Tuesday, 24 December 2013

A portrait of edginess - Sartorial Anagrams

With an easy sense of seduction photographer Simon Ackerman takes model Samara Martins and turns her into a fiery creature of beauty and allure. Combined with Martins’ soulful stare and exotic look, the punk infused styling by Andrew Clancy transforms her into a force to be reckoned with.


The fashion in this shoot has a modern patchwork style to it; focusing upon this and the contemporary jewelry accessories. The hair and make-up is worth calling attention upon: both are done in an exotic and sensual style. Make-up (done by Jen Evans) is heavy on the eyes and lips- jumping between looks of sexual seduction and playful innocence. Eye make-up is innovative in both the shades of colours used and the outlines created around the eyes. Hair (done by Jill Schanpp) goes from wild and tousled to smooth and elegant, defining each look as we move through the fashion shoot.

Written by Chevaun Roux.








© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved

Friday, 13 December 2013

Black & white portraits of beauty in emotion: Empty Spaces

Photographer Simon Ackerman creates black and white portraits of fashion and form with these six fundamental depictions of beauty, sensuality, magnificence and compassion. Each image focuses on the natural glow and radiance that is given forth by model Shelby Benson.












Make-up, done by Jen Evans, is simple and refined – focusing on the organic outlines and feminine forms of Benson’s facial features: ample and sensuous lips compliment Benson’s dark and powerful eyes. Small touches of ring accessories add to the shoot’s femininity and delicacy. Ackerman uses his fashion shoots to focus on the detail and emotion of his subject matter, bringing out the not only the natural beauty that resides within, but also creating a platform for simple loveliness that has true and honest representation.

Written by Chevaun Roux.

© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved

Monday, 2 December 2013

Backstage at Gregory Parkinson Spring / Summer 2014

Here's a collection of images I shot behind the scenes at Gregory Parkinson during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. These beauty head shots were shot using the Profoto Softbox RFi 5' Octa (150cm) with a Profoto Acute 2-D4 Flash Head set to continuous light. It was a quick and effective method to shoot the many models who were to model in the presentation and produced some beautiful results.

















































The last two seasons at New York Fashion Week complimentary e-cigarettes were being handed out both backstage and to the arriving guests. This made for lots of fun shots of models taking a puff and posing for the cameras. This model was particularly good fun backstage.





























© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

A peachy, gilded beauty look: Hibiscus

Photographer Simon Ackerman creates a beautiful expression of bare skin and bare beauty in this exquisite portraiture shoot. Rather than the apparel that covers the body being the focus of the shoot, Ackerman draws attention to the body on which that apparel would sit, and the beauty of the face. Model Michelle Hicks’s soft creamy skin, ocean blue eyes and lips withholding unspoken words, create focus and are defined as where the true beauty lies.

The delicate addition of a low rolled hairstyle studded with flowers – created by Darren Bay – is symbolic of the delicacy found in the curve of the natural female form. Meanwhile, the beauty look by Lindsay Cullen is a picture of blushing femininity that mirrors the colours of the petals.

For steps on recreating the makeup look, read on after the break.



Eyes.

This look uses a beige/neutral base and a gold pigment. Lindsay applied ‘Ricepaper’ eyeshadow by MAC on the brow bone and OCC pigment in ‘Flicker’ at the crease.

Line eyes at the top of the lash and bottom waterline with a brown liner to compliment the gold tone. Lindsay used ‘Coffee’ eyeliner by MAC.

Take an eyeliner brush and swipe just above the top lash liner with an orange/gold shimmer such as Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) ‘Mimosa’ pigment.


Finish with two coats of mascara (for the shoot, Full ‘N Soft waterproof mascara by Maybelline was used).



Brows.

Frame your face with a heavier brow using an angled eyebrow brush and the same brown eyeliner applied throughout the brow.


Lips.

This look compliments the golden hues of the eyes with a coral-peach lip. Lindsay mixed Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) lip tars in ‘Interlace’ palest crème peach and ‘Trollop’ pinked coral.


Finishing touches.

To finish off the look, give the cheeks a rosy-bronze flush. For the shoot, Lindsay used Chanel blush in rose bronze and Laura Mercier bronzer on the apples of the cheeks.

Written by Chevaun Roux for www.fashionising.com 











© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Backstage beauty: Derek Lam’s naughty schoolgirls

Backstage at Derek Lam hair is being teased into a deliberate chaos of messy strands, turned into a bouffant shape and then knotted at the base of the neck into what feels like a lived-in style. The fringe is pinned to the side with a girlishness that belies the roughness of the rest. Derek Lam’s fall 2012 girl is youthful and sweet, but a little bit tomboy too. Estee Lauder Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux is in charge of creating a beauty look that not only compliments but cements the mood of Lam’s show. Behind-the-scenes he works effortlessly in his trademark hands-on way, each face a canvas that’s whipped into a masterpiece with what seems like a few easy brush-strokes.

Talking to us backstage at New York fashion week he revealed both the inspirations behind the look, and his expert makeup tips for recreating it at home. Read more after the break.



In the mood board of his mind, Tom Pechaux was picturing a “naughty student”. All at once fresh faced but with a defiant haze of smokey eyeshadow, she fits the mould of Derek Lam’s boy-meets-girl, retro infused collection.

Pechaux and the Estee Lauder team used the brand’s new Invisible Fluid Makeup as the foundation for the look. The lightness of the foundation helps create the look of having gorgeous, natural skin. “You use it, you almost don’t feel it, but the skin looks very even,” Pechaux explains. (His number one tip for applying it? Use your fingers.) A little concealer where most needed, and a dusting of Estee Lauder’s Lucidity Translucent powder, and the naturally flawless skin look is complete.

Brows were groomed but with minimal product. Below them eyes were given plenty of pop but in a way suited to the coolness of the season.



“It’s kind of a smokey burgundy-black… more like a boho finish, with a touch of white matte under the eyebrow and in the inside corner of the eyes,” Pechaux describes. “And what we do with the black eyeshadow, we draw some lines like fake lashes under the eyes – to create a naughty look but also a very girly finish.”

Pechaux couldn’t be more right: the illusion of fake lashes under the eyes creates a ’60s schoolgirl vibe that’s as sudden as it is simple to create.

And another tip from the master: use black mascara on the top lashes, brown on the bottom. The black lifts the eye, anchored by the filled-in brown below. Faith in this technique has lead the brand to release a two-tone mascara called Sumptuous Two Tone Eye-Opening Mascara that comes with both colours.













































Subtle pastel-coloured lips complete the Derek Lam look. Pechaux and the Estee Lauder team mixed two colours: Crystal Pink and Vanilla Truffle.

Our thanks to Tom Pecheux and the Estee Lauder team for sharing their tips. Written by Tania Braukamper for www.fashionising.com 

© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved