My Modelling Experiences

Like I have mentioned in my previous posts this year, 2014 has been a year of many 'firsts' or new experiences for me, and today I wanted to share one that I had considered for quite some time and fortunately the opportunity came up in 2014. It's modelling - purely for fun. A fellow blogger and friend, Celeste, started her makeup artistry course earlier this year and I was interested in being one of her makeup models for her portfolio. That's where it all started for me and since then we have done two photoshoots!

I have to admit that this wasn't the first time I had makeup applied by a MUA and photos taken afterwards - my first experience was in 2011 when I auditioned to become the Asian model for FOA cosmetics (Face of Australia). I had a very natural look applied on me and had a few test shots taken. They were only looking for one Asian model and unfortunately that wasn't me. I wasn't surprised that I didn't get picked because the model who was chosen is so gorgeous with lovely features and has had experience in modelling (I think I would've been way too awkward at the time, being only 18). I never received the photos in the end and I do remember taking a few selfies afterwards but I have no idea if I still have them. You can check out the girls who were chosen for FOA's models here.

Here's my first makeup look done by Celeste where she re-created the look on an Asian model, found on Pinterest. This is my favourite photo that was taken:

MUA + photographer: Celeste

I fell in love with this concept when I first saw it and was very excited to have it done on me! My features are almost completely opposite to the model despite both of us being Asian so it was interesting to see how it was going to turn out on me. It was great how Celeste went to the effort of picking out props to match the model's and I can certainly say that I am pleased with it overall :)

This next one was my first proper photoshoot with photographer, Bhas for a TFP shoot (time for print) with Celeste as the makeup artist. A fun shoot for their portfolios (and also mine if I ever want to model for future TFPs etc.) where Celeste decided on the theme being Korean fashion/bohemian chic. As many of my blog readers know from seeing my inspired makeup looks over the years, I love dressing up and I'm always happy to try new styles. I don't have many chiffon/flowy items in my wardrobe but we made do with what I had and Celeste managed to bring along some items for the shoot too.

 Natural/messy hair for the look since it was an outdoor photoshoot

We headed to Mount Lofty/Waterfall Gully to get some nature-ish photos alongside waterfalls and parklands and here are just a few of the photos taken. I wore two different outfits and altogether it took around 2-3 hours.

Behind-the-scenes photo taken by Celeste

Photo by Bhas

MUA + photographer: Celeste

I applaud all full-time, part-time, freelance models out there because it isn't easy stuff! I was really awkward with my poses even though I was given some direction with the above shots. It was tiring having to hold them and not lean or have my head in a certain position/angle and not be tempted to smile too much as it was best to have a straight face (this was really difficult for someone who is very smiley). A pose that feels natural for the model may not look that great on camera - it takes effort to look effortless, that's for sure!

The weather was worrying for our shoot that day with the on-again-off-again spitting rain however we managed to keep dry and get some great shots done. After this shoot I contemplated modelling again for fun and/or freelancing as Celeste and Bhas brought up this idea which really got me thinking, should I take it up as a thing to do on the side? Despite it being a tiring process, I had a lot of fun and I do enjoy getting my photo taken (when I'm all done up), plus I felt that this experience helped raise my confidence a little. With more practice, I'm sure I'll become less awkward with posing and more free to express myself.

Not long after this shoot, Celeste contacted me about another with a budding photographer Jacqui and MUA/hair artist Mel and of course I took up this opportunity to model once again. This concept was a little more cray-cray than the last however I was totally up for it! Before I share my photos from the shoot, have a look at the inspiration photo:

!!! Isn't it just amazing?? What would this look even be called??

When Celeste showed me this I was thinking WOW this is going to turn out epic if the team can pull it off. And guess what? After about 3 hours of fiddling with hair and makeup, we shot for about 15-20 minutes due to time constraints and it was done and dusted! The look was the most important thing overall and the girls did a fantastic job. Originally the idea was the follow the same colour scheme and Mel decided that a green/khaki look would better suit my skin tone/hair and be better for everyone's portfolios, seeing as pink is a popular colour on female models. Pink is my favourite colour but I was happy for the colour change so good call, Mel!

My tri-toned hair using hair pieces - none that are showing are my own!

 

Mel did an incredible job with the hair and it reminds me of those classical hairstyles from the olden days - I'm sure some would know what I'm talking about! As you can tell I'm not that great with history haha. I found it amusing having these hair pieces weaved into my hair (not clip-ons) and having about 50 bobby pins in my hair and many elastics. It wasn't fun having to get them all out but it had to be done and my head felt much lighter afterwards hehe.

Before and after pic! And a pesky pimple decided to show up on the day...

I LOVE the way it turned out omg, so much creativity!! Those additional details with the flowers in my hair on on my wrist/back of my hand looked superb - I felt as though I were a queen from a mystical land as I stepped out to the photography studio with this ensemble, wearing a puffy white wedding dress.

Jacqui did an amazing job with the shoot due to her professionalism in showing me directions and making me feel really comfortable whilst posing. The photos and editing she did for them are so stunning that I can barely recognise myself (in a good way, because she made me look absolutely flawless). I've got the pictures to share but first, let me take share a selfie.

The green/earthy colours make me think of Lisa Simpson saying "I am the lizard queen!" because lizards are green. Lizard queen is me

The beads and hair pieces on my head weren't the heaviest-feeling - it was actually the double-lashes that made my eyes feel super heavy! It made them difficult to open as I always felt like keeping them half open or completely shut and I haven't worn double-lashes (two sets of falsies) in a long time. They really added to the effect though :)

Photography by Jacqui, Makeup by Celeste, Hair and makeup assistance by Mel

 

Saved my favourite shot 'til last

Now this second photoshoot really brought out my confidence and looking back on it makes me look even more forward to my next one whenever that will be! Hopefully in 2015 I will have some more TFPs done as I'm not looking for any monetary benefit from modelling (yet) while still being an amateur. If and when I do another shoot, I'll be sure to tweet about it and possibly write up another post on my experience/s. It's been so awesome to have worked with and met such creative, artistic people through these shoots this year, they're seriously inspiring. Happy to help anyone who would like to get in touch with any of them!

It's great to be able to tick something off my list of 'things I'd like to try' before the year ends which makes me feel quite accomplished. I know anyone can do these types of photoshoots as it isn't like fashion runway modelling or magazine prints but hey, I think it does take a whole lot of guts to put yourself out there in this way and not have complete control of the way you're presented with the makeup, concept and outfit choices. Although I initially did this to help out a friend, it also benefited me in more ways than one. I've always been a shy, self-conscious girl so doing photoshoots has been a big step for me. Challenge accepted, challenge succeeded.

Questjen for you:

What would you like to try or take up as a hobby in 2015?

You don't have to wait until the new year to start something, you can start today!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I wish you all a safe and happy new year! 2015, bring it on ^_^

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kikki.K Pre-Christmas Haul

Hey guys, it's almost Christmas which means that many of us will be and are already spending lots on our loved ones. And while we've been shopping for gifts, I'm sure we've all been stuck on ideas and that's okay, it's the thought that counts in the end! While this post isn't really going give many gift ideas, I thought I'd share one of my recent hauls with items that are useful and can appeal to many different kinds of people.

For those who follow me on Twitter, you may have seen this image that I uploaded when I shared my post-exams haul where I made an online order during the time kikki.K had a 20% off storewide sale and as a way of treating myself for the work I had done in the semester. This sale also gave me the chance to get my hot little hands on items that I've been eyeing for a while. Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by kikki.K (if only I was) nor am I affiliated with them and all of these items were purchased with my own money :)

Firstly I just want to mention how cute the parcel box is! It might look familiar if you remember seeing the following picture of me holding it for the Bloggers Kris Kringle post:

Credits to Melody for the editing!
And now the 'KK' can stand for kikki.K :D

I've called this a 'Pre-Christmas haul' because I ordered these items with no intention of it being a Christmas present to myself however, once I saw it sitting on my doorstep, I couldn't help but think of it as an early/pre-Christmas present judging by the way it looked! It didn't have the ribbon but the snowflake print on the box along with the catalogue and note inside made me feel even more into the festive season! kikki.K could've easily used a standard cardboard box so I'm really pleased with their efforts towards the packaging's designs now that Christmas is fast approaching *_*

They sent me a $10 'welcome' voucher (I'm not a new member but I'll take it - it must've been because it was my first online order!) via email after I made my order and I decided to use this instore to save me the shipping fee (shipping is only free for orders over $50+ and I wasn't willing to spend that much again lol). This is what I bought with my voucher:

And even their store's bag is Christmas-themed and so pretty! Looks like a paper gift bag :)

So let's run through each item I purchased, starting with the one I was most excited about:

2015 TIME PLANNER: LIVE BRIGHT (RRP $49.95, purchased for $39.96)

Yes I admit, it does sound rather pricey for a planner but I can justify spending that much for one from kikki.K. I've been a fan of their products for quite some time and although there are cheaper alternatives, I feel that their products are of high quality and to me that's what makes it worth the price. Not only are they of great quality but also of great style - I adore their themes and colour schemes and it's purely eye candy for stationery enthusiasts like me. 

Really liking the quote on the cover of this one! Something to remember to live by :)

I usually purchase the kikki.K diaries like the one I showed in my February Favourites at the beginning of the year. No doubt, it's still one of my favourite types of diaries to have but after having two of these, I decided it was time for something new, hence the planner :) To be able to fully open the pages and lay them out flat was what appealed to me the most and also the fact that I can reuse the planner each year by simply taking out and refilling it with new pages. In a way this does save me money so I thought why not invest in one.

Planner does not come with the pen

The planner comes with a plastic ruler and a notepad at the back

I could go on and on about how much I adore this design and the pink/lilac colours used for this planner! They're very soft and delicate colours that are very pleasing for the eyes and since these are my favourite colours, I don't think I'll ever be bored of using this every year. I'm a huge fan of the gorgeous shiny gold ring binding too.

Each dashboard has a different design/quote

All I can say are good things about this planner. It's a medium size which I find is perfect and this is also one of the more affordable medium-sized planners from kikki.K due to its material not being leather (in fact it's made from wool). Although leather may give the appearance of a more polished, sturdy look, the fabric cover is a good option if you're strapped for cash, while still being able to have all of the benefits that comes with using a planner.

And since I've spoken so much about the planner, I'll keep the rest fairly brief. I didn't end up taking individual photos for these so I will be using the ones on the website:

SAMSUNG GALAXY 5 GLOSS CASE: LIVE BRIGHT (RRP $9.95, purchased for $7.96)

 

Another product from the 'Live Bright' range that I just had to get! Ever since I received my phone cover, I haven't taken it off and switched back to any of my other ones, which is something I do quite often as I tend to get bored with using the same one. It has a simplistic design, it's glossy and thin so that my phone doesn't feel bulky. It fits on nicely and isn't difficult to take off. There's also a screen protector in the package and that'll definitely come in handy. Thanks kikki.K for designing an S5 case because there aren't many around compared to iPhone cases. They also have a minimalist design one which I'm liking too.

EVERYDAY BALLPOINT PEN 3PK: CUTE 2015 (RRP: $9.95, purchased for $7.96) 

As a sucker for anything cute, how could I have passed on this (especially the pen with cats wearing party hats as the design, eep)!! These types of ballpoint pens only come with black ink which is a bit of a downer for me as I mostly use blue ink. I guess this means that these pens will last me quite some time before they needs refilling (yes, these pens can be refilled to be used for many years!)

FELT TIP PEN - BLACK (RRP $1.50, purchased for $1.20)

I think I added this to my cart because I was only about a dollar or so off of getting free shipping so I thought eh, why not chuck in a pen. Something useful. And it has been very useful indeed :) I keep it in my planner's pen holder and I love taking it out and using it because it glides very smoothly on paper. This is definitely one of the best felt-tip pens I've used and I highly recommend getting your hands on one, or a few, or a handful...

FELT TIP PEN 10PK (RRP $12.95, purchased for $2.95 with a $10 voucher)

A handful of these felt-tip pens is exactly what I got a couple of days after receiving my order! I loved the black felt-tip pen so much that I wanted to get them in every colour available. That $10 welcome voucher really helped so thanks once again kikki.K! $2.95 for a pack of 10 felt-tip pens sounds like an absolute bargain to me, hehe. They're highly raved about and I can certainly see why - they make decorating my planner even more fun :)

Any of the above items would be suitable as Christmas gifts or stocking fillers, especially the pens. Nice, good-quality pens are always great to have!

My questjen to you:

Are you a fan of cute stationery?

I don't think anyone could ever be too old for it either!

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Jewellery Trends Inspired by SNSD/Girls' Generation

If you follow K-pop like me, you'll be familiar with the certain looks that these stars have - it's a part of their 'image. Sometimes this image stays the same, or changes over time depending on their concepts. For example, looking at one of my favourite girl groups SNSD, also known as Girls' Generation, they started out with a cutesy, dolly, innocent image and as they matured their styles became more classy, sophisticated and elegant as well as the musical styles. Being a fan of theirs from my high school days 'til now, I feel as though I went through that growth and maturity phase like they did and being similar in age, I can certainly relate and see them as my idols/role models. I feel like their style is my style, so every now and then I like to check out their outfits worn at premiere events, fashion shows, photoshoots and even the outfits they wear to the airport. Not only do I take notice of their outfits but also their hair, makeup, jewellery and accessories. They inspire me so much that I've decided to share 3 jewellery trends that I've noticed on the girls and also on those around me.

The following items for each of these trends features some very affordable pieces that you can easily add to your collection - styling on a budget!

Floral

When I think of floral, I get reminded of spring and summer. Yes we do see flowers more in these seasons however for jewellery pieces, floral is great to wear as a pattern or a design all year round. In moderation it's quite pretty and when worn to complement an item/outfit rather than take over and be the centre of attention, it gives a nice finishing touch.

Credit: As watermarked

SNSD's Hyoyeon is wearing a lovely sleeved lace dress with a chunky floral necklace. Sure it counts as a statement piece but when paired with blue dress and a blue bag, it blends in with the overall look. I decided to give this look a go with a less-chunky floral necklace:

Elegant Opal Floral Necklace
$5.42 USD

Here's a closer look at the details of this gorgeous necklace from Born Pretty Store:

I love how the flowers aren't too over-the-top with a simplistic design of alternating big and small flowers. The piece sits really nicely on the decolletage area and I think it looks great with a lovely lace top/dress. I find the double chains to be quite a unique and I reckon it makes the necklace look less fragile and more weighty without it actually being so. Pretty good for something around $5!

Pearls

Beautiful, bright round pearls... there's just something so classy about them, whether it's one pearl on its own or a cluster of them. And I think that a female wearing pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, a pearl ring and a pearl bracelet would look perfectly normal to me! You can never have too many pearls (okay maybe it'll look odd if you layer it on too heavily - moderation is key).

Credit: As watermarked

Ah Jessica, I miss you!

SNSD's Jessica (to me she's still a member) once wore this chunky pearl cluster necklace from Chanel (I don't know the actual name of the necklace) with a white collared shirt and she looked so chic! I absolutely love her simplistic yet elegant style and I find that whatever she wears is in such good taste. No wonder she's becoming a fashion designer - she's a true fashionista after all! I wish her all the best with her career in the fashion industry.

Let's see how well I can pull off this look with a very similar necklace:

Enchanting Pearl Cluster Necklace
$6.13 USD

Mine is no where near as cluster-ful as Jessica's but when I first saw this on Born Pretty Cute, I was immediately reminded of Jessica's stunning necklace and so I had to have it. Not only does it look good with collared shirts but also fancy dresses and such - I can just picture it *_*

Unlike Jessica's, this is a flat-cluster rather than a 3-dimensional cluster which would appear more bulky/heavy. This one drapes nicely around my neck and I like how the gold chains peek through the pearls to give that white and gold look. Also those small rhinestones in between the pearls add a touch of sparkly-ness. Speaking of rhinestones... guess what the next trend is?

Rhinestones

Aka bling-bling! I love sparkly jewellery and accessories and for me it doesn't necessarily have to be derived from particular stones or crystals as I'm also a fan of the more affordable man-made kind. Sure the 'real' stuff is more luxurious and precious but what matters is most to me is its overall look! Rhinestones and diamantes can be just as sparkly for only a fraction of the price. This trend will always stay relevant.

Credit: As watermarked

The stunning Jung Sisters! ♥

Of course when celebrities endorse sparkly jewellery pieces like the ones above, they're going to have a hefty price tag on them. But what if they weren't endorsed by a celebrity... would you be able to tell that the above items are pricey? I didn't think so. Let me give you an example with this sparkly ring I have:

Elegant Simple Rhinestone Studded Ring - $2.99 USD

... $3 for this ring? Say whaaaaat, who would've thought/known?! I can assure you that it doesn't feel like a cheapie $2-3 item - it actually feels and looks like a legitimate ring that's at least in the double if not triple and so forth digits, not single digits like it is. How surprising, right? Here's more proof that it doesn't look flimsy/tacky:

Could fool anyone with this rock on my ring finger!

(By the way this is not a hint or anything, this girl isn't getting engaged anytime soon :P)

I still can't get over the price and how something for affordable looks very much like a actual diamond/engagement ring. Anyway enough about that, moving onto its style. Yes I know that it can be a little too bling-bling for an average girl who is not anywhere near the engagement phase yet (like me) but a way to avoid any questions is to simply wear it on the middle or index finger. That way it'll look like a dressy/cocktail ring and no one will misunderstand. I find this halo, cushion cut style very classic and vintage-like. I adore this style on earrings as well, similar to the ones endorsed by the Jung sisters above.

Now I haven't thought about what type of engagement ring I'd want but for those who do know or specifically, ladies who've got an engagement ring (lucky ducks), having a 'cheaper' one to wear everyday can be a safer option for you. We all know how costly these rings can be and the thought of losing one is almost unbearable, so why not wear an imitation of the real thing to keep the real thing stored away safely? No one will even know and if it gets lost, it's better than losing the actual ring, hey! So ladies, if you've got a halo engagement ring similar or the same as this one, you could consider getting it for yourself to wear instead, especially if you're feeling paranoid about it going missing, because I know I would.

I can honestly say that I am a fan of all of these jewellery styles worn on the SNSD girls, hence I see them as my fashion/style icons. I don't think I've ever seen them wear something absolutely ridiculous which I'm quite happy about :D

You can purchase any of the items above from Born Pretty Store which offers free shipping worldwide and 10% off your order using the code 'JLQK31' at the checkout

A questjen for you:

Which of the 3 jewellery trends is your favourite?

Or do you have any to add to this list?

I love anything that's sparkly so my favourite is the rhinestone/diamante trend!

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Disclaimer: Products were provided for consideration. This is not a sponsored post with monetary compensation, nor am I affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this post. All opinions stated by me are 100% honest and are free from bias. For full disclaimer, see http://www.questjen.com/p/disclaimer.html.