From Germany with love…
I did a post wedding shoot with Christine Meintjies a few weeks ago. Andreas and Nina was on honeymoon from Germany.
I had been reading this book of hairdressing nightmares at the time. Hairdressers’ hairdryers breaking while they are working, clients showing up late, not having enough clips ex. I felt like I was experiencing all these horrors with them whilst reading about it and then it happened to me…
My appointment with Nina was at 3pm at the Fire and Ice hotel in Cape Town. I arrived at 2:45 and announced myself at reception. The receptionist phoned up to the couples room and reported back to me that there is nobody there… she said the phone just kept ringing and ringing? I was nervous… I only had an email address and no phone number as they were from Germany, so I couldn’t call them.
I asked her to please just keep phoning and let me know as soon as they arrive. I took a seat in the lobby and waited…
3:15
3:30
At 3:45, after repeatedly asking the receptionist to please phone again… I was contemplating that they might have forgotten? I asked if I could go up to the room, but they said NO. So, I carried on waiting…
at 3:55 Andreas came to fetch me… I was sooooo relieved, but so nervous at the same time… I now had just under and hour to get Nina ready! I looked super calm, but inside, I was having a mild panic attack! ha ha!
Seems the (stupid) receptionist kept dialing the WRONG number! I kid you not. My clients had been waiting for me for an hour… thinking that I was late, while I was waiting for them, thinking they had forgotten…
Luckily, I work pretty fast anyway, but I put on some added speed and we finished on time!
Here are the shots by Christine Meintjies; I think they look stunning!
My tribute to Robert Vetica
I recently finished reading, for the second time, Good to great hair, by Robert Vetica.
I am pretty much a self tought hair stylist…
Yes, I did a few courses here and there, but I didn’t find any of them very useful. So, I read a lot, and luckily I am friends with some wonderful hairdressers that didn’t mind me rocking up at their home with a bottle of vino, my hair kit and a model, ready to learn a trick or two… Obviously assisting for a VERY long time, was super beneficial, but every time I feel like I need a little brush up on the basics, I pick up another book and start reading, and playing… (you are never to old to learn right? like I said a few post ago, always be hungry for knowledge!)
I did a wedding a few weeks ago, and used some of the new found tips tought by Robert via his book… 
I still did the same type of styles I usually would have done, but I am really starting to take notice of what products I use on my clients. I am looking after the hair I work with and not just styling it for the sake of the occasion.
I feel so inspired at the moment! You all know that I love my job, but wow, is there a word bigger than love to describe it?
I think that I now ‘super love’ my job!! ha ha! I am ready for season (yes, in Cape Town we have a busy season)
Here are some ‘behind the scene’ pics of that wedding. Hopefully I will have some real shots to show you soon. I think the styles are well complimented by the dresses… stay tuned!
xxx
Workshop pics from Christine
I recently did a workshop with Christine Meintjies a few weeks ago. Some of you might know that I am represented by Bird on a Wire, and coinsidently Betina, the model in the shot is also. She is a stylist and also the soon to be sister-in-law of one of my good friends.
Here are a few of the stunning shots;
Blonds don’t have THAT much fun…
I recently ditched my blond locks and returned to my usual dark self… It is still in the process. My hair is soooo porous and the sun soaks up all the colour. Now I have semi natural highlights…
Thanks to 160 on Loader, de Waterkant for literally taking me back to my roots, ha ha.. Thanks Jade!
Yay! for brunettes… ha ha ha!
Why book a Make up Artist?
I have had a number of requests from clients, photographers, brides and dress makers requesting advice on booking a make up artist for their clients or even their weddings… so here we go!
I have been doing make up for almost 11 years. I have been fortunate to work with and assist some of the best Make up artists in the country and the world. I have also been less fortunate to see some shocking work from other artists.
We work in an industry where every year about 30 new artists pop onto the scene. Everyone can be an artist these days… right? You can do a short course or even study for it via the Internet right? WRONG! ALSO… beauty therapists are NOT make up artists!!! I can’t stress this enough!
In my ‘almost’ 11 years of make up, I assisted for 5 years. 5 Years of working for free, getting paid peanuts when not working for free, washing brushes and carrying around the key artists bags. When they said jump, I asked how high. This is vital for any new starter. I have friends who have been assisting for 9 years. Why? Because they don’t teach anything worth knowing at ANY class you will attend.
Don’t get me wrong… A base is very good. Everyone needs to know the basics. But the rest… that special technique that they don’t teach you, that secret tip that nobody knows about, THAT can only be picked up by assisting.
In season time, if we have big international artist coming to Cape Town, I will still offer to help them out. Just for the hope of learning something new… A new trick of the trade. You have to be hungry for knowledge!
So, the first thing to ask an artist you are concidering to book… How long did you assist before you started working on your own?
I think this is rather vital…
The next thing… A Portfolio… I remember when I started I had this sad little book with before and after shots in it. I thought it was great. But looking back at it, I cringe!! A good Make up artist will NEVER have before and after shots in a portfolio. A good make up artist won’t need to show you how bad a client looked before to show you how great their work is… I find it tacky and VERY unprofessional. You can judge for yourself…
When you book someone for your wedding, decide what type of look you want to go for. If you want to have a very bridally look, best book an artist that specialise in WEDDINGS ONLY!
If you are thinking of a look with a bit more of an edge to it, book someone with more experience in Editorial make up.
I recommend that you book someone with experience with TV or commercials and weddings if you intent to shoot a video of your day, because lets face it, half the video guys shoot in HD these days, so your average make up just WON’T cut it…
FYI - It doesn’t matter what your make up artist tells you; MAC, Bobby Brown, Chanel ex… none if it is HD make up. High‐Definition Makeup is not a brand of makeup that we use on our face, this is actually a TECHNIQUE. A technique that a makeup professional has to undergo training, practice, and master to be able to do makeup for HD cameras. It doesn’t mean that if you use HD Makeup, you are HD‐camera ready
I have undergone HD training and practice it weather I do a weddings, editorial, commercial or advertising campaigns. I airbrush ALL my clients these days. It takes VERY little product, leaving the client looking flawless and natural at the same time. It is hygienic, so you don’t run the risk of a lazy artists dirty brushes on your face.(Eeehw!) You won’t require ANY touch ups, and it looks wonderful on photo’s and in real life!
The next thing to look at when booking your artist is a trial. A good artist won’t need to do a trail, ha ha! We do trials, mainly to put our clients at ease. I do my trials about two weeks before the big day, but you can request your trial earlier to make sure that you have made the right choice. This does differ from artist to artist, but just so you know, your trial is there to play around with ideas. To see what works for you.
I always tell my clients to tell me what they like and what they don’t like. You have to remember, I don’t know my clients well at all. I am not their hairdresser that have been doing their hair since they were 10 years old…Mostly I meet them for the first time on the trial date. It is vitally important that they tell me if they don’t like the style I created - I won’t be offended at all. This is the only way your needs will be met. You have to speak up! A good stylist should feel comfortable about you speaking your mind and feel confident to fix the style to something that YOU feel yourself in.
WOW! I feel like I have been typing for days, ha ha!
The last thing, just before I go… make sure you feel comfortable with who ever you book for your big day… You will be spending the majority of your day with them. They will be imprinted in all your memories of your special day. Make sure they are good imprints. Make sure that person has a pleasant demeanour.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. I will be happy to answer them.
Happy booking!!
Sebastine