WIX

I have decided I will be using WIX for my website/ blog. I have been looking at options that have not been mentioned in class and ended up signing up to a rather large amount of scam sites! I feel WIX is the most sensible option to choose at this point. I know the websites are easily customised from having conversations with John and Ian. I was not great at using it the first time but will have a look at all the options and really familiarise myself with the website. 

I N S P I R E D

While I have been test shooting still life images, I have not been shooting the content to go along side the images. I saw these images by photographer Maisie Cousins and feel completely inspired by her work. While dewy skin in beauty images was something I proposed, Im excited about experimenting with different areas of skin on the body.

 I want to create close up shot of skin with oil and natural materials like Cousins has. I think the snail is absolutely amazing and while it may make some squirm I think it creates such a beautiful image.

While the nudity and "real beauty" style are something that I do not think are necessary for my blog I would like to explore the texture of skin and natural body hair. I feel this fits with my project, as I am to emit positivity.

*Test Shoot*

I did a quick test to see how the oil and petals would look on the camera and how I was able to shoot the oil with different lighting set ups, this was with a beauty dish.. I just used the knee as I was rushed in the studio but I feel confident I am on to something.
 

RMS test shoot

Here are some images from testing the RMS products in the studio. I really like the simplicity of the glass jars and metal lids, but found them rather hard to shoot. 

I chose to use the pieces of citrine as the colours were similar and I was hoping to get some really nice images, but it hasn’t happened yet…

The pot I have used has been used, this is something I will not be doing for my final images but it is something I thought a lot about. I don't like how you cannot use something until its been photographed and I worry about possibly re-shooting the images incase I think of better idea, I will be ordering more RMS products in order to shoot new products.

Here is an example of a group shot. I do actually like this image and fee after adjusting the brightness and depth on photoshop this could be a usable image. I feel it is just a little too simple though and another element is needed... what it is I am not sure just yet.

Looking at this image, I do feel I am progressing.

Website Issues

I'm having issues with designing my website on Wordpress. Unless I learn coding over night or pay a large amount to upgrade to the premium package I am unable to freely customise the template. The colour pallet is too important to leave to default settings, so i need to look for another alternative...

I attended the Muse tutorials John had in the drop in lessons but decided it would not be the best option for my blog. I found it easy to get the hang of and feel it is very similar to InDesign which is my favourite adobe programme, but even John suggested it is not the best format for my project. While i could design the site and add a blog in, john didn't seem greatly confident with the idea so I will look for something else. 

Jojoba oil shoot

When I first tested the image I tried to go for simplicity and ended up with a hundren images with no substance, i was getting bored looking at them an was worried maybe photography wasnt for me after all...

I then tried again after setting up different arrangement in my room until I found something that I though could work, I don't like to waste too much time in the studio so find working the arrangements out before hand can help speed the process up. 

 I am really pleased with how the still life shooting went today. I feel like these images are the best I have produced so far and really enjoyed my time in the studio. I am going to edit these images and see if they look professional by the time I am done. I am hoping these will be my first images to publish on the blog. 

Jojoba oil has become one of my favourite skincare products, I have decided to do a blog post on this product as it is an essential ingredient in many organic face oils, regular beauty products that contain the oil usually only have a very small amount in. I've also been reading up on the oil and it is a great product for all skin types. I thought it would be sensible to have a product many people can use as one of the first articles on the blog. 

RMS beauty review

Living Luminizer- This is the hero product according to RMS, and I completely agree. The product itself is really amazing, it has a lovely glow without being offensive, the strobing trend momentarily put me off highlighting, but this product cannot be over used. It is also said to be perfect for all skin tones, I am especially looking forward to seeing how it looks on deeper skin tones.

“Un” Cover-up – A concealer or foundation to reveal and enhance healthier looking skin… not just cover it up. This product really impressed me, I wake up most mornings with itchy, swollen eyes, previously I would take an antihistamine and slather Nivea cold cream on my face and hope it sooths by the time I’d do my make-up (which it rarely did but I pushed through the burning sensation if I want to look presentable). But no more, this product really has changed my life, as soon as I apply the product to my eyelids the swelling reduces in minutes.

Not only is this product great for soothing my face, the shade is incredible, in the past I had found it really difficult to get a shade fair enough with cool tones, up until my last foundation I had never had one that actually matched. I used to use No7 foundation in shade calico, which matched greatly so I was really unsure about trying a new product, but I’m glad I did. I got shade 00 from RMS and when first opening the jar I thought they must have sent me the wrong shade, it looked very yellow. Turning the pot over I had the correct shade in front of me, I dipped my finger in and smeared a little on my cheek, this was the wrong shade! But as I blended it in to my skin it disappeared, it melted into my face and was the perfect shade. I am very interested to see how to deeper tones also adjust to match the skin.

“Un” powder –the one and only powder you will ever need, the ultra-fine powder is virtually invisible, minimising pores, softening the skin and absorbing oil. Again I am really impressed, the thing that sets this powder apart from any other I have used is that it makes your skin feel like that of a new-born. I have never had such a soft face before, the first few times I used it I asked all of my friends to feel my skin, and they were also really impressed, saying they have not felt such a soft face. It really is incredible. The only concern with this product is the use on deeper skin tones, when I apply a little too much to the petals of my nose it can be seen, which would probably be very ashy on deeper skin tones. 

Supporting Social Media

I have been researching into what the best supporting social media accounts would be best for Liladescent.  I have been torn on the decision to use Facebook or not, while I realise it is a great platform to promote my blog on, it is not however a social media site that is considered cool. Instagram and tumblr seem to be the place to promote. 

I will be launching a Instagram page as there is so much happening with the holistic beauty movement, and also a Pinterest page as there are hundreds of organic beauty tutorials and recepies, which links with the blog perfectly. 

Still life testing...

 I bought these essential oils from Holland and Barret, when considering what products to feature I need to keep cost in mind, as my focus group were eager to try organic products but not happy to pay high prices. These were around £5-6 each, so are really affordable.

I am kind of pleased with these images, while I don't think I have the content for my blog to build articles around I do feel as though I have progressed with my images from the first shoot. 

One blog post I had in mind and mentioned to Emma is a rose quartz facial massage, I tried photographing the piece of rose quartz I use for this but found it really difficult. I was expecting all my images would be from a bird eye angle, but with the light above and only a small step ladder it is physically impossible to stand over the table without falling on top of it.

 I tried to create a warmer effect by changing the white balance on the camera when taking these images. It just hasnt worked for me, I think because the white label is a yellow tone it looks like the entire lighting is bad rather than creating a luxurious effect...
Apart from that Im really happy with the composition of this image, I used a 100ml macro lens for the first time after always been given one of the 50ml previously. I really enjoyed taking the images today and hope to create more like it very soon with my upcoming shoot. 

RMS Beauty

Nat Van Zee spoke a lot about RMS beauty in the guest lecture I attended. I have visited the website a number of times and browsed endlessly, I ordered some products for myself to use personally, after all I cant really comment on the products until I have trailed them. I plan to use the products often over a few weeks to make a firm decision before writing a potential review article.

I purchased the living luminizer, a cream highlighter that has featured in vogue, as one of the top ten must haves. The claims are to enhance the skins natural youthfulness without being sticky, greasy or glittery.

Contains:

*Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, *Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), Tocopherol (non-GMO), *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, and may contain [+/- Titanium Dioxide CI77891, Mica CI 77019]

“Un” Cover-up – A concealer / foundation to reveal and enhance healthier looking skin… not just cover it up. I’m apprehensive to try this, I ordered shade 00 hoping it will be light and cool enough. I preferred liquid foundations prior to switching to organic, so will see how it goes.

Contains:

*Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, *Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax),  *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol(non-GMO), *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, and may contain: [+/- Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499]

“Un” powder –“the one and only powder you will ever need, the ultra-fine powder is virtually invisible, minimising pores, softening the skin and absorbing oil.” I look forward to using this product, I have read reviews and the critics are pleased so I’m sure I will be.

Contains:

Silica

Volumizing mascara, though this product isn’t 100% organic, it is 100% natural. I’m not too sure why, though looking at a few other brands it doesn’t seem there is a mascara that’s certified organic by the soil association. I will soon find out…

Contains:

Water (Aqua), *Cera Alba (Beeswax), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Glycerin, *Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Stearic Acid, *Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, *Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil,  *Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Limonene, Geranoil, Parfum (Natural Fragrance)

*Certified Organic

Volumizing formula contains gluten.

RMS is not a vegan brand due to the use of beeswax in the products, but it is a cruelty free brand.