This Thursday the Cape Town Civic Centre is the place to BE!
Please come and support this amazing cause and enjoy amazing fashion and entertainment whilst doing so. I am SO excited to be walking in this fashion show! If last year was anything to go by… IT’S GOING TO BE SPECTACULAR!
I have worked with Albert on several occasions. He regularly flies out from Europe to Cape Town to shoot ‘Stock’ Photography.
Here are some of the latest images. Our make-up was kept natural and done by the lovely (!!!) Natalie Tall who hails from Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
The images were taken over several days and in various locations. I always go well-prepared when shooting ‘Stock’ as you never know where you might end up shooting and for how long… Albert’s team is excellent at looking after us, providing us with refreshments, chairs, shade and keeping the mood fun and cheery.
As can be seen in the photographs we shot various different scenes. It’s a good idea to speak to the production manager the night before when you pack your bag to find out what looks/scenes they are hoping to achieve.
My favourite was the ‘Ballet Teacher’ shoot as I got to shoot with two of my own young students.
Lara, my curly-haired-stock-shoot-partner-in-crime and I got to have loads of fun again playing office ladies and various other random personas!
A friend of mine living in Canada, spotted this particular image of Craig Leslie and I in a local magazine and snapped a quick shot. Thanks Wesley!
I recently did a Charity Show at Val de Vie and was introduced to a hair team from a salon in Stellenbosch. They were vibrant, talented and exuded positive energy… so when they handed me a voucher… I just knew I had to pay the salon a visit!
The BePremière Salon is situated in Stellenbosch on Bird Street. It is located in the historic De Wet Centre which dates all the way back to 1897.Don’t be fooled though but the historic exterior, the interior contrasts sharply, as it is fitted out in a cool and contemporary style. The team is extremely warm and friendly and the vibe is chilled.
Richard Bland is the owner and driving force behind the team. He is originally from the UK, but has recently moved out to South Africa to open up a series of Salons.
Richard consulting
He is very passionate and talented in what he does and worked as General Manager for the Saks Franchise for just short of ten years.
Richard had planned to become a quantity surveyor but this all changed when he popped in for a haircut in Darlington on his way to a job interview. He was hooked by the idea of opening up his own franchise and making some good money. It has been more than twenty years since and he is still in the business of HAIR!
My stylist at the fashion show was Guy Kleinhaus. He hails from Reading in the UK, but now calls Durbanville home. He has been with BePremière since it opened in February of this year. Guy gave me the gorgeous curls (just what I wanted) at the show and because of his amazing mind reading skills, I made my appointment with him to have my colour done (BIG TEST) and change up my fringe a little.
Guy styling hair at the charity show. (Photo taken by Tarryn Sessions)
The salon was easy to find and the glass front allows one to take in a little of the beauty and trees that Stellenbosch is famous for. I found myself facing the window most of the time (Poor Guy!)
My favourite part of the salon is the chairs at the basins… They are more like loungers than anything else but just when you think it can’t get better and more comfy… THEY START TO MASSAGE!!! I had mine cranked up to the max and had an awesome back and derriere massage! Haha!
My fringe has been bothering me for a while as it is gappy (my own word) and makes silly partings in random places. Guy decided to thicken it and make it a bit wider and shorter. It is perfect now and fully co-operating 
Colouring my very thick long hair is quite a process and Guy opted to do the job at the basins. YAY! More massages for me and no complaints!
The result… COMPLIMENTS ALL ROUND and a gorgeous shiny copper mane!
So yes… I have jumped ship and will be making this my new ‘hair home’! I strongly suggest you pop in and try it out for yourself!
Ps. Chloe’s amazing French-bob she is sporting, was cut by Richard! He gave her some rich colour and a sharp but shapely cut. She looks stunning!
Contact the salon on 021 882 9416
www.bepremiere.com
Follow them on Facebook or Twitter @ BePremiere Hair
I am!
Important things to always carry with you as a model especially when going to castings and go-sees
Flats:
I always like to drive and walk to my casting in flats. Driving is much safer and walking just THAT much faster if you have a flat shoe on. I also find that when I wear my heels to walk to castings they so get so scuffed and damaged on the cobbled streets in town.
Heels:
I always carry my heels in my bag and slip them on when I arrive at the casting venue. Heels show off the good muscle-tone in your legs and give you that extra boost if you are on the shorter side. Heels also improve ones posture, as it is much harder to slouch when wearing them.
Portfolio:
Always carry this with you. You don’t ever want to miss out of a job for forgetting it! You made the effort to attend the casting… just take your book along, it’s that easy.
Z-cards:
Always make sure you have at least two z-cards with you when attending a casting. Sometimes your agency will specifically request that you take more, take note of this. Advise your agency in good time if your supply of cards is running low, it takes time to have new ones printed.
Cream:
Body lotion is way to make the skin look good. You are after all ‘selling’ a look, so look good! My favourite cream is Palmers Body Gloss (a little goes a long way).
Water:
Dehydration can make you feel listless, look drained and give you a terrible headache. The summer heat in Cape Town is merciless so make sure you always have enough water with you and sip it throughout the day
Bikini:
Your agency always tries to brief you as best they can before a casting but sometimes all the information pertaining to a casting hasn’t been given through to them. Carry your bikini… rather that than have to put on the one-size-fits-all-emergency one that the casting studio will has lying around.
Hair brush:
Cape Town is infamous for its windy summer days. You might look the epitome of perfection when you leave home but can easily resemble something else once arriving at the casting. Carry your brush to quickly tidy your hair in the closest bathroom.
Deodorant:
Summer is hot… enough said
Parking money:
The parking (model) money collectors are everywhere… always make sure you have enough cash on you to pay for your parking. I always carry a little extra as sometimes castings are drawn out and take much longer than I expected.
Lip-gloss:
Slick on some lip-gloss once arriving, if you do so before you might find half you head of hair stuck to it on a windy day .
Snack:
Days can be long and one can often be stuck in one place for a long time. Carrying a little snack will be a great pick-me-up and give you that extra bit of energy to dazzle the clients!
Breath mint:
Fresh is best!
Nude & black set of undies:
Go prepared! You don’t ever want to have to stand there in the miss-matched ones you put on that morning
Smile:
No matter how long you have sat in traffic, looked for a parking, struggled to find the venue, stood in the queue… PUT A WARM SMILE ON YOUR FACE when you enter the casting room and leave all your stress outside. Remember first impressions count
To follow…
Model Bag for FITTINGS
Donne recently contacted a bunch of girls from Ice Genetics, asking if we would like to be involved in a Charity Show for the STOP (Trafficking of People) Foundation. As always there was a wonderful response from the Ice-G girls and together with some models from Trigger we supported by giving of our time for the fittings and the show.
IMAGE TAKEN BY ROXY HEART BAYMAN
Fittings took place in Stellenbosch (a fun variation from Town) and were quick and ‘painless’. Stephano, the designer on board, chose a beautiful, soft and floaty green dress for me and for Chloe, a striking black outfit.
CHLOE – IMAGE TAKEN BY WILLEM VAN NIEKERK
The actual show took place on the magnificent Val de Vie Estate just outside Paarl. We all gathered early in the morning were shown our ramp choreography and started run-throughs.
CHLOE IN A BRIDAL LOOK
Stephano and his team were backstage doing final alterations and fittings on the girls. No easy feat to create 20+ designs/masterpieces in such a short space of time! The gowns looked amazing and as each model fitted hers the excitement built! My dress had soft layers added to the skirt and the beading on the bodice looked amazing, it was to be one of the five auction dresses.
STEPHANO AND JO-ANN STRAUS
Make-up followed as a large team (all volunteers) arrived to paint our faces! The look was sophisticated: a nude lip, contoured cheek and strong Smokey eye.
LEANDRA IN AN AMAZING CREATION
The fantastic and up-beat team from BePremière then took over as one-by-one we had our hair transformed into the most beautiful styles. I had been joking all day to the girls that I would love curls (my hair is so often teased) but didn’t utter a word to my stylist; Guy Kleinhaus (never interfere with a brief from the designer!). Soon enough though I realized I was getting the most gorgeous ‘Kardashian’ curls and amazing volume (YEAH!). THANKS GUY! Each girl had a totally different look to suit her one-of-a-kind gown.
IMAGE TAKEN BY ROXY HEART BAYMAN
Soon it was time for the show to begin! I know I have mentioned it previously in other blog posts but I will take the liberty to do so again, I LOVE SHOWS!!! Love the vibe, the music and the adrenalin! It all went smoothly and was a great success.
IMAGE TAKEN BY WILLEM VAN NIEKERK
The audience enjoyed a delicious meal and was entertained by Heinz Winckler and Dieter Voigt amongst others. Jo-Ann Straus also supported the cause by MC-ing and modeling. The Show was followed by the auction.
IMAGE TAKEN BY WILLEM VAN NIEKERK
On a different note…
Chloe and I wrapped up at the event just before mid-night. The roads were extremely quiet due to the late hour… whilst driving I became aware of a car tailing us very closely.
The more I tried to shrug it off as co-incidence the more something told me it wasn’t. The car followed us to our home. Luckily we managed to pull into our gate and alert my dad. He ran out and confronted the man, who merely said, “I was following the girls” (!!!) and sped off.
I just realized again, one can’t be careful enough. In hindsight I now know to drive straight to a police station if something like that happens. Unfortunately/ironically as the STOP human trafficking show highlighted, things like this DO still happen and you should always be on your guard.
INFO RESOURCE : www.bleeek.com (direct quote)
PHOTOGRAPHS : FANJAM – lil nostalgic BRUNETTE moment
It’s a common misconception that naturally beautiful models take naturally beautiful photographs. The truth is—without modeling poses and modeling tips, perfect photographs are harder than you think.
If you are a professional model, a photographer will most likely guide you through a variety of model poses throughout the photo shoot. But if you are an inspiring model and are still working your way up to the top—you may have to control your poses to ensure great headshots and sample modeling photographs.
Live show models, promo models, photographic models, and runway models all rely on professional model poses to succeed. Whether you aspire to appear in print magazines or fashion shows and Hollywood movies; if you want to be a model, pay special attention to this insider guide to modeling poses.
Breathe
Although sometimes concentration enhances a good photograph, obvious concentration can distract and often ruin a good photograph as well. Do not hold your breath for a modeling pose; always remember to breathe and appear at ease.
Posture
Bad posture is an unrecognized flaw in many people. However, for models, posture is a harmful flaw. Always remember to keep your back straight and your shoulders up. Slouching affects the mood of the photograph and enlarges the appearances of your stomach. In addition to your back and shoulders, always remember to flex your stomach muscles. Despite your weight or state of shape, your abdomen will appear more toned if you flex.
Limbs
Symmetry is officially out in the modeling world. When posing, make sure to differentiate your arms and legs with asymmetrical poses. If you have one arm long and straight by your side, make sure the other arm is bent. Whether a big or small angle, the bend will make the modeling pose look more real, less artificial. Continue the asymmetry to your legs. If one leg is locked straight, give the other leg a casual bend.
Camera
Although the camera is the ultimate focal point of a modeling photo shoot, great models do not look directly into the camera. To enhance the quality of your photo shoot, look away from the camera with a mix of head and eye poses. Looking off to the right or left side, or tiling your neck to either side can help you avoid direct eye contact with the camera. In many cases, your head and neck can remain stationary in your modeling pose—and your eyes can do all the work. Head and eye positions, coupled with personable facial expressions make for great model poses.
Sitting Poses
If you are sitting down during your photo shoot—don’t think it’s ok to slack off. In fact, sitting photo shoots require a lot of extra work. If you are sitting down or reclining, it’s important to put your eight on the back of one thigh, rather than distributing your weight equally on both thighs. If you roll one hip up from the ground or surface, shifting your weight will be simple. This pose results in a slimming effect that you don’t want to miss out on.
Cleavage
To make sure your best assets shine, there are a few basic guidelines to follow. Based on two distinct poses, a forward lean and a backward lean, any model with any breast size can maximize cleavage. When leaning forward, either bring your arms together at your waist, keep your arms straight at the elbows and clasp your hands together below your waist, or simply cross your arms. When leaning backward, raise your arms about your shoulders and head, keep your arms apart, and always slouch for the best cleavage results.
Smile
If you have a naturally beautiful smile—show your pearly whites with pride, just not every time. If you smile in each modeling pose, modeling agents will notice your lack of versatility, not your smile. To add variety to your modeling poses, try switching up your smile with a cute frown, a bratty bout, a friendly laugh, or even an edgy scowl. Your facial expressions can make or break your modeling poses. Let your smile show, but make sure to show what else you can do.
In addition to these personalized tips for modeling poses, every model should be aware of the basics of posing. There are 4 main types of model poses: lifestyle pose, movement pose, portrait pose, and body pose.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle pose evokes a sense of everyday living with common body movements and facial expressions. Throughout the day, moments of happiness, love, anger, and hope arise. To succeed at the lifestyle pose, each model must be able to recreate these everyday emotions.
Movement
The movement pose captures a specific action, such as running or jumping. Because this pose is most often used for a marketing photo shoot—the model is used to promote a product. Each model must be able to smile and laugh when using the products in the photo shoot.
Portrait
This modeling pose emphasizes the face of the model—and relies purely on facial features. The model will be in modest makeup and relaxed hair and should pose with a casual, genuine smile. Many portrait photographs are close up and emphasize details of the model’s face. If you are scheduled for a portrait photo shoot, make sure to pay extra attention to your skin and drink at least 8-12 glasses of water a day.
Body
Full-length photographs require body poses. Models are encouraged to shift weight between hips and make arms and lengths into asymmetrical stances. Although many body poses do not require specific facial expressions, putting your entire body into character during full-length poses helps your body find a natural balance.
Keep these insider model posing tips in mind during your next professional model photo shoot to ensure you blow the photographer away. Whether you’re a trained expert or an ambitious beginner, all models have the ability to excel in photo shoots. Focus on your posture, attitude, and facial expressions to succeed beyond your wildest expectations.
I met Victor at the Cape Town College of Fashion Design while we were doing the Durban July fittings. He is one of the lecturers at the college but is also involved with many other design projects (Polo, wedding dresses and 46664 Fashion to name a few).
He asked me to model his amazing designs at a bridal themed shoot in Stellenbosch.
Pretty dresses and I’m IN!!
It was an early and cool winter’s morning but luckily the sun was out. The location was really beautiful and served as a perfect backdrop for his designs.
I was taken aback at the creativity and talent showcased in the eight gorgeous dresses. Each had completely its own look and feel and the fabrics were amazing. My favourite had a beaded white leather bodice and skirt trimmed with delicate ostrich feathers.
The collection of dresses that I modelled included something to suit all tastes, be it modern, vintage, classical or princess-like!
My make-up was clean, fresh and natural and my hair was left loose and long (the focal point of course being the beautiful garments!)
Photographs taken by Thomas Marincowitz.
