The Park

It's so much fun reconnecting with old friends after such a long time and being able to take your current hobbies and/or lifestyles to common ground. After years and years of not seeing my former music groupmate, Harry Javier, we decided to plan a test shoot given that he is now a photographer (he claims he is just a hobbyist, but his pictures are gorg!)

Originally, we were going to work with his friend's brand and based on the feel of the pieces, I came up with a concept based on a shoot that Ashley Olsen had done for Nylon mag. She was shot at a park and had some really easy, casual layered clothing and edgy makeup that played mostly on the eyes. I knew of the perfect location for this and you know what they say about looking "in your own backyard".  Well, it wasn't exactly my backyard, but my village happens to have a really photogenic park with so many worthy areas - from the jogging path to the playground to the basketball court, etc. I knew we could get some fun shots there.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the clothes didn't make it in time for our shoot, but Harry and I decided to go ahead and keep the concept and I styled our 2 models instead.

Here are some shots from "The Park":

Credits


Models: Eriko Megan of Yeoh Models and Edzen Pineda
Hair/Makeup/Styling: Monique Jaramillo-Seneres
Photography: Harry Javier

More photos to follow, but other shots can already be viewed at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.279172585439068.66701.138937482795913&type=1

I was very pleased with the outcome of the pics, because Harry was able to capture just what I had in mind. Makeup wasn't too crazy, but I definitely wanted to go with something very urban - so I went with a lot of smokey gray using many flicks on my blending brush with respect to eyes, rouge and strobe cream on cheeks to add color and catch the natural light and brown and berry lippies.

It just goes to show that you can find inspiration anywhere you are. Makeup artists, photographers, writers, what have you.  You can take a stroll through your village, connect with nature, go to the middle of the hectic, city streets to find something that gets the creative juices flowing.  For now, perhaps, I can lend you pieces of my inspiration - "the park".

Parade of Colors by Bjorn Manila

Summer is coming to a close. Long sigh. But that's no reason to feel as dark and dreary as the rainy season weather that is soon to settle in.  Precisely why these photos I'm about to share with you could not have come at a better time.  From a photoshoot late last month together with Bjorn Manila, Yeoh Models, stylist Gelo Arucan & fellow makeup artist Diana Santos; is a series titled Parade of Colors.

Model: Khamae Sore of Yeoh Models
Makeup: Monique Jaramillo-Señeres
Photography: Bjorn Manila
Styling: Gelo Arucan

Model: Kat Ismail
Makeup: Monique Jaramillo-Señeres
Photography: Bjorn Manila
Styling: Gelo Arucan

Model: Khamae Sore
Makeup: Monique Jaramillo-Señeres
Photography: Bjorn Manila
Styling: Gelo Arucan

Models: Kat Ismail and Bence Bianzon of Yeoh Models in Lizanne Cua
Makeup: Monique Jaramillo-Señeres and Diana Santos
Photography: Bjorn Manila
Styling: Gelo Arucan

Model: Web Magcalas of Yeoh Models
Grooming: Monique Jaramillo-Señeres
Photography: Bjorn Manila
Styling: Gelo Arucan

Models: Gic Aquino and Web Magcalas of Yeoh Models
Grooming: Diana Santos and Monique Jaramillo-Señeres
Photography: Bjorn Manila
Styling: Gelo Arucan

How's that for erasure of the blahs?

You'll notice that this set portrayed the beauty and grace of color in the background, the styling and most importantly, the diverse subjects.  That said, you may agree with me when I say that color seems to exuberate fun, adventure, and the loveliest aspects of life.

Yes, I highly appreciate neutrals on a normal basis, but stepping outside normalcy once in a while is only healthy.  There are times when we need to allow ourselves to loosen the strings on control and routine.  It is when we become too programmed (i.e. automatically having the summer-sun-gone-so-rain-clouds-engulf-me mentality) that we fall into monotony.  As my husband/rapper ILL-J said in a line from his track Feel Good: "Life is still good even in stormy weather, the rain is needed to wash the path of our future".

So if color can indeed lift a dark spell every now and then, why not parade it?