I have been meaning to blog about this fantastic company for a while, and finally after a busy few months with moving house, working and being supermum throughout the summer holidays I’ve finally got the time to update my blog and let you know about P4 Events… typically the only time I seem to be able to update my blog is 10pm on a Saturday evening… how very rock and roll of me *grins*
Well I first met Mark from Passion 4 Events about 4 months ago and I’m more than happy to recommend Mark and also p4 to all my Brides.
I’m a big believer that Wedding organising should be as stress free as possible, but in reality that’s never the case as you can be overwhelmed by the choice of photographers, caterers, hair & beauty, florists and venues to name just a few things to be arranged for the big day.
This is where P4 Events step in like some magical Disney character and relieve all the stress, worry, and research you have to do so you’re left to look forward to your big day rather than trying to arrange everything like some possessed bride to be….*laughs* because we all know you have been there at some point…frazzled, stressed, or even overwhelmed not knowing where to even begin.
The thing I found so appealing about this company is that they offer bespoke packages so you can have all the wedding organised for you, or for example just the venue…what more could you want? 
You can find more information about P4 on their website.
Ooo talking of P4 Events, I was recentley booked by their sister company Cuffe & Taylor to provide the makeup service for the Lytham Proms… which I have to say was AMAAZZZINNNG!! Unfortunately I actually had a life that evening so I only managed to stay for the first hour of it, but it was lovely to be able to finish work, flipflop over to the VIP section, grab a glass of Moet and sit on my bottom enjoying the music…
Love & Blusher,
Sonara x
Links:
I would never have pictured myself in front of a classroom of school students with my chair but last week I found myself in that exact position.
Lytham High School had an enrichment week before the end of the summer term where groups of students were producing a fashion show, so you had a group of costume designers, a group of makeup artists, a group of models and a group of photographers (I think 90% of the boys must have been in that group) so one of the teachers from the school, who’s sister’s makeup I had done for her wedding, contacted me to see if I was available to come and do two workshops on Monday and Tuesday and be able to give a demo of some OTT catwalk makeup.
I have to say although I was really nervous on the drive up to the school, and my voice was a little bit wobbly at first and I must have dropped one of my brushes twice due to sweaty hands …I have to say I really enjoyed this experience and chance to inspire people to be creative.
I say nervous *chuckles* I was VERY nervous as I hadn’t stepped back in a school since the age of 18 and I had no experience of teaching school children….
Both Monday and Tuesday ‘s groups were wonderful, asking loads of questions, watching intently, and I have to thank the four school girls who agreed to be models as they were wonderful.
More pictures to come soon…. 
Love & Blusher,
Sonara x
Well I can’t not blog about this shoot, it’s been a year in the making…..*excited happy claps*
When Garazi and I shot the butterfly catcher inspired shoot last year we both realised that we had the same vintage flower swimming caps, and from that moment on we have wanted to shoot them together. …
So it’s a year later and I’m back in Garazi’s flat (which should have been her new spanky studio but it had to be closed temporarily) clutching my swimming cap and all excited for the days shoot.
We were doing three looks for the story , one being the swimming cap, one of the looks centered around Martins wig look, which he had to cut on the models head to ensure it was the exact cut he wanted.
As usual lots of behind the scenes pictures , you may recognise one of the models as she was recently on BNTM (Britain’s Next Top Model) and I was really looking forward to shooting with Nikki again as I had worked with her on an OTT makeup look with latex when I had first qualified.
Talking of first qualifying its quite a norm for most makeup artists to qualify and then want to stick a million sequins on the face and do crazy eyelashes…. Ok I still do “crazy creative” things as its good for the old soul but I don’t seem to do it as often any more…But yes I had last shot with Nikki on one of my first ever shoots when I was still in the “everything should be as OTT as possible phase”..
It’s funny how time changes you and although I still love my creative shoots and letting my ideas run wild, its very rare I let that gem sticking monster out of my imagination these days. And I’m ok with that…. Two to three crazy shoots as year is enough for me these days, as its expensive to make the headpieces and costumes and I seem to be going through a natural beauty phase, wanting to make everything as minimalist as possible…. As I type this I’m wondering if that’s a reflection on all the bridal work I have been doing recently.
For the swimming cap look I went really crazy and it was quite bizarre how much out of my comfort zone it felt putting LOADS of makeup on a model…. although I loved it, I was made aware of how long it had been seen my last over the top shoot….
I’m hoping to have some time to organise a Christmas themed creative shoot, as It’s been almost a year since I last made a headpiece… and to be honest i quite miss crafting until the early hours, getting wrapped in hair, sequins stuck everywhere or sticking myself to random materials by mistake…
Oh dear, its only September and I’ve already mentioned Christmas.. *slaps herself*
Well I can’t publish the full set from the day but here is a sneak peek image…*gleeee*
Love & Blusher,
Sonara x
X2 Studio in Blackpool is a fantastic compact studio that booked me for the amazing Phil Drinkwater’s lighting course (if I could do a little drum roll I would as the man deserves one) and oh what fun it was.
I love shoots like this, as when your working with friends it doesn’t feel like “work”, Phil was assisted with the super smashing greeeaat Tim from Mode1 Photography (watch this space for some offers from Mode1 & myself for photography/makeup packages) and the model for the course was the beautiful Sophie Suri who I’ve shot with quite a few times and its always an absolute pleasure, i think I giggled and gossiped more than I worked but shhhhh 
The course was a great success and its wonderful seeing amazing pictures pop up on facebook from the photographers who were on the course.
Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, just click the like button and then my facebook updates and new work will pop in your news feed, it doesn’t get easier than that to keep tabs on me! 
http://www.facebook.com/SonaraParker
Big thankyou to Paul Craig (Paul Craig on FB) who attenedted Phil’s course kindly sent some of his images from the day:
Love & Blusher,
Sonara x
Links:
Another day, another shoot, but this wasn’t just any shoot, it was another collaboration with Adrian Crook @ Arc Studio, Martin Bland (the hair genius), stylist Gemma Gorman and myself for Lab Magazine. Gemma, who travelled all the way from Peterborough to style the shoot, turned up with some amazing, mind blowing gowns (and I also fell in love with her betseyville handbag)
I was lucky enough to be working the beautiful Amy Finamore from Nemisis model agency. I have worked with Amy a few times (and am planning on attacking her face for beauty in the future….in a nice way of course) and each time it’s always a pleasure. She is always full of energy, sarcasm and fun and, well, she is soooo purdy with amazing skin that its quite easy to do her makeup and with quite a versatile look, she suits whatever look or style I paint her face with… lucky lady! But as you can see from the back stage photos, sometimes I need my own stilts and poor martin had to climb on the ladder to reach the top of Amy’s hair once she had the killer heels on!
We did a few looks and outfits change for the story, but I’m finding it really hard to pick my favourites as there are sooo many good images for this set , and I’m very proud to say not only did I do the makeup but I had the really job of being in charge of the smoke machine *giggles* Ooo I did feel important!
Gemma brought an array of shoes…I have to say I have never ever seen that many shoes, but they weren’t just to put on Amy’s feet… Adrian had built a set with little ledges to put loads of shoes on, although you can tell it was built by a man as the shelves were too thin to take the shoes, so it took lots of careful placement, patience, holding breath and blu tack and nails to attempt to get the shoes to stay on the set… at least you weren’t there to witness the cursing from the mouths of Gemma and I as we placed one shoe on a few times which caused the the 20 we had carefully placed all came tumbling down…
Anway enough of the waffling and on with the visual delight….
