BIBLIOGRAPHY

BARNS, S. (2015). Star Wars partners with Max Factor on new make-up line... perfect for those who want to channel the Stormtrooper or C-P3O look. [viewed 25 February 2016] Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3198350/Star-Wars-partners-Max-Factor-new-make-line.html.

Estee Lauder,. Advert shot. 2015. Web. 6 Feb. 2016.

LEAPER, C. (2016). The Spring 2016 Trend Report: Your Ultimate Guide To The New Fashion Season. [viewed 09 February 2016] Available: http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/fashion/550957/ss16-fashion-trend-report-the-best-women-s-fashion-trends-for-spring-2016.html. 

NIVEN, L. (2015). Candice Turns Marilyn For Max Factor. [viewed 06 February 2016] Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2015/04/09/candice-swanepoel-turns-marilyn-monroe-for-max-factor. 

NIVEN, L. (2015). Pat McGrath: Beauty Tribute. [viewed 08 March 2016] Available: http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2012/03/30/pat-mcgrath-best-catwalk-make-up-photos/gallery/1321367

NIVEN, L. (2015). Spring Summer 2016: Backstage Beauty Bites. [viewed 09 February 2016] Available: http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2015/09/14/spring-summer-2016-hair-and-make-up-backstage.

NIVEN, L., 2012. Gwyneth Paltrow is Madonna for Max Factor [viewed 25 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2014/07/gywneth-paltrow-for-max-factor-as-audrey-hepburn-madonna

PROCTER, 2016. Max Factor’s heritage: The Max Factor story [viewed 25 April 2016]. Available from: https://maxfactor.co.uk/heritage/the-max-factor-story

Max Factor,. 1932. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.

Max Factor,. 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2016.

Max Factor,. Http://Www.Vogue.Co.Uk/Beauty/2015/04/09/Candice-Swanepoel-Turns-Marilyn-Monroe-For-Max-Factor. 2014. Print.

Max Factor,. Http://Www.Vogue.Co.Uk/Beauty/2015/04/09/Candice-Swanepoel-Turns-Marilyn-Monroe-For-Max-Factor. 2014. Print.

Chanel,. Advert. 2015. Web. 6 Feb. 2016.

Unknown,. Summer Trends. 2015. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.

Unkown,. Star Wars. 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.

BRAND EVALUATION

Max Factor is a brand that has influenced the make-up industry in many ways ever since the brand was created. It was founded over one hundred years ago by Mr Max Factor, who at the time was a popular make-up artist with a creative and innovate mind, which inspired him to come up with his own brand and products. In his lifetime he managed to dominate Hollywood’s golden era and develop radical techniques, which in the end influenced the film industry enough for him to win an Oscar.

At the moment, the brand itself is being portrayed as very elegant and classy. They have created this image by working with people such as Gwyneth Paltrow and using people who have been styled to look like Marilyn Monroe. This brand is very much about making women look and feel confident. This makes it very empowering and sends a message, which women appreciate and support by purchasing Max Factor products. There is a lot of evidence, which suggests that the brand truly believes in the fact that glamour is not something you are born with, it is something you create. This belief has always been at the heart of Max Factor, and is clearly emphasised on their website that it should be within every woman’s reach. This has been done by them putting up tutorials on YouTube and their official website with a step by step guide on how to achieve certain looks. This makes the people that are not interested in make-up, become involved as it shows them how to properly apply it and what effects they could achieve.

It is also a brand that works with the world’s leading make-up artists, which means they really do live up to their expectations, as their slogan is ‘the make-up of make-up artists’. This creates a sense of trust between the brand and the consumer because it proves that they do not say things just to please their clients and truly are a professional brand, which sells their products in High Street stores, for average prices, which makes them very accessible.

My work has been based on the brand’s idea of beauty and the word ‘Glamorous’. I have tried to keep my images as classy, elegant and minimal as possible because that is exactly what Max Factor is. I tried my best to emphasise my models’ natural features instead of covering them with heavy make-up.  Their beliefs have also influenced my photo shoot concepts and ideas because I knew I was limited as their editorial photographs, are rarely abstract. This meant I had to be very careful when thinking of locations, outfits and make-up looks in order for my work to be in style of the official Max Factor images. I wanted to make every look related to the brand in one way or another so one of my catwalk looks was based on the colour gold, which is a part of Max Factor’s logo and product packaging.

Conclusively, Max Factor is a very inspiring brand, which has impacted the make-up industry in many positive ways. It has also changed people’s perception of make-up, by making it seem like it can make them become more self-assured as people, therefore potentially improving other parts of their lives also. 

PROJECT EVALUATION

This project involved researching a chosen make-up brand and then basing our work on it. I could think of many ideas as soon as I read the brief, and it made me feel very excited to just be able to focus on creating my own images.

The part that I enjoyed the most was actually taking the photos. This is because the first thing you need to do is actually apply the make-up, which made me motivated to actually practise beforehand. This resulted in my skills getting better with every shoot that I did for this unit. It also made me feel productive and inspired me to use my time wisely and effectively.

All of the master classes and lessons have been extremely helpful, and I have learnt a lot of great make-up techniques, which I did use while shooting as well. For instance, the application of matte and dewy skin. I have also learnt a lot of new hairstyles, however I do believe I should have experimented more with hair. I did find it hard because the brand that I was doing (Max Factor) does not experiment with the hair very much, and mainly uses very simple hairstyles, so that is exactly what I did with my work.

When it comes to techniques that I would like to develop further it is going to have to be plaits. I feel like it is something that will never become unfashionable and suits every occasion. The technique that I have enjoyed the most is learning how to blow-dry hair. I believe it is something that is very popular, so it is good to know that I am now able to do it.

A big reason as to why I have enjoyed this project is because I got the chance to research my favourite make-up brand and make-up artist- Pat McGrath. Her work has always inspired me, and I feel like now that my images are based on her style, my portfolio is exactly what I’ve always wanted it to be.

I have also learnt a lot about photographing make-up including all the do’s and dont’s . First two shoots were not easy, because I did have to guess a few things when it came to camera settings, however it was experimenting with all the equipment and making mistakes, that made me learn the most and therefore increased the quality of my work.

The most successful part of my project is going to have to be the editing of the photographs. I have spent a long time trying to adjust the lighting and cropping images, but I am very happy with every image that I have submitted because I know it’s the best I can do.

Unfortunately, not everything ran smoothly all the time. Two of my models cancelled twice, which left me in a very difficult position. However, it taught me how to overcome such problems, and made me feel a lot more confident when it comes to situations like this. Now I understand that there is no need to panic, and action is the best thing you can do. Which is exactly, what I did, and I did manage to find two more models last minute.

If I was going to do this project again, I would collaborate with other people in order for my work to be of even better quality. I feel like I have done well enough to say I am happy with every single image, however, it would have been easier to think of concepts and ideas for shoots with other people who would also be willing to work with me. It would also give me more time to spend on my designs and searching for the right models.

Overall, I am very happy with the outcome and have learnt a lot of new techniques and information not only about make-up but also hair, which will definitely benefit me in the future. This unit has made me grow as an artist and made me a lot more confident when it comes to creating and experimenting with my own style and work.

CATWALK PHOTOS

This is a look that I wanted to base on the colour gold. I feel like it pretty much sums up Max Factor, and represents it effectively.                                           

I have kept my model's freckles pretty visible as it is going to be one of the trends during the spring/summer season this year... 

I am very happy with this look, although I do wish I did something different with the hair in order to make this look a bit more extraordinary. This is because Max Factor usually tries to keep their work and looks as minimum and elegant as possible however when they do go for a more abstract look, it's really abstract. It almost seems like they go from one end of the spectrum to the other. 

I decided to shoot this look in a studio in order to give this photograph a sense of realism. I didn't want to take the audience attention from the look, by shooting it in a photography studio and creating a whole other concept, because that is what I did for advert and editorial. I wanted to make this shoot different.

Below is a moodboard for this look which I have created to act as a sort of a guide when it came to creating my look.

The photo below shows my second Catwalk look. It is exactly what I wanted it to be, and the feel that this photo has gives it character. It is a bit blue, however I have decided not to edit that out because it makes the photo look 'cold'. The way the model is posing matches the vibe blue gives off, which I really like because I feel like together those two things create a concept. That is the part that I found the hardest when it came to shooting my catwalk looks, as I didn't want to make them into a shoot that would look editorial or like an advert. That is why I decided to shoot in the studio to make the photographs seem raw and realistic. I wanted to make the models look like they're ready and about to go out on the catwalk. I feel like I've succeeded and am very happy with this look in general. The liner is very Max Factor and the orange lip makes it very summery in my opinion.. I have tried to keep the contour as minimum as possible as I feel like Max Factor is all about natural beauty and with the dark eyes, and bright lips, it was enough for the look to represent the brand. 

Below I have attached a moodboard for this look. It represents dewy skin, bright lip, wet hair and crazy eyeliner! Creating it really helped me visualise my idea and turning it into a look!

TIMED ASSESMENT & PEER REVIEW

Peer review

Working with my model was very enjoyable. I have found it quite challenging to look after the model as well as getting all the make up and hair done on time, however I think I did my best and the model felt very comfortable. The timed assessment as a whole was quiet stressful, as the model that I was going to use initially, cancelled last minute before the assessment. This created extra pressure, but I understand that it is something I am going to have to deal with on an every day basis while working in the industry. This meant I had to ask a friend to model for me, who kindly agreed to do it last minute. This resulted in a bad application of the base, which I wasn't happy with at all. My model required a good coverage base, which I found quite tricky to do at the time, as I did not get the chance to practise on her beforehand. 

This I feel like was the main part of the look I decided to do, which meant the outcome wasn't of the level that I wanted it to be. This was the most difficult part of the assessment as I felt like I didn't have enough time to correct it. 

When it comes to the hair, I was very happy with it, the waves were exactly like I wanted them to be. I used the supra colour palette to add the blue to the hair, which looked very modern and summery, as well. The eyeliner made it very Max Factor, as well as the nude lips as I feel like in the summer Max Factor is all about the 'natural look'. 

Photos from the submission:

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FINGERWAVE HAIR

Equipment needed:

- Hair clips

- Pintale combe

- Hair brush

- Tongs

- Spray bottle

Step by step:

1) First you need to brush the hair thoroughly and create a side parting 

2) Using hair tongs create 3-4 curls going down in a horizontal direction

3) Using hair clips, position the hair so that it cools down. This will create a more effective curl/wave (pictured right)

** In order to create a more effective wave, you could place the hair clips on the bits of hair where the wave is most visible, to create a more permanent effect (pic on the right)

Another way of creating fingerwave hair is to wet it with water first, using a spray bottle. Next using a combe place it on the hair, move it back and then up. Next, you need to place your finger on top of the combe and the wave created and do the same thing until you get to the ear area. 

** In case the hair drips, have a towel ready as the hair needs to be VERY wet in order for this method to work.











You can also create an "s" shape using the same method but using the combe in a slightly different way. You need to be a lot more gentle and do it in a smooth way with the front of the combe facing the model's face. 

I found this technique a lot easier, compared to the one before. It was easier to control, and a lot quicker also. Therefore when in a rush, I now know that I could achieve a similar effect, by using this technique, for instance when working at a fashion show or a shoot where we do not have enough time to do the hair 'properly'. 

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Reflection

I have found this lesson very informative and interesting. However, it is very obvious that I still need to practise this technique as I did find it difficult. I very much enjoyed learning this hairstyle because I have seen it everywhere and it would be great if I was able to do it myself, however it is one of the most hard ones to learn. In order to practise this hairstyle I will watch some YouTube videos, as then I will be able to visually see what steps I need to follow and practise that way. 

EDITORIAL PHOTOS

The first shoot that I did for the editorial section of this uni was the day time one. I really enjoyed shooting it, and when I got the shot below, I knew it was the one! If it was chosen to be the official photo for Max Factor it would probably look best if it was in a magazine because I do feel like it would be appropriate as it has a very positive feel to it.

The story behind these photos

I've wanted all my photos to tell a story/have a meaning so that they're not just meaningless outfits and make up looks. These photo represent a young, happy woman who is not afraid to have hair own style, because no matter what- she'll always look beautiful. It is up to the audience to decide if that is because of who she is or... Max Factor!

I really like how colourful this photo is and how much it reflects the feel of spring and summer. 

However, I was kind of worried that it looks more like Maybelline rather then Max Factor, but then I thought how complex MF is, and how unlimited their options are. This photo is still classy, just not as dark. It has got this vintage feel to it, but when you look at Max Factor's star wars shoot, it definitely does not look like a typical shoot that you would associate with the brand. The lighting looks really good and even though I did this shoot on location, it almost looks like studio lighting which creates this interesting effect.

These are some of the other photos I like:

I like the lighting in this photo however the position of the model doesn't look right and it makes it look messy. Also the glasses look like theyve got make up on them, and it would have been hard to photoshop that in order to make them look a bit better.  

I like how visible the outfit is, and the feel it creates. It looks very summery, and the fact that I used natural lighting adds to the quality of it. 

This is probably the second best looking photo, however the model doesn't look happy at all and I feel like spring and summer is all about "laughing because the sun is shining! So, in order to make it relevant, I did not choose this photo even though it is good and I will use it in my portfolio in the future!

The angle of this photo isn't very flattering either, which is why I wouldn't use it for a make up brand.

This is the mood board I have created for this shoot:

5 words to describe this shoot:

• GIRLY
• SUMMERY
• COLOURFUL
• FREE SPIRIT
• FESTIVAL LIKE

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Story behind this shoot

I wanted to base this shoot around artificial people. That is why I have edited a head of a lion in order to reflect the personality of the artificial person. I thought it was an interesting way of creating a hidden message for this shoot, which makes it a lot more interesting. I have done a few edits of my favourite photo..      

This photo would look good in ID magazine as it is quite abstract and has that sort of feel to it.                          

The photo below screams Max Factor in my opinion.. 

<- The model's got the red nails which are known to be classy, very elegant hair, eyeliner and gold! Gold is the colour of Max Factor as it represents sophistication and elegancy. However, because this is an editorial shoot- I did add my own twist to it and added the lion head! This is quite risky as Max Factor's work like I've said before is usually very classy, but I do feel like it works because it means something that Max Factor liked to represent- the feminine nature.                                                                   I could have used a real-life model, however I did really want to represent the male form in a very artificial way. If I had used a real life model, it would have been a possibility that the woman wouldn't be in the centre of attention. This is not the effect I was going for while shooting these pictures, so I am glad that I used a mannequin instead. I think it works really well, and tells a story which makes the photo so much more interesting.  

I also think this edit could work, however after researching the brand I think it would be too much, as Max Factor's prime focus is to keep their adverts/photos etc, as elegant and classy as possible. Although I feel like this version of the photo is 100% my style, it would simply be too abstract! ->

The photo above above is a lot more mysterious, and I really like the lighting effect, but it lacks character. It is something that I will definitely use for my portfolio, but it is not good enough to be "an official" editorial photo for Max Factor. The brand is very much about good lighting and being able to see the make up, which is the most important part of a photograph that is meant to represent a make-up brand! 

Also, the lion's head isn't that visible in this photograph, it is not bright enough. Therefore doesn't play a big enough role which results in the quality of the image being decreased in my opinion.

However, there is something about this photograph that is quite avant garde and make you think about it... 

This is something that I haven't achieved with many of my photographs, so I am still happy with it, even though it won't be used as my final image.

The photo on the right photo is very similar to the one above, but I think it looks too much like it is under water, which is not the effect that I was aiming for. It is one of my best photographs, but just like the photo above, it is not something that you would expect from Max Factor. 

This is my absolute top favourite edit of this photograph, however, seeing as this is a night time look, I thought it wasn't appropriate to make it so colourful.                            I really wanted the two photographs to be very contrasting when put next to each other, and if I used this photo as my main one- that wouldn't unfortunately be the case. However, I am very happy with it and the way the model looks in it. I think it really shares the message that I wanted to create with this photograph, which makes it effective. The colours make it very summery, which is exactly what the brief asks for, however I do not think it is something we would see from Max Factor. 

5 words to describe this shoot:

• PASSIONATE
• ARTIFICIAL
• RELATIONSHIP RELATED- LOVE & HATE
• ELEGANT
• MODERN