Loads more to come, Blogstalkers

-A

Check out a little video I made from an impromptu candy* inspired shoot we did last week. Tara, the model, grew so fond of her sugar glazed eyebrows she left them intact all night and almost considered sporting them to a party (with real people, in a public environment). We managed to restrain her but lets just say the sugar has certainly gone to her head, but damn she does look so sweeet!

Much like my modelling career (which was short lived) I am also a film rookie and this was my very first attempt at filming and editing, so cast not your judgmental eyes! If I said that camera shake is a new trend that I read about in a highfalutin movie magazine, would you believe me? Well you should, trust me, it’s all the rage.

*I would like to add I feel very uncomfortable referring to sugary confectionary as ‘candy’ – in Ireland we call them ‘sweets’ but you know…it’s all the same amazingly flavoured crap at the end of the day really isn’t it?

A big shout out to ‘the team’ for making this possible, thanks team, you’re the best.

Photographer: Amanda

Model: Tara Walsh

Stylists: Amanda, Tara, Katie (that’s not someone else that’s just me referring to myself in the 3rd person – it’s important to thank yourself sometimes)

Hair/Make-Up: Tara, Amanda

Film + Editing – Yours truly!

Okay ’til next time

K x

Technically more than a week, but lets just keep with the story shall we? (Oh also, I broke ANOTHER iPhone so I’m compensating for the lack of until I get a replacement for next week’s.)

This week I learned:

How to properly drink tea (only at Betty’s of course).

My hair is long. Bordering jeans skirts and hair buns long.

Lazy, slept-in Saturdays do wonders for my attitude.

Where all the swanky restaurants are in Dublin. Finally.

To have a glass of whisky like a sissy girl. Mad Men would allow me to move this from the dinning room to my office, right??

I REALLY can’t wait to see Maverick.

Sterling is the prettiest currency. I wish I had more £££ than $$$.

The only pretty place in Leeds, England is maybe the photo I took.

How to refinish an antique. (And that spray paint doesn’t rinse well out of one’s hair.)

Gloomy shopping days aren’t actually gloomy. Helloooo you’re shopping. (According to Christina at least.)

I love pretty interiors. (Well, I already knew that.)

The last two years were momentous to me as I did a lot of soul searching.  I spent over a year mostly disconnected in order to find myself professionally and personally. I travelled too much. I worried too much. I slept too little. I’ve spread my business and myself over two continents. I’ve had a laughable series of misfortunes. But – I’ve had as well some of the best and most rewarding times too. Now that we’re well on to a new year (hello almost March 2012!), I can’t say that all my struggles are over but I feel my heart is lighter, I feel so loved, and am slowly realising that I’m heading professionally and personally in a direction that is truly…me.

xoxo, Blogstalkers.

In true drizzly-gray Irish fashion, married on the same grounds as Cecelia Ahern (the author of P.S. I love you for my American friends) was Karen + Paul’s lovely affair. The couple infused their wedding with details of where they met (Electric Picnic), and spiced it with lots and lots of laughter and sweetness (and amazing hats or fascinators I learned).

UK and Irish weddings are a different creature altogether. To celebrate my first Irish post, a few little fun facts:

- Kissing at the alter? Not as big a thing.

- Sometimes B&G’s (none of mine yet thankfully) want to take family photos immediately (and I’m talking immediately) after the ceremony. As in, in front of the guests while they watch in their seats. Whew…

- American weddings are SO structured comparatively. Late to the ceremony? No problem. Everyone’s almost always late. (This makes my eyes twitch.)

- B&G’s don’t do anything in the reception right away. No dancing, toasts, etc.

- There’s a phenomenon called “the afters” here. Meaning, you’re invited to the party but not the meal if you’re a distant friend, work friend, etc. SO strange, right?? I know that wouldn’t fly in America!

- The party for a wedding in Ireland/UK will outlast almost any American party, lasting at the reception until laaaaate into the morning sometimes. Where a singsong is mandatory thereafter (and a bar hours extension).

- MUCH smaller bridal parties. Usually 3 max.

- Rarely outdoors. Even if the weather were to be amazing on the day, the law actually limits where you can get married. No fields, parks, barn, etc. wedding. And only fairly recently can you even get married in a hotel!

- In my opinion, the toasts/speeches are amazing and so heartfelt with lots of quick humor. They’re more toasts in America and speeches in Ireland/UK.

Can you think of more differences (those who know)??

Coming soon to onefabday.com with more details, Blogstalkers!

I’ve never seen so many “no you di’ints” and ghetto fabulous head moves in my life. No judgement.

*You can make your own video from the Juicy Fruit app here.

(Apologies in advance for the poor audio!)

Happy Valentine’s Day, Blogstalkers!

I love you @WilliamCrean and hope you don’t die of utter embarrassment… and thanks for those pretty flowers in the background!

xx

As promised, here is the low down on my shoot with Amanda….Ah yes, I remember it well…the big day had arrived. The roles were reversed and I was set to feel the heat of the bright lights. Now I know that it appears as if I’m a highly experienced professional fashion model but believe it or not folks – I was a first timer. Aside from the heart palpitations and the initial wardrobe malfunction, I was pretty excited. The preparations began. I hit up hair and make up, five minutes later we were ready to set up. We taped a shiny sequenced backdrop to the wall, for a splash of glamour. We used two 580exii flash guns mounted on light stands for the desired effect, as well as some natural light shots. The camera used was the 5d mark ii with a 50mm 1.2 lens. The tunes were set to the optimum level of ‘window shattering max’.

After some test shots, we were then faced with the difficult task of somehow making me look less like an awkward idiot and more … effortlessly cool. I thought back to all the episodes of America’s Next Top Model I had watched and reminisced on the ‘wise’ tangents of Tyra, but surprisingly was not inspired. Then we thought, what better way to relax than with some head banging mosh pit style goodness? I beckoned the inner metaller in me & went hell for leather on it. More often than not I looked like I was riding a roller coaster at a bajillion miles an hour but some turned out pretty cool, even if I do say so myself! And yes, I am a whiplash survivor. All I can say is praise the Lord for deep heat – pain is beauty though ay?! Although, I am considering suing Amanda in Judge Judy’s court of law for head-banging under duress.

Amanda then took some moody looking tonal shots with flash & natural light… and after that I basically pranced around the room trying my best to not let my inhibitions get the better of me! The message here folks is…. we’re under no illusion as to how difficult it can be when there’s a massive photo takin’ machine all up in yo face… Everything suddenly feels about 13 degrees warmer and you seem to forget how to move your body even in a basic way. So, my advice is to start off by doing something ridiculous and exaggerated just to get those belly laughs a rollin’ and after that everything will seem easier… just have fun with it! Can’t be that hard can it?!

I’ve decided to illustrate the technicalities of each shot for those of you who may be interested… My drawing skills are pretty average but I think you’ll get the gist…

Okay that’s all for now Blogstalkers – I’m off to make some hypnotic sleep tapes which aim to induce fanatic blogging for you know who. Desperate times, desperate measures….

Next time….hear about Joanne + Chris’ wedding in Monaghan, huzzah!

K x

Help. Help me please. (I also know this is bad form as well begging on the internet and all, but just hear me out.) I feel I let myself down on so many levels and I could have achieved so much more if I could. just. be. consistent. So, if any of you have a method and want to share it with me (I’ll even pay you if you land me a golden nugget of wisdom that can fit into my crazy life!) please. please. please do.

My PSA is over and I’ll step off the ledge now that I’ve publicly admitted that I can’t do everything with the divine powers I’ve inherited myself. (Which are basically limited to taking the occasional pretty photo and how to board an airplane with swift efficiency. These divine powers are not helping me blog, friends. I’ve tried.) Now on to pretty things and pretty people: Meet Elizabeth + Ravi. (And their impeccable style.)

Midwest light can be amazing too.

If I’m paraphrasing correctly, this was taken in the tiny terrace of Oprah’s go-to chef’s restaurant. I don’t know the name – I can only remember so many facts!

Someone on Facebook said this looked like a J Crew ad. I concur.

Lastly, a special thanks to my ‘lil sis for helping me on the shoot. I may or may not have threatened her that if she didn’t help me I was going to refund her ticket to Ireland and there would be no soup for her. Thanks sis!

Thanks for reading my fancy blog I don’t use, Blogstalkers. You’re swell.

-A

Born in the form of a lil vegemite from Skippy land down under, but now, fully Irishified complete with an insatiable hunger for potatoes and pints. Growing up in the boglands it wasn’t long before I bid farewell to my four-legged friends and welcomed the bright lights of the city! Sometimes though, in the dead of the night, I do miss the sweet smell of manure (by sweet I mean putrid) and I weep for a time that once was…Yeah… So after a stint in the city & a degree in the back pocket I hit our aviation highways for some good ole fashioned adventurin’. For me, hop-scotching this big bad world with my camera in tow, documenting a whole spectrum of people and places outside of what I know – I’m in my element. The most memorable travelling moments are usually characterised by the people you meet. From those with acute weirdness to the point it’s bordering illness, the rude and downright ignorant, to the wildly hilarious and exciting, to the wise, inspiring and kindred; the whole mish mash. Unfortunately though I discovered a direct cause and effect correlation between passport stamps and my bank balance so… I was homeward bound.

Now, having escaped this rainy recession for over three years I was expecting butter rations and bah humbugs all round. However, spirits are high and… (Insert motivational quote here) so… Yeeee hawww everybody!

I’ve been lucky enough to land an amazing opportunity with Amanda (I don’t need to sing her praises you all know how great she is!) I’m currently metamorphosising into ‘The Sponge’ and that’s where it gets interesting for you my soon-to-be-friends. I hope to provide sneaky snippets into the making of Wilcher’s photographs…from technicalities to technique to other tantalising treasures (note: not just exclusive to ‘t’ words). So, photo fiends, watch this space!

Coming up next time…. hear about the trials and tribulations of my shoot with Amanda! (I got whiplash…)

Cheers, Blogstalkers!

-K

Full post to come soon…

All my love blogstalkers,

-A

Exciting exciting exciting things coming up soon, Blogstalkers!!!

-A

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