4 Ways to Create a More Professional Modelling Portfolio

Having a modelling portfolio is necessary for those aspiring to work in the fashion industry. This would be a collection of photographs that showcase your capabilities as a model. Agencies and companies look through a portfolio when assessing whether you are suitable for their campaign or overall brand. Crafting a good portfolio will help you book more gigs and be taken more seriously as a model. Here are a few things you can try to make yours look cleaner and more professional:

Get your hair and makeup done professionally

While it is important for models to be able to do their hair and makeup, getting them done by a professional will help you look your best. They will be able to find the right look to match your face, the clothes you are wearing, and the overall theme of the shoot. They will know which cosmetic products are best for your skin type to prep your face properly and minimize the possibility of breakouts. Cerave is a great example of a hypoallergenic product that many makeup professionals love because it is a lightweight but effective moisturizer; this is usually applied to the skin before makeup products. These artists can also incorporate different levels of intricacy to your look to ensure that you will look your absolute best during your shoot.

Get professional headshots and sample shots

Since your portfolio heavily relies on your skills as a model and the quality of your pictures, hiring a talented photographer can make a world of a difference. These professionals use a wide range of cameras and equipment to capture the best possible photographs during a shoot. Having a mirrorless DSLR like the Nikon D3500 on hand will make taking pictures easy because of its adaptability and ability to catch photos in high resolution. Photographers are also capable of editing in post-production to ensure that your pictures will come out seamless and that they will be of a high quality. Hiring an expert for your photoshoot will help bring a higher level of professionalism to your portfolio.

Have a wide variety of photos

Some people don’t know that there are different types and kinds of modelling. Before putting together your portfolio, think about which specific one you want to focus on since this will dictate the kinds of photoshoots you'll be doing. For example, a commercial model typically works with a wide variety of products ranging from household items to even pharmaceuticals. Make sure to showcase that you are capable of this kind of modeling in your portfolio if this is the line of work you prefer. Editorial modeling, on the other hand, typically involves working with clothes and fashion so showing off how you style and wear clothes is important to putting together your portfolio. Having a wide variety of photos to truly showcase your skills is important for every aspiring model.

Print your pictures

It is important to have a physical book that you can bring with you to casting calls. Digital platforms have increased in popularity over the years since portfolios can easily be sent virtually. However, many casting directors still prefer to be able to skim through an actual lookbook before hiring models. Make sure to always bring a printed copy of your portfolio with you. It should have a minimalist design to not outshine your photos and it should also look cohesive and well put together. While a printed copy of your photos will not make or break whether or not you will be cast, it will certainly show brands and clients that you are taking the job seriously and that you are prepared for any situation. Having a professional modeling portfolio will be the key to booking different campaigns and casting calls. By following these steps, you will be able to put together something that is high quality, cohesive, and shows the best side of your skills.

Adele's Signature Lashes & Liner

Adele

Like every single other human I know, I am completely obsessed with Adele—her personality, her music, and, being the beauty-obsessed human that I am, her quintessential makeup vibe. Think full, fluttery lashes, buttery lips, a glowing, perfectly sculpted complexion, and perhaps most famous of all: that signature winged eyeliner. Basically, if I could become any celebrity for a day and copy their exact beauty aesthetic, it’d be Adele’s. Can you blame me?!

Of course, since this isn’t Freaky Friday, I can’t actually switch bodies with the singer. That said, I am so lucky to have access to the amazing artists who have helped curate her look over the years. Enter celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Michael Ashton who’s credited for creating that aforementioned signature beauty look Adele's become globally known for.

PHOTO: 

@MICHAELASHTON

“My work with Adele spanned over 13 years—starting just before the release of her first album 19 and continuing through 21, 25, numerous iconic television appearances, award show red carpets, and several world tours,” he shares. “After being introduced through a mutual friend in 2007, I popped over to her house to trim her fringe, and she asked if I could do a quick bit of eyeliner for her before she went to meet friends—the eyeliner obviously got the seal of approval and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Since I adore Adele, Ashton, and his amazing artistry, (and because the singer’s birthday is just around the corner on May 5th!) I couldn’t resist asking Ashton to share his best tips, tricks, and product selects for those of us who want to channel Adele’s iconic beauty aesthetic at home. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know.

Tip #1: Prioritize Your Skin Prep

PHOTO: 

GETTY IMAGES

"Skin prep and skincare is key!" says Ashton right off the bat. "I’m a huge fan of facial oils and balms that really nourish the skin so it is hydrated and doesn’t lose elasticity. Spending extra time using the right skincare before complexion products like foundation and concealer will really amplify your natural radiance. I’m a huge fan of brands like Decléor and Caudalíe as well as more accessible drug store brands including Embryolisse, CeraVe, RoC, and La Roche-Posay."

-ERIN JAHNS

Source

What better way to Celebrate The Memory of Black Wall Street! We Love B. Simone Beauty !

Actress / Comedian B. Simone has launched some yummy additions to B. Simone Beauty & its Lit to say the least! . And you guessed it . . . her whole collection is on ishopfix.com ! The line features an assortment of mattes, glosses, & liners to enhance your natural beauty and manifest the look you want. The baby beauty mogul reached a whopping $100,000 in sales in just 24 hours on Black Friday 2021. Talk about manifesting and creating your own reality! Inspiring!

“I just wanted to create something to sell that I love and use everyday. I know beauty and I’m a licensed cosmetologist. I went over to China & developed a formula from scratch. We finally got it right and I’m proud of it,” - B. Simone on Dash Radio.

Visit ishopfix.com for more info.

Ariana Grande Added Tons of Hidden Meaning to Her r.e.m. Beauty Collection

I'm just gonna say it... there are a lot of celebrities who have no business launching a makeup brand. Ariana Grande is not one of those people. 

Though, I'll admit, when I first heard the rumors that Ari would be releasing a cosmetics line of her own, I was unsure of what to expect. That was until I jumped on a Zoom call to talk about it with Ariana herself. 

Granted, a face-to-face (read: screen-to-screen) with one of the world's biggest pop stars is enough to make anyone giddy. But it wasn't her satin-smooth voice, her easy wit, or even her shockingly accurate Jennifer Coolidge impression that got me excited, it was the way she genuinely *gushed* about each product like they were her own children pups.

Ariana wasn't down to slap her name on a tube of gloss, cash her check, and return to her pop star lane. She wanted to be involved in every step of the process—from testing out the formulas, brainstorming packaging ideas, and meticulously naming each item. 

Because she wanted r.e.m. "to feel super authentic to me," little touches of Ariana wink at you from every iota of the collection. The highlighter she wore on stage during the thank u, next tour, the falsies that can be seen on every episode of The Voice, and the product names that only the most die-hard stan would understand—from beginning to end, each of the 62-item line positively reeks of Ari (literally—she picked the toasted vanilla scent, too). 

"I wanted to make sure that everything looked kind of like a prop from Star Trek or Black Mirror or something like that, because I wanted to treat it kind of like an Apple, Tesla situation. I didn't want it to look like makeup," Ariana explained. 

Noting that she's "a huge fan of like scifi, vintage, horror, space stuff," (something Arianators already know), the "NASA" singer said that she wanted to "create our own world" with the product packaging. 

With her team, Ariana designed a minimalist, but unique-looking collection that stays true to her futuristic aesthetic. The color names, though, are where her personality really jumps out, with nods to her heritage, albums, and favorite pop-culture moments. 

"The names are all super personal to me—like 'Sunset in Gildone,' that’s where all my family is from on my Nona’s side in Italy. And, you know, we got 'Cannoli' on the 'Principessa Palette,' 'Boca Moca' is a shade, which is named after my hometown Boca Raton," Ariana said. "The other ones are called 'Principessa,' which means princess in Italian, and the other one is 'Midnight Snack.' Kind of a curveball, but ya know."

"The Babydoll Palette' is—that was what my grandpa used to call me and my Nona calls me that and it's on my finger," she continued, showing off her finger tattoo. "So, yeah, the 'Babydoll Palette' is the one that I sort of gave the most personal name."

Of course, with multiple Harry Potter tattoos and two dogs named after characters from the books, the life-long fan was morally obligated to make at least one nod to her favorite series within the collection. 

"One of the shades on [the 'Midnight Snack'] Palette is called 'Plumbledore,'" Ariana said, laughing. "In case you had any question regarding my involvement—it's 'Plumbledore.' Another one is 'Cheeky Hijiki,' which is my favorite snack."

Beyond that, Ariana wanted her first release to include all her personal favorite products: plumping lip gloss, highlighter, eyeliner (liquid and pencil), lip stain, falsies, mascara (with two different formulas: one for lengthening and one for volume), lipstick, and eyeshadow (in powder and cream). 

"I had this vision for my line and it ended up being exactly how I sort of dreamt it would be," Ari said. "It feels so honest and so true to me." 

Shop Chapter 1 Friday, November 17 on the r.e.m. website.

Vintage Neon: CoCo & Breezy for NYFW. Prada Resort Wear 2020

Official Glam Squad for CoCo & Breezy since 2010 . . .

NEON ON THE BEAT. Loved this Tan Glowy Look we did on C&B Using All Fenty Beauty of course.

Flash Back Friday with Sprayground !

#FBF to Fall 2013 ! Our first time ever on a private Jet! Thanks for booking us Co Co & Breezy!!

Sprayground X CoCo & Breezy

Photo by D. Dacosta (http://ddacostaphotography.blogspot.com),
Makeup by Jhenelle Hill (www.neonfix.com),
Creative Direction / Styling by Coco & Breezy (www.cocoandbreezy.com),
Bags by Sprayground (www.sprayground.com)

The Best Cheap hair products for 4C Hair !!!

I can vividly remember a time when I would be hard-pressed to find anything suitable for 4C hair like mine anywhere other than the specialised afro hair shop in the ethnically diverse area of London that I grew up in. I always wanted to be able to buy my haircare along with my skincare and makeup in high street mainstays like Boots or Superdrug.

Luckily, for my fellow naturals and me, the boom of e-commerce means small Instagram businesses are thriving in the black hair market, with amazing brands like Afrocenchix, Afro & Curl, Bouclemeand Dizziak catering specifically for our hair types. Like many others, I turned to these higher end, niche companies to fix my haircare woes. After stepping away from relaxers and harsh chemicals, I wanted to trust the products I used weren’t going to set me back in my haircare journey — and that seemed much more important than the convenience I was longing for on the high street.

But as more of us invested in these small businesses, the high street started to listen up and take note of the pounds rolling in from women willing to shell out for their haircare routine. Initiatives like Superdrug’s Shades of Beauty campaign, for example, have seen an influx of big brand products that cater to afro hair appear in store, and although there is still some way to go, it seems afro hair is being catered for more than ever before.

But is the novelty of shopping for all your toiletries in one place worth swapping out your trusted, highly curated haircare routine? Ahead, myself and three others tried the high street's afro hair offerings — these are the products that actually worked.

OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner My hair is prone to dryness so it definitely benefited from this enriched range of penetrative products. I tested the Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo, Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner and Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Oil as a trio of products, and they all complemented each other perfectly. The standout product is Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo, which provides an ultra rich, nourishing cleanse. Due to my hair being quite thick and parched, shampoos often struggle to penetrate my strands. This, however, lathered really well and effectively eliminated grime and build-up.

As I Am Coil Defining Styling Jelly As someone with quite tightly coiled, natural hair, I often struggle to find products that are able to define my lengths whenever I desire that look. Coil Defining Jelly not only transforms my hair into uniform curls but it manages to do so without drying out my hair or leaving flakes, unlike some other brands.

Palmer’s Natural Fusions Leave-in Conditioner 250ml

Products in the Natural Fusions range consist of 95% sourced natural ingredients and contain hydrating, nourishing and strengthening botanicals – something that’s important to me. A standout product is the Mallow Root Leave-In Conditioner, a lightweight curl refresher that’s formulated with jojoba seed oil, coconut oil, leaf juice extract and mallow root plant. Just a few spritzes instantly hydrates and revitalises my 4C natural coils. This product is an essential for those whose strands are susceptible to dryness and lack of lustre.