Barnet Fayre

Amy-lina Ballerina... ok not quite Angelina

So I met Amy for a coffee in Starbucks and she is lovely. A real sweetheart who is keen to get into modelling and wants to start a career in it. She has a great look (see previous post), fab hair - a lovely auburn colour and will no doubt make some great pics.

After chatting about the usual stuff like explaining the logistics of having a 'prep' day to cut or maybe colour her hair (I want it sparkling and glossy for the shoot) I then started asking her what her interests are. I think it's quite important to get to know the person you'll be working with quite closely (how often do you touch someone's hair and face??) so that it becomes comfortable for everyone - especially when it's a new model who could well be a bit nervous.

So I found out she used to be a ballerina and got quite far with her grades and was even using 'points'.

Guess what my next theme will be? She'll have some great poses and posture - I've asked her to bring her tutu and bally shoes. How exciting!

Facebook: the new meeting place for contacts

Variety is the spice of life... well for your portfolio anyway. After my success of meeting a very potential model for my next shoot via MySpace, I had another brainwave and decided to contact my only young - still doing her GCSEs - 'friend' on Facebook (where I already have a profile), to see if she might be able to contact her entire catalogue of female listed 'friends' on her own profile to see if anyone was interested in being a model for a hair and make-up artist - in return for a day of their time and a free haircut. I figured I'll get responses from pretty girls but in two categories; ones that are pretty but not model material and ones that ARE pretty and ARE model material, either way they'll be new to the game and will want some free pics and the opportunity to be 'made-up' to the nines. Win win I say. I'm happy to say I've had a few responses and some very good potential models are appearing. I'm meeting a girl called Amy tonight.

Making the right contacts

I've not been on here in a while, I've been busy with other things but hey now things are back on track and I'm going gung ho (is that the right expression?) with two, maybe even three photoshoots in the very near future - hurrah!

Having already used one girl/model that I found doing work experience at my day job here, it was time I moved on. One thing you need in a portfolio is variety and that's what I was heading for.

First things first - where do i find new models that need pics for their portfolio? ...MySpace! I updated my profile on there, then I sat and waited for the floods of responses to come in. Actually I didn't. I actively went searching for like-minded people, joined groups, sent emails to potential models (be careful of the dodgy ones that think they're models but in fact they work down the local Co-op) and contacted existing 'friends' that I thought may be able to help me.

Voila! Fantastic news. A girl called Natalie has contacted me via MySpace - she's a freelance professional model and wants some more shots for her portfolio. I'm meeting up with her in a couple of days.

Test shoot No.2: The Rock Chick

I did another test shoot not so long ago which went quite well I think - well, I've used one of the final pics on my new business card I've just printed up! Lessons learnt this time? Prepare, prepare prepare! ...My model wanted some highlights, which I kindly agreed to do, she also brought along a picture of a cut which she wanted, which I also kindly agreed to do. I'm happy to do these things for free but it starts getting a bit much when I'd already said I wanted to take her to the studio to take a couple of shots - on the same day! We finished at midnight that night... oh my goodness it was a long day. Big thanks to Pete Webb photographer for having the patients of a saint.

Is the perm really coming back?

  What do you think? Even the word 'perm' sends shivers down my spine reminding me of my wavy (slightly frizzy) bob singing into a microphone in my bedroom pretending to be Madonna in her Blonde Ambition days (I was 14 ok?!). Either that or Kath, from the brilliant sitcom Kath and Kim (see pic). In my opinion, I don't think the perm will ever come back like it did in the eighties, I mean it's a permanent chemical treatment that lets face it, is NOT good for your hair - in the same way straightening your hair with chemicals is NOT good for your hair, hence why 'straighteners' or the heaven almightly GHDs are so popular. Maybe manufacturers should think of another way of marketing it...what about calling it a 'tousle treat' that gives soft waves forever? Well, until it grows out.

May my new curls choke her with jealousy!

Oh no, the GHD TV advert featuring eroticised women with gorgeous hair strutting their stuff has been axed! Apparently the advert has overstepped the mark with its religious connotations and is thought to be offensive to Christians. I quite liked the strapline "A new religion for hair" which incidentally has been used for the last seven years according to the advertising agency that created it. See the BBC news story on it today.

I love your smile

Shanice. That is the name of the model who helped me with my hair shoot the other weekend. Thought I'd put another pic up that I took on my 'prep' day with her. I found her when she was doing work experience at my work, great huh?

Rent GHDs by the minute!

I came across a brilliant idea at the weekend. I was out in a bar on Saturday night for a friend's birthday and what did I find in the ladies toilets? Some GHDs on the wall attached to a machine that you could put your money in, which turned the babies on... well done to the man, or lady that thought of that!

Top tips for a hair photo shoot

Remember this is for amateurs like me...

1) For your first shoot I would advise not to think about it too much - just go with the flow. Obviously prepare as much as you want to, but do it just to get a feel of the whole process.

2) If you're strapped for cash, start talking to people. Approach unis and colleges. There may be models, photographers, make-up artists that want to do the same thing as you (start a portfolio) in which case you're doing each other a favour and won't need to exchange any cash!

3) Look at magazines, clothes, music, shops etc for inspiration. See how it's been done before.

4) Start the shoot early in the morning so if time escapes you (which it more than likely will) you won't feel too pressured.

5) Choose the strongest images when selecting which pictures to use for your portfolio, or whatever they're for - even if it means just using one. It's easy to like the whole lot when you've never done it before - they all look pretty!

Christmas party hair

So cool. Check out this guide to the best Christmas party hair on Hji.co.uk Loving the Mark Leeson 'seductive' style. Not sure about the 'iconic up-do with a modern edge' ... you'll see what I mean.