This is where things started to get busy!
The first part of the week, I devoted to preparing my offering for the Madrid Solo Photo Challenge. We were given a sample of truly amazing makeup options and asked to submit our best headshot featuring one of these selections. I had a few hiccups there, my first photo was too dark for one of the judges to see properly and so I had to find a new concept, take the shot, edit the shot, and get the picture submitted BEFORE the Wednesday evening deadline (I think I was a minute late). Then it was time to start getting ready for Saturday's runway challenge! :O
Challenge #2 - The Madrid Solo Experience
Okay, so that wasn't the -actual- name of the challenge but it has a nice ring, doesn't it? ;) The challenge is pretty much what I summarized above. Nice and straightforward except for the fact that none of the contestants were allowed to use a photographer. One of the defining characteristics of the Mr. & Miss Model International Competition is that the contestants are encouraged (and, yes, required) to show the judges what THEY have to offer.
Photo Challenge Styling
The first part of the week, I devoted to preparing my offering for the Madrid Solo Photo Challenge. We were given a sample of truly amazing makeup options and asked to submit our best headshot featuring one of these selections. I had a few hiccups there, my first photo was too dark for one of the judges to see properly and so I had to find a new concept, take the shot, edit the shot, and get the picture submitted BEFORE the Wednesday evening deadline (I think I was a minute late). Then it was time to start getting ready for Saturday's runway challenge! :O
Challenge #2 - The Madrid Solo Experience
Okay, so that wasn't the -actual- name of the challenge but it has a nice ring, doesn't it? ;) The challenge is pretty much what I summarized above. Nice and straightforward except for the fact that none of the contestants were allowed to use a photographer. One of the defining characteristics of the Mr. & Miss Model International Competition is that the contestants are encouraged (and, yes, required) to show the judges what THEY have to offer.
Photo Challenge Styling
As I said before, my original concept (you can see it here on my flickr stream) wasn't going to work for this challenge which was a shame because I was feeling big-time Shadowrun vibes with my first styling (yes, I'm a nerd. You know this.) Since the judge commented on the picture's darkness, however, I decided to revisit my original concept working with all white to contrast with the the vivid colours in Madrid Solo's Whimsical Designs: Glam Tears. The makeup is beautiful enough to show perfectly on its own so all I needed to do was provide context. To set the scene and tell my own little story.
I named this photo 'Waiting for Spring.' Being Canadian, I feel like I spend half of every year waiting for Spring to happen although really it's not -quite- that long. Usually. The jewellery is simple, just a few pearls and those fantastic Winter Queen Eyelashes from The Annex that I never, ever, get to wear. The dress, too, is a gacha find from [Stitched] and, gosh, you can see how I'm not able to wear it out on the grid whenever I want but it was perfect for this.
Photo Challenge Execution
This photo is, undoubtedly, about the makeup. I wanted to keep everything else very stark so even though I shot this picture in-world with a snowy sky in the background, I ended up going with white in the end and desaturating everything but the makeup, bright eyes, and brows. Even though the detail of the dress and jewelry on the hands and feet is awesome, I felt that a wider shot would detract from the makeup (but you still get to see it in this post!).
Photo Challenge Execution
This photo is, undoubtedly, about the makeup. I wanted to keep everything else very stark so even though I shot this picture in-world with a snowy sky in the background, I ended up going with white in the end and desaturating everything but the makeup, bright eyes, and brows. Even though the detail of the dress and jewelry on the hands and feet is awesome, I felt that a wider shot would detract from the makeup (but you still get to see it in this post!).
Commentary and Feedback
Objectively, I made a couple of technical mistakes in this photograph. First, I wasn't wearing a hairbase because I prioritized makeup over side-tendrils and though I didn't notice any discernable lack the eagle-eyed judges did. Always wear a hairbase, my dears. ALWAYS! It was also brought to my attention that the photo could have benefited from another type of crop; a headshot is head and the tops of the shoulders and I went outside those boundaries here. It isn't centered (another no-no), which was a choice I made earlier in the editing process when I was working with a slightly longer shot (also on my flickr) where the crop made a bit more sense. For the rest of it .. let's just say that this post was mostly written two weeks ago and this is where I was held up. Maybe I'm a bit too invested in photos I take. ;)
Objectively, I made a couple of technical mistakes in this photograph. First, I wasn't wearing a hairbase because I prioritized makeup over side-tendrils and though I didn't notice any discernable lack the eagle-eyed judges did. Always wear a hairbase, my dears. ALWAYS! It was also brought to my attention that the photo could have benefited from another type of crop; a headshot is head and the tops of the shoulders and I went outside those boundaries here. It isn't centered (another no-no), which was a choice I made earlier in the editing process when I was working with a slightly longer shot (also on my flickr) where the crop made a bit more sense. For the rest of it .. let's just say that this post was mostly written two weeks ago and this is where I was held up. Maybe I'm a bit too invested in photos I take. ;)
Credits:
Skin: Lara Hurley-Fae natural/Milky ~ Lara Hurley
Eyes: IKON Promise Eyes - Azure ~ Ikon Innovia
Makeup 1: Madrid Solo- Whimsical Designs- Glam Tears- Blush Only & Upper Only ~ Madrid Solo
Makeup 2: DeeTaleZ Makeup NATURAL Lip Shades ~ Steffi Villota
Makeup 3: DeeTaleZ Makeup Lips GLOSS ~ Steffi Villota
Lashes: *MC* Falsies Eyelash ~ Freya Olivieri
Lashes 2: The Annex - Snow Queen Lashes
Mesh Bod: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V2.1 ~ Onyx LeShelle
Mesh Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands - Elegant1 ~ Siddean Munro
Mesh Feet: Slink Avatar Enhancement Feet - High ~ Siddean Munro
Nail Appliers: *Fishy Strawberry* Slink Fingernails - Milky ~ Fae Eriksen
Hair: Exile::Blown Away - Ice Blondes ~ Kavar Cleanslate
Dress: [S] Leila M (White) RARE ~ Adele Bumblefoot *Gacha Item
Floral Wreath: *LODE* Head Accessory - Lavander ~ Chirzaka Vlodovic
Jewelry 1: Amala - Pearl Drop Headpiece & Necklace - Silver ~ Crystalny Resident
Jewelry 2: Hands of Calliope - White - RARE ~ Divine Paine *Gacha Item
Jewelry 3: Pearls of Calliope - White ~ Divine Paine *Gacha Item
Jewelry 3: (Yummy) Pearl Earrings (with Jennifer Pearl Set) ~ Polyester Partridge
Poses: *PosESioN* ~ Dahriel Resident
Skin: Lara Hurley-Fae natural/Milky ~ Lara Hurley
Eyes: IKON Promise Eyes - Azure ~ Ikon Innovia
Makeup 1: Madrid Solo- Whimsical Designs- Glam Tears- Blush Only & Upper Only ~ Madrid Solo
Makeup 2: DeeTaleZ Makeup NATURAL Lip Shades ~ Steffi Villota
Makeup 3: DeeTaleZ Makeup Lips GLOSS ~ Steffi Villota
Lashes: *MC* Falsies Eyelash ~ Freya Olivieri
Lashes 2: The Annex - Snow Queen Lashes
Mesh Bod: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V2.1 ~ Onyx LeShelle
Mesh Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands - Elegant1 ~ Siddean Munro
Mesh Feet: Slink Avatar Enhancement Feet - High ~ Siddean Munro
Nail Appliers: *Fishy Strawberry* Slink Fingernails - Milky ~ Fae Eriksen
Hair: Exile::Blown Away - Ice Blondes ~ Kavar Cleanslate
Dress: [S] Leila M (White) RARE ~ Adele Bumblefoot *Gacha Item
Floral Wreath: *LODE* Head Accessory - Lavander ~ Chirzaka Vlodovic
Jewelry 1: Amala - Pearl Drop Headpiece & Necklace - Silver ~ Crystalny Resident
Jewelry 2: Hands of Calliope - White - RARE ~ Divine Paine *Gacha Item
Jewelry 3: Pearls of Calliope - White ~ Divine Paine *Gacha Item
Jewelry 3: (Yummy) Pearl Earrings (with Jennifer Pearl Set) ~ Polyester Partridge
Poses: *PosESioN* ~ Dahriel Resident