in spring and boom...I've got 'em.  I've probably sneezed 100 times this morning alone!  (Thank God for Puff's Plus...this is NOT the time for cheap, store brand tissue....)

So, how's a glam girl gonna look put together in allergy season?  Watery eyes, sneezing, puffy eyes.....none of it feels attractive.  Kind of like having a non-stop cold, right?  Well, here are a couple of tips I've put together for you to combat seasonal allergies, and yes....the same tips will work for cold/flu season as well!


1. GET THE GOOD KLEENEX.  No joke, the softer the tissue you can get, the less redness and chapping you'll have on your nose.  Yes, I learned this lesson the hard way so you don't have to!  Spring for the Puffs Plus with lotion.  You're welcome.

2. Moisturize more than normal....at night, coat your nose with moisturizer, or if it's really chapped, petroleum jelly.  You want to avoid the rough and flaky skin that is really tough to cover with makeup.

3. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness.  You. MUST. GET.  This stuff is genius, and you'll see I mention it at lot on my Instagram and facebook posts.  It's highly pigmented and has a tiny bit of green to magically cover redness.  It only comes in one color and believe it or not, that shade works for most people!  If it's too light for you, use a bit to cover redness and then use your regular foundation on top...redness, gone.  No lie, probably the #1 product in my kit right now!


4. If your eyes are red and puffy, or allergies are causing dark circles, a great trick is to do a smoky eye!  Sounds like the exact thing you shouldn't do, but it actually works.  Make it look like that darkness is INTENTIONAL!  Use soft shades of gray or navy or neutral taupes...stay away from plums or warm browns that could bring out redness even more.  Blend well, add liner on upper and lower lids (on lower lid, liner on your waterline and use shadow buffed in with a small brush below that for a soft look) and you'll look sophisticated, not tired and puffy.  Try it, it works!

Good luck ladies!  I hope these tricks make you feel prettier as you stop to smell the roses....and then sneeze. Achooooo!!!!!

A Real Life "Princess" Bride

Just got back some great photos from Taylor's wedding just a few weeks ago, she's stunning!  She looked exactly like how little girls imagine real princesses look...just dreamy. Might as well name this girl Buttercup! (She married, Jason...not Wesley...FYI)  I did a boudoir shoot for Taylor, and makeup for her shower, so we've been talking for months and have gotten to know each other....she's just as sweet as she is gorgeous.  Yes, really! 

 For the big day, L'Image salon in Mansfield took care of the hair and they were nice enough to create plenty of space for me to set up so we could do all hair/makeup onsite....10 faces for me!  I did the bridesmaids and Taylor's mom first, and then Taylor.....

 

And yep, I'm used to all the bridesmaids hanging out and watching me!  It doesn't bother me at all...I usually throw out some makeup tips and even answer makeup questions while I work.  At this point, everyone was getting really excited...Taylor was being transformed into a BRIDE....

 

I always try to get a few pics with the bride, thankfully the phographer (Beau Vaughn Photography) was right there and snapped a couple pics. Some brides I get to know pretty well, others not as much, but seriously...I'm so lucky!  They are all such nice girls and I love getting to play a part in one of the biggest days in their lives.  Cheesy, but true...#blessed! Taylor was off to Aristide Event Center in Mansfield, TX...a lovely wedding venue that resembles a castle...perfect for a real life "princess" about to get married!  Dress on...check, flowers in the hair...check....

What did I tell you?  What little girl (or grown girl) doesn't dream of looking this magical when she walks down the aisle?

 

 

 One last pic and a few notes about how I created her wedding day look.  She wanted whimsical, gorgeous and special, but not too over the top.  I used a combo of white, gold and bronze cream shadows (they are SUPER long lasting) from Maybelline, along with a few other shades in gold and bronze from other palettes.  This created drama on her eyes, but without any harsh lines or too much color.  I did a classic winged liner, which she knew she loved from the previous times I did her makeup....false lashes, berry cheeks (cream and powder...again long-lasting!), all set with micro-milled setting powder for a flawless, airbrush finish.  I added some subtle shine with a silver/pink and gold shimmer powders from MAC to give her an ethereal glow...not too much, a lot of sparkle doesn't photograph well. I've just gotta tell you...the moment when the bride looks in the mirror when I'm finished, beams back at me with the "Oh my gosh, I LOVE it"...is absolutely the best part of being an artist, and getting the huge hug and thank you is the bonus!  Knowing that I am able to create the look that makes each bride feel beautiful when it counts most is very rewarding and it flat out just makes me smile!  Here's one last pic of the lovely (inside and out!) bride.....

 

I hope she and Jason have an amazing life together!  I know their fairy tale celebration last month was a great way to kick things off with memories they'll never forget...including all the "kissing parts" and the happily ever after.......

 

 

Gold Rush!

Nothing like an early morning photo shoot!  Excited about this one...it's with a few of my favorite vendors...the Gold Dust girls from Gold Dust Vintage Rentals.  The name of the shoot?  "Bee Gold", of course!  Here's the pic from this morning...I created a golden eye using a mix of gold and bronze cream eyeshadows to get the perfect soft, antique gold that wasn't too yellow.  I added major liner and lashes, a very defined brow and bold berry lips and instantly, Emily looked like an Old Hollywood starlet!  This is actually a very requested wedding look...it's bold, but classic and looks fabulous in person and in photos.  I'll post more from the shoot when I see the final images.....until then, have a GREAT day!

Texas Beauty and Grace - Loma Linda

Hi Everyone!
I recently did an amazing styled shoot with Melissa Shook Photography out at Loma Linda Events, in Rocket, TX.  Although it's been cold cold cold lately and the trees were definitely still starkly winter barren, we lucked out and the day of the shoot itself was warm and really nice!  I crafted a mostly natural and sweet look for Grace, but when I saw the aquamarine color of her eyes AND the fabulous shoes stylist Sally Schnitzius had lined up for the shoot, I decided to add a little pop of unexpected shadow around her lashline.  I loved the ethereal effect it created...very cool!  For her hair, I did soft, natural waves that were first adorned with a floral crown (created by Teresa Choate with Loma Linda), then just down and loose for the 2nd look.  For the final group of sunset shots, I pinned up a quick twisted topknot PLUS added a vibrant raspberry lip for a more bold and electric look that perfectly played off the colors in her bouquet...gorgeous!  Sally and I collaborated our massive jewelry collections to find some perfect vintage additions to adorn Grace's gorgeous dress.  Did I mention Grace and Matt are engaged in real life?  They had such great chemistry and Melissa captured some sweet moments and dreamy imagery while rushing to get that last little bit of sunlight.  LOTS of pics, but what the heck....check out "Texas Beauty and Grace"!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography - Melissa Shook Photography 

 Venue, Floral, backdrops - Teresa Choate/Loma Linda Events 

 Styling/Jewelry - Sally Schnitzius 

Dress - Pence and Panache

Makeup/Hair/Jewelry/Additional Styling - Lip Service Makeup

Models - Grace Schnitzius and Matt Chapman