Photographer: Harvey Brown
Models: Amanda Debrowski, Paula
Makeup: Sonara Parker
Hair: Katy Grimshaw  & Scott Mckay

Bridal work is one of my favourite things to do, i love making “normal women” feel like a princess for the day, so when Harvey got in touch asking if I wanted to be part of  a bridal shoot for local business across Chorley, I jumped at the chance.  I couldn’t have been more pleased with the choice of the location, Mitton Hall, as this has been the choice of a wedding venue for some of my past bridal clients yet I still hadn’t had the time to nosey at the venue myself .  Alot of my work is studio based so when I get location work I always have an added bounce in my step (must be the fresh air),  so it’s refreshing to get out of the normal studio surroundings, and what a location this was!

Mitton Hall is a magnificent 15th century manor house in Clithoroe, its thought to have been completed in 1487, and was reinvinted as a hotel in 2007. I instantly fell in love with this location, the grounds were beautiful but it was far too cold to stay out in the fresh air for long. When you enter Mitton Hall I was greeted by a huge open cosy fire, which smelt almost enchanting. Climbing the stairs you discover its beautiful and unusual bedrooms and the oldy worldy charm of the resturant and bar areas.  Just when I thought the location couldn’t get any more picturesque. it started snowing. I was in location heaven and seemed to have suddenly become a child again and had to try and fight off the urge to run outside and start making a snow angel.

The bridalwear company had supplied two gowns for each model, which meant hair and makeup could create two completely different looks for both models Amanda (brown hair) and Paula (blonde hair). My brief for this shoot was to ensure that that the makeup look for the two sets were a daytime and evening bridal style, and as sometimes brides will book me for the day rather than just for the makeup application I am well practiced at transforming one look into another. Full day bookings ensure I am around for makeup touch up’s before photographs and also for a makeup change for the evening celebrations and I had done a trial the week before with contrasting looks and had really liked it so decided to get an extra practice session in.

The hairdressers Katy Grimshaw and Scott Mckay put both models hair up  for the first bridal set and as it’s always far easier to add makeup than to remove it I always prefer to build the makeup up gradually, especially with wedding makeup so applied a natural bridal look for the first set.  I wanted the skin to look as natural as possible so I kept foundation to a minimum with an added touch of highlight and whisper of blusher.  I applied delicate colours that blended across the eyelids (for the record I am blending crazy when it comes to bridal makeup, as I adore the soft edges of blended eyeshadow unless the bride wants a dramatic eye look).

After Katy and Scott worked their magic on a down hairstyle, I added darker shades to the eyelids and under the water line of both models eyes, and blended the colour up and higher above the socket line to make more of a feature of the eyes (probably due to the eyes being one of my personal favourite features to accentuate). A touch more blusher was added and a touch darker shade of lip colour.

All in all it was a great shoot, and I would really love to return to Mitton Hall in the winter as a guest, that amazing open fire is just too inviting but I would have to stay in my favourite room of the shoot, the princess suite.

Love & Blusher,

Sonara

Links:
Mitton Hall