The aim of this project was to create an online forecasting space for the public in the form of a magazine that explores the upcoming hair and beauty trends for the season ahead.  The online magazine combines high fashion catwalk imagery as well as the artist’s own interpretations of future trends to bring together an overview of what can be expected within the beauty industry in the season to come.

The online magazine seeks to inform and entertain the audience with visuals and written features to support the ideas forecasted within.  The visual imagery is used to address contemporary trends and how they are evolving and changing the beauty industry.

The first issue of the magazine focuses on routine.  This is because, from observation, it appears that society is becoming more structured and is following more rules that are being set by those superior to the general public.  The online magazine aims to portray this idea and how it is influencing the beauty industry.  In its first issue, The Beauty Prophecy explores how the contemporary world relies on routine, and how that type of structure is adapting as culture and society change and intertwine.

The Beauty Prophecy is based upon the idea that society likes to be one-step ahead and in the know nowadays, which is why it was created as a forecasting magazine.  With this idea featured, it allows the reader to prepare themselves for the upcoming season, relating to the idea that society likes to know what is happening and when.  With social media being at the forefront of our culture today, it allows the public to see ‘behind the scenes’ of a magazine’s production and catwalk shows before they are published.  To be successful in this area, the online magazine had to be able to compete with the fast-pace of social media, which the project has aimed to do.

Still Life - Product Photoshoot 2

I am happy with how today's still life photoshoot went, although the images are not perfect.  I decided to do a second one because last time I focused a lot on the textures of the products rather than the products themselves.  Therefore I thought that it would be a good idea to conduct another still life shoot where I could focus on the products and create visuals of a selection of products that could work together for a make-up look.  I am unsure yet if I will use this idea within my magazine, but I wanted to have the images there in case I did decide that I wanted to include something like that.

I have found still life shooting very difficult, as it is a concept that I had never done before until this project.  I found it very difficult to get the lighting right, because I wanted the products laying flat on the surface but when I leant over with the camera to get a flat shot, a shadow was created in most images, which is something that I do not want featured on my website.  It was also difficult to get the brightness of the light right, as it reflected off of some of the products with metal areas.  In an attempt to overcome these difficulties, I adjusted the brightness of the flash and the shutter speed, however this then made the images too dark.  I also tried standing on a chair to be able to get a good flat view of the table, however this still caused some shadowing.

To correct these errors, I will use photoshop in post-production to bring up the brightness a bit and tone down the contrast to try and get rid of the shadows.  It's annoying because I like the style of the images and the ways that I arranged the products, but the lighting and shadows let the overall image down.  Therefore I am hoping to rectify this.

Research - Skincare & Clinique

Having seen Elizabeth on Tuesday and talked about skincare regimes, it was suggested that I look into the history of Clinique and their skincare. Revolutionising skincare and the beauty industry in the late 60s, Clinique began when Dr Norman Orentreich, a New York dermatologist, expressed that he believed "great skin can be created".  At the time, skincare was not something that many blinked an eyelid at, as it was believed that you inherited good skin.  1968 saw the release of the renowned 3-Step Skin Care System - a daily cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising routine.

Clinique revolutionised the way that we look after our skin, and now many other companies have duped their own versions of skincare products.  I believe that skincare is becoming more important in everyone's daily routines, men and women alike are purchasing different products to try and reduce their ageing, before they properly begin to age.  It's become regimented within our social system, however it's still evolving and changing.

Within the skincare article, I will explore the ideas from the research above and look at how our skincare systems are evolving with new brands being welcomed into the industry.  I think that skincare is a really interesting topic and one that a lot of people overlook if they aren't used to it or do not have a routine themselves.  Hopefully this is something that I can communicate to my readers.

CLINIQUE, N.D. Our History [online] [viewed 21st April 2016]. Available from: http://www.clinique.jobs/clinique/our-history.html

Eye & Lip Photoshoot

INSPIRATION

The moodboard above is a layout of inspiration for an eye and lip look that I shall be creating.  The theme behind the upcoming photoshoot will focus on glossiness, on both features.  For the lips, I want to create another dark berry lip, but this time with a more glossy texture which I plan to do by adding a clear lipgloss over the top of the lipstick colour.  For the eyes, I want to create a brown/nude colour and then I want to add vaseline over the top to create another glossy texture.  Although the glossy eye did not work very well last time, I am more confident about it for this photoshoot.  This is firstly because I am using a more neutral colour before adding gloss, and also because I will be using vaseline.  Vaseline is a softer product that will add the gloss, so I think that it will not crease and smudge as much as last time.

http://hairstyles-galaxy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/slicked-back-long-hair-2016

https://uk.pinterest.com/muffinink/lipstick-lips/

http://www.urbandecay.co.uk

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/496170083917060427/

http://www.omorovicza.com/uk/perfecting-lip-balm.html?___store=omorovicza_store_uk&___geoStore=omorovicza_store_uk

UNEDITED IMAGES

For this look, I was focusing on make-up for the eyes and lips, and I am happy with the final outcome.  I wanted to focus on glossy eye lids and lips, which I have achieved.  I chose to have a dark lip colour again to run with the classic theme of the Autumnal berry lip, but for the eyes I opted for a dark glossy nude to compliment the berry lip.  I have managed to create a crisp lip line again, which I am pleased with, and this time the glossy eyes did not crease and smudge half as much as they did in my previous photoshoot, which is good.  I have worked with the conventions of beauty to produce this set of images, by creating a look that makes both the eyes and lips stand out to the viewer.  This has been done by using a bold colour on the lips and glossy textures on both the eyes and lips.  Having the model's hair sleeked off of the face also draws more attention to the make-up.

Having no photographer available again meant that I had to shoot the images myself, which was not disastrous as  I am more confident behind the camera since the beginning of the production of this project.  I have managed to achieve clear images, however some of them are a little darker than I'd have liked, as I had trouble getting the right balance between the flash and the brightness of the image.  Therefore, in post-production I plan to increase the brightness and the levels of the images to improve the balance and the visibility of the make-up.  I will also tidy up some of the model's loose wispy hairs and make her skin look a bit smoother, by taking out the shadows from spot scars on her forehead.

Still Life - Product Photoshoot

Today I shot some product imagery for my magazine, which went fairly well.  Having never done any still life photoshooting before, it was a tricky concept to grasp to begin with.  Some products produced better images than others, for example to moisturiser pot gave a clean image, whereas some of the lipstick shots were not fully focused in all areas of the image.  This is frustrating as I want the images to be perfect.

During shooting this series of images, there were a few problems that I had to overcome in order to continue the shoot and get the series complete.  Firstly, the flash would keep cutting out.  I think that this was because the bulb was overheating as someone had just done a shoot before me as well, but it meant that I had to keep turning everything off and leaving it for 10 minutes before I could continue to shoot.  This took up a lot of my time and meant that I had to skip a few of the products so that I would be finished in time for the next person to use the studio.  Another issue that I had was focusing the camera.  I had the lens set to Auto Focus, but it would not for some reason or another, meaning that I had to use Manual Focus.  This was okay at the time, however when I got home and was looking back through my images, I realised that quite a few of them were unfocused in areas of the image.

Although this was annoying, I still got some decent shots that I would be happy to use within my magazine.  When post-producing them, I will attempt to correct faults such as blurriness and brightness.

Hair Photoshoot

INSPIRATION

Here is a moodboard of inspiration for the hair look that I will be creating.  For the hair photoshoot, I will be making the model's hair straight to reflect the idea of the theme behind the overall trend.  I have decided that I will take some photos of the model with her hair just straight, and then others with her hair in a low ponytail.  This is to bring a small amount of variety to the hairstyles, and to give me more to work with when it comes to creating the content of my magazine.  As well as these two styles, I wish to create some imagery of hair movement.  To do this, I will use a fan.

http://www.dadefreeman.com/blog/commercial-hair-photoshoot

http://www.foundagrave.com/grave/ruslana-korshunova/

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/a9/4f/af/a94faf2f76ce194f24c1e42ddb7e3cf3.jpg

http://fotogallery.donnaclick.it/bellezza/153615/acconciature-per-lufficio/4/

UNEDITED IMAGES

Here are some of the unedited images from the hair photoshoot that I produced.  The aim for this shoot was to achieve an outcome that showed hair movement and sleek hairstyles to represent the idea of conformity within society.  To represent this I opted for straight hair and a low ponytail, because they are more orderly than a wavy or curled style.

I am mostly happy with the outcome of these images, although there are some areas that need improvement.  Again, some of the images seem quite dark, so they will need to be brightened in post-production.  I am happy with the hairstyles that I created and I am particularly impressed with the moving shots at the top, however there are still some out of place hairs that will need to be cleaned up in post-production.  Also, my choice of model was not best thought through.  I chose her because she has such lovely long hair, however she was slightly awkward in front of the camera and did not always follow my direction correctly.  She also has very red arms that show up as very blotchy on camera.  Had I noticed this sooner, I would have put make-up on them to correct the redness, however I did not so shall just have to try to do it in photoshop.

I think that these images represent that I have understood and worked well using beauty conventions.  The way that I have styled the hair shows this, and the hair movement images work in relation to hair adverts that are often seen on TV or in magazines.  However when creating the hair movement, we did not have a fan so we had to use bursts on the camera as the model swung her head back round to face the camera.  This took a lot of attempts to get right, however we managed it in the end.  Overall I am happy with the outcome of this photoshoot, and I think that I will be able to rectify the changes that need to be made in post-production to leave me with great images for my magazine.

Skincare Photoshoot 2

INSPIRATION

For this skincare photoshoot I want to focus on the idea of cleansing products, as opposed to how healthy your skin will look due to skincare, which is what the last shoot was focused around.  To create this effect, I will have my model in a bathtub full of milky water that will represent the cleanliness and purity of the skincare products.  For the make-up, I will create a very natural look and will use a bb cream instead of foundation, as I do not want it to smudge and rub into the bath and make the milk orange.  I will also have to consider mascara - whether to just use a clear mascara or a waterproof one.  And for the hair, I will just comb it back off of the model's face.  Whilst she will be in the bath, I will position the ends of her hair so that they sit nicely around her face to frame it, and I will try to make the hair sit on the surface of the water.

http://www.fashionstylemag.com/2015/beauty/beauty-tip-milk-bath/

https://makeurdaysfresh.wordpress.com/2014/11/23/milk-bath-benefits/

http://blog.missguided.co.uk/beauty/how-to-master-the-natural-look/

https://uk.pinterest.com/jon_howson/milk-photoshoot-inspiration/

UNEDITED IMAGES

Whilst at home for Easter, I created another photoshoot based on skincare.  This time I created the idea with my model laying in a bathtub of milky water, to represent cleansing the skin and for this series of imagery I managed to lock down a photographer for the day which I was really pleased about.  I think that if I had not of had a photographer's help, I would not have been able to produce this photoshoot because I do not have the knowledge or skill set to do photography without a studio setting.

Through using my understanding of the conventions of beauty, I was able to plan and produce this set of images to use for my online magazine. Having used minimalistic make-up and having the model in a milky bathtub shows the viewer clearly that the image is representing the idea of skincare.

Overall I am really pleased with the outcome of this photoshoot, however there are a few small things that could be tweaked in post-production.  A few of the images are a bit darker than I'd have liked to show a skincare range, so I will need to brighten a couple up.  Also the edge of the bath can be seen in a lot of the images so I will need to crop the images and blur out the edges to produce a great outcome.  Another small thing would be to clean up the areas of the face where the make-up had run slightly due to the model being in the bath for so long.

Research - A/W 16 Trends

The catwalk for A/W 16 saw a variety of beauty and hair trends this year.  From glittery adorned faces to the darkest lips, it was all seen from various brands.  Each of these trends all allow me something to work with in order to create my online magazine.  I plan to have areas within each feature called 'What's Been Seen on the Catwalk?' in which these images and ideas will fit perfectly.  Below are some of the key trends that I will take inspiration from for my online forecasting magazine.

BLACKCURRANT LIPS

Dior, Louis Vuitton, Rodarte and others alike all showcased dark berry lips this year.  Some glossy and some more matte, this trend is one that I have already looked into for my magazine and will continue to explore for my future readers.

DECADENT HAIR ACCESSORIES

Brooches, jewels and chains adorned the hair of models at the likes of Alexander McQueen and Erdem, whilst Rodarte used a mixture of real and metal flowers intertwined together.

ILLUMINATED SKIN

Barely there make-up was seen at shows such as Gucci and Valentino.  Ideas similar to this can be used within my skincare feature on my magazine.

SUPER GRAPHIC LINER

Innovative ideas for eyeliner have made an appearance this season on runways such as Giamba, Kenzo and Fendi.  Black and colourful lines have been seen in many different designs.

GLITTER

Sparkly eyes and brows were seen at the likes of Burberry and Giambattista Valli catwalks, showcasing the upcoming party season.  For my online magazine I can use glitter for feature areas such as eyes and nails.

VOGUE, 2016. Autumn/Winter 2016 Beauty Trends [online] [viewed 12th March 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2016/03/10/autumn-winter-2016-beauty-trends

All images found on Vogue.co.uk

Skincare Photoshoot

INSPIRATION

This moodboard of inspiration for my skincare photoshoot shows natural looking skin with highlights and a neutral lip colour.  I think that when creating a skincare look, it is important that the make-up looks natural and not overdone, otherwise it would defeat the point of the look being about keeping your skin healthy without the need for make-up.  To go with the make-up look, I would like to create a plaited hairstyle to keep the model's hair off of her face.  This will allow me to really focus on her face and the make-up, and it will also incorporate the idea of the overall trend behind the magazine - structure.  I believe that braids represent this well because they are quite regimented and tight against the head.

http://www.thefairytalemakeupartist.co.uk/strobing/

https://www.listaddicts.com/top-7-best-summer-cornrow-styles-for-women-2015/

http://www.elle.gr/article.asp?catid=24964&subid=2&pubid=129833215

https://www.newbeauty.com/treatments/lip-enhancement/

http://www.illamasqua.com/gleam-in-aurora/

http://www.lifewiththechampions.com/wedding-day-beauty-look/

UNEDITED IMAGES

The theme behind this photoshoot is skincare.  I wanted to create a natural effect with the make-up to mirror the idea that skincare regimes are becoming more popular and that they can make someone's skin look better without having to wear as much make-up.  I feel that I have achieved the outcome that I was aiming for with the make-up, and I am pleased with the way that the skin looks fresh and smooth and I have worked with the conventions of beauty to achieve the imagery above by creating close-up shots of the face and adjusting the lighting so that the highlight really stands out.

For the hair in this image, I wanted it off of the face so that the focus would be on the skin.  I opted for cornrow braids, as they took the hair back but still portray the idea of structure, being in regimented lines down the back of the head.  I am happy with the braids and the way that they sit, however the model's hair was quite layered and you can see these layers falling out of the braids in some of the images and there are also little fuzzy ends of hair surround the braids.

In post-production, I plan to brighten the images slightly to really show off the glow of the skin.  I will also be cleaning up the loose fuzzy hairs, in order to achieve the high quality, clean cut imagery that I want to publish in my magazine.  I will also crop some of the images, so that it is focused just on the face and the skin.

Lip Photoshoot

INSPIRATION

Here is a moodboard of inspiration for my lip photoshoot.  I want the shoot to focus on the trend of dark lipstick shades for Autumn, so I plan to use Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick in Shame, as shown in the image above.  To compliment the lipstick shade, I would like to create a soft gold smoky eye, using a similar shade to the pigment shown in the moodboard.  I think that the combination of this eye and lip look will create a nice image that mainly focuses on the model's lips.  To accentuate this and make sure the focus is on the lips, I will have the model's hair pulled off of her face.  Similarly to the hairstyle seen in the image, but probably a bit tighter to the head and not as pouffy on top.

https://uk.pinterest.com/abco11/beauty/

http://www.polyvore.com/eye_shadow/collection?id=463738

https://uk.pinterest.com/explore/it-cosmetics/

http://www.urbandecay.co.uk

http://www.estanbul.com/mevsime-uygun-5-koyu-ruj-onerisi-437335.html

http://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/tips/g8585/gold-makeup-eyes-lips/

http://www.allfashionnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/How-to-Use-Dark-Purple-Lipstick-Well.jpg

UNEDITED IMAGES

Today I did a photo shoot for one of my lip looks, which I am really happy with.  My photographer was unavailable so I shot the images myself, but I feel that they have come out well.  The theme of this photoshoot was to focus on the lip, and the trend of dark Autumnal shades.  The lip line that has been created is clean without a bleed, which I am impressed with, and I feel that the bronzed shades of eyeshadow work well with the lip colour in order to make it stand out.  Here I have worked with the conventions of beauty in order to create a set of imagery that draws your attention to the model's lips.  I have done this by creating a neutral make-up look with a bold coloured lip that stands out most within the imagery.  Having the hair off of the face also allows the viewer to focus more on the make-up, and in particular the lip shape and colour.

The hair I am disappointed with.  My aim was a smooth, sleek bun with small wisps of hair falling around the front of the face, however my model had very think hair which was difficult to get as sleek as I had wished.  The wisps of hair also look a lot messier than I had originally envisioned, therefore some of the stray hairs will need to be edited out in post-production.  Overall, I am pleased with the outcome of this photoshoot, however there are parts that need to be worked on in the post-production stage in order to achieve a cleaner image, ready for my magazine.

In post-production I do not plan to do a lot to the images, because I do not want to over work them.  I would like to brighten the subject of the photos slightly in order to make the make-up really stand out, and I will tidy up the extra wispy hairs that can be seen around the side of the head.

Product Areas

SKIN - Focusing on skincare, this section will have a written piece about how to care for your skin along with some visuals from photoshoots that I will undertake.  Along with skincare, the piece will also have a small feature on face make-up and various products that are available to buy.

EYES - This feature will focus on different ways to wear eyeshadow and eyeliner to suit your style and that will tie in with the trends of the season.  Visuals, text and suggested products will all be featured.

LIPS - Focusing on the lip colours of the season, the lips feature will entail predictions of popular shades and catwalk imagery to back up my opinions.  Product details will also be available for the viewer to consider and purchase.

NAILS - A feature that will focus on how to decorate your nails to fit with the rest of the range of beauty predictions.  This section will also entail a list of nail product suggestions, and where you can purchase them from.

FRAGRANCE - This will entail a photoshoot to represent the scent of fragrances for the A/W season. It will also feature fragrance products that I predict to be popular and that fit in with the theme of the other areas in the magazine.

HAIR - This area will feature hair care tips as well as hair styling tips.  Visuals will accompany the written pieces to show the reader which products are best for them and which hairstyles will be on trend when Autumn arrives.

FASHION - For the fashion section, I will have small written pieces about clothing items that can be found and bought for the upcoming season.  I plan to team up with a stylist to help me organise my thoughts in this areas, as it is not my expertise.  I like the idea of using a street style theme for the fashion feature, to contrast the studio settings for the beauty features.

The overall aim of the online magazine is to prepare people for the upcoming season in all areas of fashion, hair and beauty.  The USP of the project is the forecasting element that is involved, therefore it is vital that each section informs the reader about which products and styles are the ones to use and have for the season.  I am excited to kick start this project and get going with designing and creating the content, however I am nervous because I have set myself a lot to do over a short period of time.