Curve Couture Countryphile - Behind the scenes

Here is our exciting behind the scenes film of the Countryphile photoshoot.

We would like to thank the following people for their expertise and support:

Photography: Gareth Gregg 

Creative Director: Zoe Della Rocca

Shoot Assistant: Zoe Van Spyk

Make up: Sarah Vickery

Models: Tarcha Ann Josephine Peters, Damola Egbeyemi, Victoria Bennis, Rebecca Bennis

Accessories: Masters Desire

Location Manager: Jacqui Bennis
Videography: Ed Lannon

Countryphile: The Make-up

Today's blog comes from the very talented Zoe Della Rocca, who designed the looks for the Countryphile photo shoot with Gareth Gregg and Brighton Fashion Week.

Zoe is a freelance make-up/hair artist and stylist, and can easily command the task of creative direction without hesitation. If you would like to hire Zoe for any of these jobs I would highly recommend her.

Here is the final look:

Copyright Gareth Gregg

And this is how Zoe achieved the look... now over to Zoe:

Website:  www.zoedellarocca.com

E-mail: info@zoedellarocca.com

I designed the hair and make up for Chrissie's Countryphile Collection at Brighton Fashion Week and subsequent fashion shoot, this involved making bespoke false nails, hair pieces and lashes. I then provided detailed instructions, face maps and photographic references for the hair and make up artist team working on the show.

After meeting Chrissie Nicholson Wild a year ago in a cafe for a casual chat over coffee, it soon became clear that I had found someone that shared my passion for experimental creativity.
Some one who is not scared to 'give things a go' and viewed anything possible until proven otherwise.
I liked this energy and we were soon lost deep in creative banter which blossomed into an ongoing productive working relationship.

During our initial meeting we talked of many ideas, one of which being Countryphile.
We discussed Chrissies design ideas, began a pinterest board and soon had ideas flourishing between us.
The Countryphile collection is, as the name suggests, a sexy play on tradtional english country trappings of the gentry. Tweeds, brass fittings and classic leather all feature heavily, there's even a flash of country fowl.

The Make Up and overall styling, strongly influenced by the obvious equine link was something we wanted to remain prominent throughout.

When considering the make up I instantly thought about the contours of a horses face.
Contrary to the common unflattering term 'she looks like a bit of a horse!', we discussed the elegant elongated nose, chiselled cheekbones, strong brows, dark sexy eyes and luscious lashes and felt a desire illustrate subtly.

Copyright Zoe Della Rocca

Highlighting and Contouring

For all the models I used MAC Vanilla pigment to highlight down the centre of the face from the forehead down the bridge of the nose.

I used a mixture of MAC 'Wood Winked' and MAC 'Tempting' eye shadows' to strongly contour under the cheekbones and down the inner sides of the nose....to elongate.

Eyes
The eyes were given a 'longeye' style this was achieved by firstly applying MAC Bronze eye pencil to the top and bottom water lines and subtly smudging to the outer edges.

Next I gave the eyes a gold base this was followed by MAC 'Tempting' in the socket. Using the blending brush, I gently 'pulled' the shadow out towards the outer edge of the eye. Finally I applied MAC reflects 'Antique Gold' in the corner 'triangle' of the eye, continuing to pull the colour outwards whilst seamlessly blending.

This look was completed by applying mascara and the false lashes.


I had attached the very fine green quills from a peacock feather onto the end of the false lashes using lash adhesive. Although it was a very fiddly job the results were stunning and really enhanced by the lighting.

Lips

This is the lip effect we created for the photo shoot up close:

(cropped from original edit) by Gareth Gregg

The high impact catwalk lips were achieved in the following way:

Firstly I colour matched the lipstick to the jacket lining, blending several lipsticks which I applied to the lips with a brush. I dotted DUO adhesive on the centre of the lips working out towards the corners of the mouth. Then, using an orange stick, I applied tiny pieces of flaked gold leaf.

Nails

I made bespoke false nails for the shoot inspired by the fabric linings and trimmings as I felt this would compliment and complete the overall styling concept.

Feather Nails

I painted a bronze base coat and applied the very ends of the pheasant feathers whilst the varnish was still tacky. Once dry, I trimmed the feathers and sealed with a clear top coat.

Tweed Nails

I used the nail adhesive sparingly to glue the fabric onto the nail and trimmed the fabric once dry.

copyright Zoe Van Spyk

Countryphile Editorial

I can at last share with you all the Countryphile Editorial shots that we did in August, which is very exciting, and finally it has all been handed off and ready to go. Just in time for tomorrows Charity Fashion Show in Brighton, all in aid of raising money for Orphans International.

I asked our photographer for this shoot Gareth Gregg to do a guest blog about this photo shoot from his perspective, but before I present his account, let me first share some of the amazing shots we created together.

The full team:

Photography: Gareth Gregg

Wardrobe: Chrissie Nicholson-Wild

Creative Director, hair and make-up design and location manager: Zoe Della Rocca

Make-up: Sarah Vickery

 Videographer: Ed Beeson

Video Assistant: Zoe Van Spyk

Models: Tarcha Ann Josephine Peters, Damole Egbeyemi, Victoria Bennis, Rebecca Bennis

Horse: Nugget

To commission Gareth Gregg :

Garethgregg@rocketmail.com

07870179714
Sometimes i find that when you have a new shoot on the horizon it takes a bit of time to get inspiration about how it should be put together and what mood and lighting you should use. With this particular shoot that wasn’t a problem. when Chrissie said to me "Think lady of the manor gone feral" it gave all of us plenty of inspiration. 

I think when I look back on the original ideas that came about from the initial talks we had and how they developed into the concept that we used in the end it really shows how creative development is a natural and organic part of any shoot. That’s not to say what we discussed first was wrong or incorrect but it just shows how through discussion ideas are moulded and refined during the lead up to what was the final result. 

One of the most important aspects of putting together a fashion shoot is team work. Your role in the team and how you bring your skills to the table is key, Everyone has their own separate skill set and its important that what you apply compliments everyone else’s ideas. The way we achieved this was through the preparation, We had several meetings to bounce about ideas and the power of websites such as Pinterest really help you compile mood boards that all members of the team can then contribute images to. These aspects really nail the final ideas and make sure they are a success. 

We had settled on a total of two test shoots followed by the main shoot. The initial shoots for me really helped work out different lighting styles and angles. We were blessed with beautiful sunsets during the test shoots which yielded fantastic results. On the main shoot though the weather wasnt as good but that gave me the chance to really introduce some moody lighting techniques in the stables. This moody effect really turned out to be the dominant style and once we introduced some of the outside shots into the final set the juxtaposition worked really well.

 I was told once by a local photographer that any team putting together a shoot should strive for it being memorable. You should make sure that the viewer should see the work and remember it. I think we all really achieved this. All aspects were really pushed to the limit. From the key corsetry designs being the base we then introduced the fantastic high end leather work and even real horses hair that was woven into the models own hair to give a striking and unusual effect. All the elements were there and as with anything like this on their own isn't sufficient its only when all of these little touches are brought together that the ideas come to life. 

It was my first time working with animals. I did a little bit of research on the net about how horses behave around studio lights. According to the experts its actually the presence of the objects that freak the horses out as opposed to the flash. it was important that when we worked with nugget that he got used to my big camera being there as well as the additional equipment we had. All in all though he was great and we got some stunning shots. even if we did have to ply him with constant treats! 

Big thanks to all involved. It was a fantastic project that has really given some fantastic results.

Many thanks to Gareth for writing this guest blog, and for being such an awesome person to collaborate with. There are more shots to follow, but I shall save them for another day.

Cxxx

Countryphile: photo shoot preparation

For the last two evenings I have been working on test shoots for our forthcoming photo shoot of the Countryphile collection. We have a great team, as follows:

Photographer: Gareth Gregg
Hair and make up design (and all round uber organisation): Zoe Della Rocca
MUA: Zoe Della Rocca and Sarah Vickery
Models: Damola Egbeyemi, Victoria Bennis, Rebecca Bennis

I shot these on my 'point and shoot camera' on location, being there was truely magical and I am really looking forward to the forthcoming shoot, and can't wait to see what amazing shots Gareth has been taken.