Fashion Photographer | Natalie Lynn

This month, I was so excited to be shooting with fashion photographer Natalie Lynn, who is without a doubt, a very talented girl!

She was born and raised in Australia, but has travelled and worked extensively as an international model. She worked in Europe and India for a lengthy period of time, all adding to her worldly vision! With several years of experience in front of the camera, it’s no wonder she has mastered the art of getting the perfect shot. She has a feminine style and approach, and a devotion to her work, which only help promote her unique talents!

A picture says a thousand words, so I will leave it you to make your own opinion on this creative young lady..

How would you describe your photographic style?
Feminine/ modern and I photograph for a female audience, not a male.
What are the most difficult aspects of fashion photography?
Some of the lighting equipment is definitely made for males and are so heavy and clumsy.
What does it take to be a great fashion photographer?
You have to love fashion, always keep up to date with the latest trends, and work well with models and your team.
What do you love the most about your job?
Its very rewarding seeing the end result when you and your team put so much work into a shoot. I also have made the most amazing friends.
What is most important technique or vision?
I’m a strong believer in technically learning everything you possible can about photography and then once you know all the rules break them and experiment with light, angles, poses etc.
What is the best advice you have received so far about photography?
Whenever you photograph a model full length always lie on the ground to make them look as tall as possible
Is there something you always ask yourself when having to pick a shot?
Do I have the same vision as the client? if not, its never going to work.
Is there anything specific you focus on when shooting?
My shoots are always about making the model look as beautiful and as flattering from all angles.
What is the most important element for you when doing a shoot?
Keeping a good relationship with the model so they are relaxed and having fun, because when they are loving the shoot, they will give you everything they can.
What is your definition of beauty?
Confidence & humour.
Except from your husband and Bella…what are 3 things you can't live without..
Holidays! There is so much behind the scenes work in photography that you never have time off to do nothing. I’m either planning a shoot, doing one or retouching one.
What is you number one beauty advice?
Get a good night sleep before any photo shoot, always drink water and eat healthy.
What motto do you live by?
Happiness is not a station to arrive at but a manner of traveling.

A couple of pictures from the shoot...

Photographer | Natalie Lynn

Makeup Artist | Ann Lodberg

Model | Kate Dilleward @ Vivien's

Tutti Frutti

Just a little sneak peak from a recent shoot...

Photographer  Natalie Lynn
Makeup Artist  Ann Lodberg
Model  Keely @ Vivien's
Jewllery  Paula Walden

Exam Jitters

Last Monday I had my final exam at the Academy of Makeup. It was a bit nerve wrecking…but my beautiful friend Natalina Ford from Vivien’s Model Management was my model for the day, which made everything seem easy and fun!  Here are a few snapshots of the makeup…

You had me at hello...

Recently in Brisbane, I had the pleasure of being the makeup artist for Amanda Rootsey on a photo shoot and segment for ‘Today Tonight’ (http://www.amandarootsey.com.au).
Amanda has worked as an International model and featured in ad campaigns for major global brands. A couple of years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer, however this didn’t stop the young beauty. In the process of fighting her illness she completely changed her lifestyle, she became a vegan and an advocate for Mother Earth. She is also the co-founder of VeganEra, which is a news hub for everything vegan (www.veganera.com).
With her strong passion for taking care of our planet and with 10 years of experience in the modelling industry, she has rightfully been named ‘Australia’s first exclusive Eco Model’. She now works solely with eco-friendly and ethical companies that share her values. This girl truly is inspiring and after talking with her, you can’t help but think about what you can do to make this world a better place to live…

Why has Today Tonight taken an interest in you?
From what I understand, Today Tonight are interested in covering my journey from being a fashion model, to being diagnosed with cancer and how I’ve changed my life since beating it.  They came up to our home and were very interested in the simple way I live with my boyfriend and puppy.  They then spent an afternoon filming me back at work as an Eco Model, where I was lucky enough to have my make up done by you!

What is an Eco model?
An eco-model is a fashion model who works exclusively with eco-friendly and ethical companies.  For my clients, it means that the face of their brand also shares their values and for me, it’s nice to work with clients who are on a similar wave-length!

Are there other Eco models in the world that you look up to? or look to for inspiration?
Yes there is one in particular in the US called Summer Rayne Oakes (http://www.summerrayne.net/) who has inspired me.  She is very successful there and is also involved in other projects that are working towards a brighter & greener future.


Why did you decide to get into modeling again?
To be honest, after changing my way of life and becoming passionate about the environment, I thought my modeling days were over.  After doing some research, I realized how detrimental the fashion industry can be on our beautiful planet. But I was approached by a couple of eco-friendly companies, including Sanctus Stones Motivational Jewellery (www.sanctusstones.com) to be in their latest campaign and it has grown from there.  I am now an official ambassador for Sanctus Stones and work with the company on a deeper level, acting as a role model for their customers and assisting the brand with ways that they can further incorporate sustainability in to their business model.

Have you always been into eco products and organic living?
No not at all!  A few years ago I didn’t know the first thing about the environment, health or organic living.  But after going through cancer, I realized how fragile life is and I started to think about the type of world we are leaving for future generations.  You don’t have to look very far to see that we are destroying the planet, so I started to look in to ways I could reduce my impact.  I learned that raising animals for human consumption is the leading cause of climate change.  I was shocked!  I decided to go vegan for this reason and for health reasons and I haven’t looked back.  My boyfriend and I try our best to live simply and we are not connected to any town water, electricity, sewage or phone lines.  We rely completely on nature for our power, water and for a lot of our food.  We really love it!

What is your definition of beauty?
It probably sounds cliché but I really believe that beauty comes from within.  No amount of make up or expensive products can compare with a happy, healthy woman who shines from within.

What is your most favorite makeup product and why?
I absolutely adore Adorn Mineral Cosmetics! (www.adornmineralcosmetics.com.au). I have only recently discovered them and they feel incredible on the skin – it is as though you are not wearing any make up at all.  They are completely toxic free and cruelty free but they don’t compromise on quality.  The lipsticks and glosses are still full of vibrant colour, even though they are completely natural.

What is your beauty secret?
You are what you eat!  When I eat a high raw, vegan diet and drink lots of water and fresh juices, I notice a difference straight away.  Right now, I’m enjoying too much dark chocolate and chips as we head in to the holidays!

If you could change the world in one way, what would it be?
I would ask everyone to consider going vegan.  If we have enough compassion in our hearts to let animals live in peace, then it goes without saying that we would also have peace amongst humans.  What a beautiful world that would be!

What is the worst thing about living 'off the grid'? and what is the best thing about it?
The worst thing about living off the grid is that we are quite disconnected from the world and are quite remote.  But these are also the best things about it!  It’s unbelievably peaceful where we live and there is a simple pleasure in getting back to basics.

What inspires you to live the life that you do?
It just feels right to try to live each day without harming another being and without taking too much from our lovely little planet.  I’m inspired every single day by all sorts of things, from a little birdy that wakes me up in the morning with his song, to the many people I have had the pleasure of meeting who have found their passion in life.

What are 3 things you couldn't live without?
I can’t imagine life without my little family – Dave and our puppy Trudi.  But as for things, I think I would struggle without my Macbook, my kettle (for endless cups of tea!) and I hate to admit it, but my iPhone!  Haha so much for being off the grid!

Ikin Talk

In Brisbane last week I was doing makeup on a shoot with Anthony Ikin…if you don’t know who this guy is yet, you might have been living under a rock for the last couple of years! Not only was he a five-time Australian Sports Aerobics Champion before hitting the dance scene, but he was also a contestant on Channel Ten’s So You Think You Can Dance in 2008. He owns a dance studio Ikin Dance (http://www.ikindance.com/) and he is now also releasing a new dance fitness video! Here is what he had to say…
What is it that you love about dancing?
I love the music…and of course I love to move my body as well, but more than anything I am addicted to the workout I get from dancing.
What has been your career highlight?
My career highlight was performing as a can-can soloist in the world famous "Moulin Rouge" for 1 year. The show was amazing, but living in Paris for a year was incredible!!
What has been your most embarrassing moment as a dancer?
Once I was performing in front of an audience of 20,000 and I split my pants right through the crutch…everyone noticed, but I just finished the show as normal…
What was the best thing about being on ‘So you think you can dance’?
I loved that I got to dance 7 days a week, all day, everyday! And the free handouts were pretty cool…haha!
What kind of music do you listen to? Is it different from the music you dance to?
My favorite kind of music is acoustic male artists like Ray LaMontagne and James Morrison. I love creating contemporary choreography to this style. My dance style is jazz, contemporary and acrobatics, with acrobatics being the main point of difference.
What do you do when you are not dancing?
DVD's…I love them…my escape!
Tell me something about yourself that people might not know about you?
I have a phobia of carbonated drinks…seriously.
What is your advice for keeping fit and healthy?
Exercise and eat well. It really is simple!
Tell me about your new video?
Ikin Shake it - a new dance fitness craze, for anyone who wants to learn to dance but wants to do it with no one watching.. Learn fun, sexy moves, and get a workout!

High Brow Fashion

Are you one of those women who hate having other people touching your brows? You don’t trust the person shaping them and always walk away unhappy with what they did? Well, then you are little like me, I don’t have ‘a lot of brow’ so I’m very precious about them! However, it does really pay off to visit a true professional, who in fact knows what they are doing (such as the Arch Angles at the Brow Bar  http://browbar.com/)…when you think about it, your brows frame your eyes and your eyes are one of your most important features…it’s the window to your soul! So surely, you would want them to be presented in the best way possible… perhaps it is the color that needs adjusting, the shape might need tweaking or maybe you just need a good tidy up around the brows!

All of this came to mind, when I recently did a shoot in Brisbane for the Brow Bar and had my own brows done for the first time in ages, trust me it made such a difference! Here is a little behind the scene video from the shoot…

And a couple of pictures from the shoot..I absolutely LOVE the makeup!!! The makeup was done by Brow Bar founder Chernae Silk, who has also been a makeup artist for over a decade! 

Fiorenza on Melbourne Cup Day

Amongst all the fun and celebrating which go hand in hand with Melbourne Cup day,  I also did a parade for designer Pina Fiorenza http://www.fiorenza.com.au -Check out her designs..very elegant and sophisticated!!!

WEAR PINK, THINK PINK, DRINK PINK

Please join me at this important charity event! All funds raised will be donated

to the Mater Foundation’s chicks in pink program, supporting breast cancer care and research. 

Maiocchi anyone?

I’ve worked with Maiocchi (http://www.maiocchi.com.au/) as their house model for several years and this season I’m particularly excited about their Spring 2011 Collection. The color palette features the traditional black and red, but it also includes a lot of blue, white and floral prints. The style is very 1960’s and is inspired by the designer’s all time favorite movie  ‘Gidget Goes to Hawaii’. Here are a couple of my favourites...

The lady behind the superb designs is the wonderfully talented Deanne Mayocchi. Being a fashion designer and style queen, I felt it was fitting that Deanne was the first to be interviewed for my blog…and luckily she agreed to spend a couple of minutes sharing her thoughts…

What is it in your life that inspires you? Travel, I recently travelled to Japan and this became the inspiration for my Winter 2012 collection.

What is your definition of beauty? A person who is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside and who has great style.

If you could spend a day with 1 person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Coco Chanel, my friend gave me a book about her for my birthday and I recently watched a movie about her life…an amazing woman for her time.

Tell me something about you that not many people know? Sometimes I go into work at 3am in my pajamas and turn up the music and get inspired for designing my next collection.

What one piece of advice would you give someone wanting to start a career in fashion? Be prepared for some hard work...it’s not all fashion parades and free champagne you know!

What is the best perk in being a designer? The fashion parades and free champagne...seeing my collection on the runway is the good bit at the end of a lot of hard work.

What would you do if you won a million dollars? Travel!!!

What is your favorite makeup product and why? YSL touché Eclat foundation – it is the ‘must have’ makeup accessory for the handbag.

Cats or dogs? Dogs!

Have you ever heard of Socialnomics?

Our world really is changing, a friend told me to view this video on YouTube and I was blown away by the facts… the currency of the 21^st Century IS information! Have a look at this video on socialnomics, and you will see what I mean.  Did you know that if Facebook were a country, it would be the 3^rd largest in the world? I know this doesn’t have anything to do with makeup, fashion or beauty…but it kind of does … you need to see this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpMZbT1tx2o

2011 QUEENSLAND BRIDES DESIGN AWARDS

The design awards show was held on Friday 7^th October 2011, as part of the Queensland Brides Expo. This was an event filled with fabulous gowns and incredible designs and I had the pleasure of modeling for designer Ann Wilson of Strictly Bridal Emporium.

(www.strictlybridal.com.au)

Strictly Bridal is located at Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast and let me tell you, their showroom is full of amazing gowns! The makeup artist on the day was Kerryn Roberts from Allure Hair and Makeup.

(www.allurehairandmakeup.com.au)

Kerryn did such a beautiful job. She decided that since I was walking on a stage full of big, harsh lights, she would do a dark, smokey, dramatic eye with lots of individual lashes. It was finished off with shimmering highlights and neutral glossy lips…love this look!

Ann Wilson won three awards out of the four designs she entered. She was the Winner of the Couture Category, the Runner Up of the Avant Garde Category and Runner Up of People’s Choice Awards….what an amazing outcome!!

AUSTRALIA’S SURFING LIFE SHOOT

I just wanted to share with you this picture from the latest issue of Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine (November 2011).

Tom Dawson from Australia’s Surfing Life shot this super ‘gnarly’ video and wrote the very funny and flattering comments about the day. Thanks Tom...you’re a legend!!

This shoot was with the ever so suave photographer Mr Tyronne Fitzgerald (http://www.modelmayhem.com/tyronnefitzgerald) and the stunning makeup was done by the very gorgeous makeup artist, Ellie Wright (http://www.elliewright.com.au). We   had so much fun shooting down at Miami and we were so lucky as it was a beautiful, sunny day. Tyronne is an amazingly, talented photographer and makes you feel so at ease in front of the camera.  Thank you to everyone involved and for making this such a great shoot!

And also make sure you check out the awesome video at

http://vimeo.com/29303778

LIVE EVERY MOMENT, LAUGH EVERY DAY, LOVE BEYOND WORDS

My hello to the world…

Did you know that the word ‘cosmetics’ comes from the Greek word ‘kosmos’, which means ‘of this world, worldly’? …No? Neither did I, before I started studying makeup…my new infatuation!! I’m a model and now also an aspiring makeup artist. I was born and raised in Denmark, but have lived the past 10 years in Australia. I live everyday with passion and love. I know that life is full of challenges and I believe being happy shouldn’t be one of them.  My aim in life is to wake up every day filled with happiness, purpose and passion. I love everything organic, I love healthy food and fitness, I love travelling and of course I love modelling, makeup and fashion!

I have been lucky enough to work with some of the world’s most successful brands, I have done an extensive range of magazine work and am now also turning my attention to makeup. I love being creative and making people feel beautiful and special.

I want to share with you my journey as a model/makeup-artist. So this is the beginning of a blog where you will find honest advice and writing from the heart. You will read my stories, my experiences and my thoughts on all the things that I’m passionate about.

I would love to hear your comments along the way, so please feel free to email me at any time (info@annlodberg.com).

Love the world, love people, love life, but most importantly love yourself…love who you are and what you stand for.