2015 May

Weddings are always an exciting time. However, I find that it increases in excitement whenever the bride is an old friend.

I’ve known Marta since we were in the fourth grade. When I actually think about how we’ve been friends for most of our lives, I need to take a moment to sit. I don’t think neither one of us thought, back when we were only eight years old, that she’d be getting married and I’d be there to photograph it. It’s amazing how life changes and where it can take us. All of our plans that we made up when we were in elementary school changed and morphed into something completely out of the ordinary… but absolutely beautiful at the same time.

Even as kids, Marta always dreamt about being married.

After the ceremony and portraits were finished, we sat down with one another and chatted, and one thing she said to me was, “Wow, I’m married..” and that she is! I think one of the best parts of the wedding, and definitely at the top of the list of most beautiful moments, was seeing Cam and Marta’s little girl Alice laugh and smile at her parents during the ceremony (when she wasn’t running around with grandma at her toes).

Their wedding was small and intimate, but full of love, laughter, and food. (Really, really tasty food… might I add..) It was a DIY wonderland of hand crafted bouquets and decorations. Streamers hung above as the rain poured outside – a Persian symbol for good luck, but was quick to clear up once we stepped outside for portraits. Little Alice’s screams could be heard for most of the day, but was soon drowned out by the giggles and excitement of her newly wedded parents. It was a wonderful wedding for a wonderful couple.

Congratulations Marta and Cam!

Here’s a little peek at their beautiful day…

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with my friend Hannah about make-up as we got ready for a wedding we were shooting later that day. As we rubbed foundation across our skin, contoured (well, at least I attempted to…) our cheeks, and pilled on the mascara (spider lashes are actually my favourite…), we shared with each other how much we love doing our make-up. As we were doing this, Hannah said something that really stuck with me. As a photographer, we spend hours and hours editing photos. We try to enhance the photograph and showcase the beauty that we’ve captured. That can be the same with make-up. We use make-up to enhance our already natural beauty. We take our time and try our best to “perfect” a look (and sometimes we don’t even need to do too much to it). Just as we try to perfect a photograph, we do the same with make-up. Not only that, but it’s a great way to be creative… and I’m all for being creative!

Springtime Make-up…

I love all things beauty. I’m almost border line obsessed with it. Over the past few years, I’ve spent my free time watching make-up tutorials online, read blog posts about the latest beauty trends and how to perfect winged eyeliner (I’m still trying to perfect it. It’s an ongoing battle…). There’s something (almost) addicting about it. I’m not the kind of girl that can’t go out of the house without a full face of make up. There have been many times that I’ve left with only lip balm on and have been okay with it. However, when I do get the chance, I love to take my time with applying it.

As the seasons change, so does our beauty regime. In the winter, I find myself wearing heavier foundations and darker lips. Sometimes I’ll even throw on some eye liner and pile on the mascara. I find as the season get’s colder and the colours become richer, so does my makeup. But now that winter is long gone and spring has sprung, my make-up routine has shifted with it. I’ve found that my skin has become a bit dryer (I blame the weather…) and that I’m needing my skin to breathe more.

Lately, I’ve been reaching for my Nars Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska. I find that the coverage is light, allowing my skin to breathe. Even though it is a moisturizer, I still tend to wear a face cream underneath. Clinique Moisture Surge is my usual go-to, but it is on the pricer side. If you are on a budget, I’d suggest opting for Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream. It has a mattifying finish which will help your foundation last and it keeps your skin matte. I also recommend applying it with a brush. Not only does it give your skin a flawless finish, it also wont tug on your skin like your fingers will. I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

For concealer, I like to use two. If I have any spots or redness on my skin (usually around my mouth and my nose) I’ll use Makeup For Ever Full Cover. This concealer is intense. If you don’t want something that’s super heavy duty, then this might not be for you. You don’t need to use a lot of it either. Just a dab will do. I’ve had this for over a year now and it’s still going strong. For under the eyes, I use the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer. It’s amazing! I’m running low and will definitely be repurchasing it.

For bronzing (if I do feel up to it that day) I’ve been using the Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Bronzer in goddess. I find that with this bronzer, it can work as a highlighter as well because of the shimmer undertones that it has. With the seasons warming up, I bounce from two different blushes – either a coral or a pink. Sonia Kashuk Blush in Sunset looks like it’s a pink but it does have coral undertones to it. Lately, I’ve been more leaning towards the Milani Baked Blush in Delizioso Pink. These blushes are super pigmented so you only need to use a bit on your brush. I tend to sweep it on the apples of my cheeks and leave it like that. Most days I wont even use a bronzer and just wear a pink blush. I find that it makes your skin look a lot more fresh for the springtime.

My brows are intense. So, I don’t normally do anything with them because they are already so dark. However, I do find that after I get them threaded, there are a few patchy spots. In that case I’ll go over it with a brow pencil but normally I keep them as is. However, I will take the Benefit High Brow Glow and highlight just below the brow line to give it a bit of a shimmer. I pair that with The Balm Nude Dude in Fit and bam! I love that Fit is a bronzy colour. I’m all for nude eye shadows, especially in the spring and summer. (Note: I received my mini nude eyeshadow in an Ipsy glam bag. You can’t purchase them separately… not that I know of at least.) I’ll then coat my eyelashes with some mascara – right now, I’m using Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (…it’s amazing, by the way!) and then I’m good to go.

For lips, I tend to lean towards more moisturizing lipsticks and glosses since my lips have been more on the dryer side. Right now, I’ve been using either Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm (could that be any longer?), Bare Minerals: Pop Of Passion Balm-Oil in Peach Passion, or Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Colour in Baby Lips.

Once I’m puckered up and good to go, I spritz my neck with whatever body spray I have on hand (Lately, I’ve been hooked on the PINK body mists), grab my sunnies, and head out for the day. What I love about this look is that it’s super easy to do, it takes literally no time at all, and it’s light. With the weather changing, I don’t want to feel like my face is melting off… because let’s be honest, that’s NOT cute. With this look, I don’t feel like that’s happening and my skin still looks flawless!

What are your springtime/summer must haves?

Archives for May 2015

Marta + Cam

Springtime Make-Up Musts