Top 10 Tips On How To Look Amazing In Pictures

Here is my definitive advice to all of you wanting to get amazing images every time no matter what. It’s all about angles and lighting. Here I will share with you a my top tips.

This will help you when you need a go to quick fire list to remind you. I have been a photographer for many years and grew up in a house with a darkroom and studio. My father was a photographer and artist. My mother was a model, so you can see where I get the passion for fashion, style and photography from.

Along with my main job as session nail technician, its all about creating amazing images. My desire to write for you guys comes from a need to help others. Be it beauty advice, great recipes or fashion and style inspiration. Its also a little photography outlet for myself and my husband. All the articles I write need pictures and what better way to get creative than set up little shoots for each and every one!

How To Look Good In Pictures

Top tips on how to look amazing in pictures.

 

  1. 1. Wear clothing that you feel amazing in. If you know your going out and having tons of pictures taken throughout the day or night its important to feel good from various angles. If you hate your upper arms then wear a dress that hides the tops of the arms. You will instantly feel more confident. Or failing that dash out and purchase MAC Face & Body. Most makeup artists I work with use this for runway shows, magazine shoots and editorials. I own a fair few bottles in different shades and its my best buddy if my arms are looking a little blotchy or pasty. Our secret ok!
  2. Invest in the best underwear. Tight and ill-fitting garments just look terrible, especially if shot from behind. Purchase t-shirt bras and seam free pants. Nude is always best in my book. Yes I do own rather a lot of Bridget style pants and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
  3. Don’t use a flash. Natural lighting is always best. I totally hate flash photography when done the wrong way. It can make makeup and clothing look terrible, whats worse.. when food is involved. Don’t do it…Whenever I ever see that dreaded flash go off snapping a beautiful plate of food I die inside just a little every time!! Turn it off and see how it looks. Yes I know there are times when your in a dark restaurant…Then that is telling you its not appropriate. If you really need to snap your food, then go out mid afternoon!
  4. Cloudy days are actually perfect for portrait photography as the sky has a natural light diffuser.
  5. Always turn to your side as this will create a softer prettier look for us girlies. If you need to lift an arm and place it on a hip do so.
  6. Use sunglasses, bags or a hat if you don’t know what to do with your hands.
  7. Practice posing in the mirror. It sounds narcissistic but it will help you the more that you do it.
  8. Always wear heels as this will create confidence.
  9. If you are having your picture taken from the front tuck your arms into your sides as this will create a longer leaner frame.
  10. Lastly Smile. Even if your not looking at the camera. You might look a little crazy but when the images come through you will look radiant and stunning.

Holborn Dining Room

The Holborn Dining Room is a beautiful classy and chilled establishment. The interior is splendid but isn’t as impressive as the outside area in when the sun is shining. We headed out for a wander mid afternoon to grab a few drinks and stumbled upon this place. The menu was basic, delicious, and very impressive. We plumped for good old fish finger sandwich and a classic chicken and bacon salad. Washed down with a few Gin cocktails.

 

With seasonal, locally sourced British cuisine on the menu this place will go down very well when needing to impress a lady or friends. Grab yourself a pint of local lager a burger or a glass of fizz and a pint of prawns. Fine wines are on offer at this renowned restaurant.

Holborn Dining Room is a welcome find for us. London life is so very grand when you find places just like this to share with all of you. It’s possibly one of the nicest bars on the scene in the city.

Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining RoomThe first cocktails we tested where the Hendricks and the G Vine. The G Vine was simply amazing flavoured with elderflower tonic and garnished with grapes. I happily sat and sipped while we waited for the food to arrive. This place is where you need to chill and soak up the amazing atmosphere. Their is no rush, just take your time to relax.

Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room

Another cocktail before we ate… This one was the Smooth Amber, garnished with cinnamon and orange zest. Pocky and pretty darn good. Ian went for a more simple one. The sipsmith, flavoured with juniper, lemon and orange. Both had us feeling chilled in a matter of moments! Ready for some food by this point and we where not disappointed. Out came our dishes served by a lovely waitress. We chatted for a few moments about how grand it would be to stay in one of the many rooms on offer. You can actually rent an entire floor in the hotel, POA of course! Other rooms start from around £250 per night if you are tempted.

Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room

Who would have thought a simple chicken and bacon salad could look this divine and taste so utterly wonderful. A side of chips as thats just how we like to roll! Ian’s fish finger sandwich was severed on sourdough bread. A little fiddly to eat but impressive none the less. It was garnished with horseradish and by all accounts was really rather a good choice. The menu is made up of simple dishes with a twist. All the other dishes being served to various tables looked and smelt divine. This is most certainly one place we need to come back to review the evenings offerings.

Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room Holborn Dining Room

Well worth a little trip very soon if your in the area. The prices reflect the area and the quality of the food. Not an everyday treat for some but possibly the nicest of afternoons you could have. We spent the rest of the day wandering back home with full bellies and happy smiles.

 

Find them at NO 252 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM WC1V 7EN

HEMYCA

We attended an amazing fashion launch a few days ago in the heart of London. HEMYCA is a luxury womenswear label, launched by designers Helen Clinch and Myra Nigris.

The girls met whilst studying at the London College of Fashion. With a vast passion for fashion and devotion for ultimate luxury and design they launched Hemyca. The Designs are all works of art and they will have you desperate to own the entire new collection. Even the calico toiles where simply stunning and very wearable. The company recently held a pop up event and we nipped along to snap alway at the latest collections launch.

Hemyca Hemyca Hemyca Hemyca -5 Hemyca Hemyca -6

The designers are so talented, both are really lovely and the entire company where some of the nicest people we have met in a long time. They all ooze passion for style and grace. Each item we pondered on left a mark on my heart. We excitedly chatted about a fashion shoot and I for one have my little eye on one very stunning strapless numbers for an event coming up soon.

Hemyca’s range is for all ages and would look just fantastic on anyone in their late teens to a more mature lady. The cut of the pieces are so well thought out. It had my brain working overtime, back to my early fashion design technology and pattern cutting days! Precise, pretty and perfect are the only words to describe this incredible luxurious new line.

 

At the event we drank white wine, raspberry cocktails and ate loaded crab buns. All in all a very delicious evening filled with fine food a fashion. Check out their website here for more details.

For any enquiries regarding specific items or purchase info, please call us at our Studio. HEMYCA STUDIO, 193b Whitechapel Road. E1 1DN, London email: STUDIO@HEMYCA.COM  or Call +44 (0) 207 655 4950

Learning To Listen To Your Body

Recently I came down with a bout of stress related illness and I beat myself up over having time off. I felt like I was letting everyone down. Now we all get sick and we can’t help it. When it happens we all need to listen to our bodies and just go with it. It’s harder said than done learning to listen to your body and not push yourself so hard. I’m the worst for this as I will try to everything. Work full time, commute an hour to and from work, do photography at the weekends and evenings then edit those pictures and schedule articles on my days off. When I tell people what my week is like the response is always “How the heck do you do it all” In truth I have no idea. So it would make sense that my body sent me a persuasive little message. Sarah just stop….Slow down your not ever going to be a super hero. Stepping outside ones self and looking in as though you were a good friend is something we all need to do now and then.

Learning to Listen To Your Body-1

Reevaluating your life is a good thing. If you need some time off to recharge your energy then so be it.

My top 10 Tips For Listening To Your Body

1. Take a deep breath and take care of No1. Sometimes this is as important as looking after others.
2. Don’t stress out over the fact you can’t manage to do everything. These are what I have had to preach to myself over the last week!
3. Make a nice cup of tea, take a bath, get into clean pjs and get back in bed.
4. Turn off your phone when you get in from work or at 6pm
5. Don’t let others make you feel bad that you need to take care for yourself.
6. Learn to say NO.
8. Know your limits and don’t push yourself too hard.
9. Relax as stress builds up and can cause serious health problems.
10. Finally grab a good book and let your body really relax with out social media and drift off to sleep!

I believe it’s important for us to help others in life. If your feeling stressed out or poorly then learning to listen to your body can help with a lifetime of difficulties.

Henley Royal Regatta 2015

Henley Royal Regatta is one event we look forward to each year with much excitement. Henley Regatta is a huge highlight if you love fashion and style like us. Planning what to wear is one of the main things on most ladies lips. Do you wear a hat? What length dress is acceptable. Well read on if you need a little insight!

If you are attending the event and don’t have a ticket for any enclosures then the dress code is whatever you like. Its free entry to Henley but some bars along the river bank will charge for you entry to get in. From £10-£50. Like The Mahiki Bar that will have various charges the later into the evening you go. It can become a rather expensive day out so be prepared to save those pennies if your planning on partying a little harder!

When in the stewards enclosure the dress code is smart, but ladies those dresses can be above the knee if you like. Unlike the Royal enclosure that has a very strict dress code. Below the knee dresses for the ladies, no trousers or jumpsuits and most certainly wear a hat. Gentlemen hats are an option…No shorts or denim and good breading depicts blazers.

Thousands of vivacious and stunning visitors plan their wardrobes in advance for this 5 day event. For us its the main reason to go, aside from the fizz and the rowing! Also catching up with good friends from all over the world.

As you may already know myself and my photographer husband like to portray any event in a more visual way. So here are a few snaps of the Saturday when we attended. Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-5 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2If you are planning an event and need photography services nip over to www.2boxes.co.uk We can help you with everything you may need. Now back to the fashion scene we snapped.Henley Royal Regatta 2015-11 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-12 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2

This lady created this stunning hat herself!

Henley Royal Regatta 2015-22 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-23 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-25 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-33 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-34 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-1 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-1 Henley Royal Regatta 2015-1

 

We had the most incredible day and if you want to see more from our day just nip over to slbstyle.com in a few days time to see the fun we had! Henley Royal Regatta 2015-2

Tortured Love By Michael Khatkar Book Review

TorturedLovefrontcover

TORTURED LOVE
A novel of life, death and hope

By Michael Khatkar
Published by Mereo: www.mereobooks.com

Billed as ‘a sexually explicit thriller of the most twisted kind’ (definitely one to remove from the bedside table when granny stays over), Tortured Love is a debut novel with a curiously lyrical quality.

The unconventional story centres on Michael and his extraordinary effect on the lives of others, including Rebecca who he meets in hospital. Recovering from the latest brutal attack meted out by her sadistic husband, Rebecca’s spirit remains intact. Just. Meanwhile Rosemary, a child psychologist, is tortured by her own imagination. And then there’s Kai, whose life is a twisted quagmire of black-magic, sorcery and deceit.

With their lives interwoven and their fortunes changed dramatically by association, psychopaths and poets meld in a journey that constantly surprises and shocks. But while the violence (including sexual violence) is graphic, Khatkar pulls off the neat trick of maintaining a gripping narrative while exploring some bizarre threads, each of which highlights how personal influence can incite everything from suicide and murder to love and romance.

Sure to appeal to adult readers of horror, mystery intrigue and erotica this is a unique story that, even at its most unpalatable, and in spite of being profoundly disturbing, also manages to convey a message of hope. Highly recommended.

Vicky Edwards

HardlyEverWornIt.com’s Variety Fundraising Party hosted by Harold Tillman

On 27th November 2014, Hardlyeverwornit.com created a glamorous grotto at Cafe Royal, to celebrate their Christmas charity auction to raise funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity.

The event featured a McLaren F1 simulator, real live penguins (on the terrace) a psychic medium and DJ spinning party tunes. Guests enjoyed champagne and canapés throughout the evening, while some indulged in shopping from Hardly’s Christmas Edit.

Most VIPs attendees brought a hardly-used designer/luxury accessory/fashion item to donate to the online auction, which goes live from 4th December, with all proceeds going to Variety, the Children’s Charity. Funds on the night were also raised through generous donations.

Guests included:

Chloe Green, Samantha Barks, Richard Fleeshman, Henry Holland,  Patrick Grant, Noelle Reno, Scot Young, Emily Berrington, Pandemonia, Henry Conway, Sir John Hegarty, Andy Goode…among many others.

Henry Conway Noelle Reno Pandemonia Scot Young and Noelle Reno Yuvna Kim and Harold Tillman Henry Holland Patrick Grant Chloe Green Samantha Banks and Richard Fleeshman Samantha Banks and Richard Fleeshman with the penguins

The Miss Polly Rae Show

The stunning Burlesque star Miss Polly Rae dazzles, sparkles and lights up the Soho Burlesque Club. She intimately invites you into her very own little Boudoir for a highly entertaining laugh out loud saucy evening filled with tantalising and funny performances.

This truly brilliant cabaret act had us in stitches from the very start. We give you Miss Polly Rae the only way we know best…..Pictures.

Its too good to spoil telling you too much about what happens. Just be safe in the knowledge you will leave with a big grin on your face, a belly that hurts from laughing so much and be in awe at the beautiful dancers. Provocative, yes…But done in such a truly stylish way it will impress you beyond belief.

Miss Polly Rae Miss Polly Rae  low res-3 Miss Polly Rae  low res-4 Miss Polly Rae  low res-5 Miss Polly Rae  low res-6 Miss Polly Rae  low res-7 Miss Polly Rae  low res-8 Miss Polly Rae  low res-9 Miss Polly Rae  low res-10

The sensational act is supported by Kitty Bang Bang, Betsy Rose, Reuben Kaye and the very agile acrobat from the Boom bang circus. Miss Polly Rae  low res-11 Miss Polly Rae  low res-12 Miss Polly Rae  low res-13 Miss Polly Rae  low res-14 Miss Polly Rae  low res-15 Miss Polly Rae  low res-16 Miss Polly Rae  low res-17 Miss Polly Rae  low res-18 Miss Polly Rae  low res-19 Miss Polly Rae  low res-20 Miss Polly Rae  low res-21 Miss Polly Rae  low res-22 Miss Polly Rae  low res-23

The show is held every week at 8pm for those of you that don’t want to see too much flesh! Then again at 11pm for the little more risqué version. Tickets from are from £15. Burlesque star Miss Polly Rae delights the Matcham Room Theatre every week with the amazing team of entertainers and we totally loved every drop of this cabaret. Book your tickets here.

week with  Miss Polly Rae  low res-24 Miss Polly Rae  low res-25 Miss Polly Rae  low res-26 Miss Polly Rae  low res-27 Miss Polly Rae  low res-28 Miss Polly Rae  low res-29 Miss Polly Rae  low res-30 Miss Polly Rae  low res-31 Miss Polly Rae  low res-32 Miss Polly Rae  low res-33

We where totally mesmerised and we are totally coming back to see the Boon bang circus very soon and you just might get to see that in pictures too!

Check out their website for show times and other amazing evenings to be had at the Hippodrome Casino London.