LIFESTYLE: My Raremoments Boudoir Shoot Experience

I recently won a facebook competition for a boudoir shoot at a local photo studio called Rare Moments Photography and thought I would share my experience with you. 

I've never done anything like it before and thought hey, you only live once right. After a pretty shit start to the year, I felt like my luck was starting to change and maybe things were on the up so why not try something a little out of my comfort zone. After feeling pretty down about myself and feeling let down by my body, I wanted to gain my old confidence back, and prove to myself I'm still the woman I was last year,  if not better!

Arriving into the very scenic Petersfield I found the studio pretty quickly. I was instantly welcomed in and seated and having a chat with one of the girls on reception. Shortly after commenced hair and make up.

Not going to lie I felt glammed up after Casey was finished with me. If only I could look that sophisticated everyday.

Then onto the shoot. My photographer was amazing.  Put me totally at ease, completely comfortable and made the entire experience relaxed and most importantly.... fun. I couldn't hold all the poses (credit to models everywhere) and I was sweating like mad as it was a hot Saturday and even the HUGE fan was giving up on itself! The whole photo experience was fab. I would definitely do it again!

They have a slightly different set up compared to most studios. Viewings are done on a different day to the shoot. I think its quite good personally.  It keeps the anticipation going longer, and you're more likely to stay with in budget as you're not still riding your glam high from being a model for an hour.

On arrival to our ordering appointment we were met by the lovely staff and shown to a private room with a sofa (and sweets) to be shown my images. First was a slideshow set to music of all my photos. I was pretty impressed not going to lie, especially with the lovely and confidence boosting comments. 

Then we went through the images one by one using a traffic light system, green yes, amber maybe and red no. This eventually whittled us down to 13 images. We then got down to 8 final images in digital files. As with all photo studios the images are not cheap, but I was given a price list on leaving from my shoot so I was prepared. 

It was not the easiest decision getting the numbers down.

"Rare Moments did an amazing job. I'm so happy with the photos, and I really hadn't anticipated loving them as much as I do.
The entire experience was amazing. I felt empowered, beautiful, comfortable, confident and proud of myself. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to treat themselves and boost their self-love and body confidence. "

You can find Rare Moments Boudoir Photography on Facebook or see their website.
*copyright is owned by Rare Moments Boudoir and images cannot be replicated without prior permission

TATTOOS: Keeping your tattoo safe in the sun

After a couple of weekends of beautiful sunshine down on the coast in Hampshire, I got inspired to write about how to look after and protect your pretty ink from the sun.

As a pale girl who starts to resemble a lobster if left in the sun too long, I'm big on sun screen. Personally I usually start at 30SPF, especially at the start of the summer, or the start of a holiday, as my skin just can't take the heat. Or I cover up on my trouble areas - mostly my shoulders.

It's so important to protect your tattoos with sun screen to stop them burning. This could lead to peeling,  which could affect the overall colour of your tattoo. You know how the sun bleaches fabric left in the sun for a few days,  well, it will do the same to your skin, and fade the colour.

However, DO NOT use sun block on a fresh tattoo. Follow the after-care instructions given to you by your tattooist. Keep your new ink covered and shaded. You can use sun screen after the peeling stage, once you have that new layer of healed skin. And remember, a tattoo is classed as fully healed about three months after your tattoo. So don't take the risk in those three months especially.

Long term, well, the sun isn't fab for your skin if you're a sun worshipper. You know that leathery brown skin you see on the beach. Well picture that with dark blurred drawings on too! Not good. Now of course, its a fact of life that your tattoo isn't going to look as amazing as it did on the first day compared to 20, 30 or 40 years down the line.  But you can make it last so much longer with a little love and care.

Stay hydrated.  Dry skin isn't going to bode well in the sun. 

And remember, your tattoo is your investment. Treat it as such. It doesn't take a huge amount of effort to look after your tattoos in the sun, and it will be worth it to keep that vibrant look for years to come.   

TATTOOS: Are we tattooing too young?

I read this post from Things and Ink the other week and thought it was an interesting piece to comment.

In a world where tattoos are becoming commonplace, and celebrity's are showing there's more and more. 

You only have to look at the images from the England World Cup Team to see their popularity has grown.

But are we starting too young? At 18 (the legal age in the UK for a tattoo. There's none of this 16 with parental consent bull that keeps coming up) are we really capable of making a decision that will last a lifetime?

I had my first tattoo at age 18. A swirling black 'R' on my ankle. Simple, nothing too expressive of my personality or experiences at the time.

Do I still love it? Yes, but not for the same reasons. The design isn't amazing, and looking back, why do I need an 'R' on my leg... I know my own name! But I still live it. Its basically pointless but I remember having it done fondly and seeing it in comparison to my other more sophisticated tattoos it shows how far I've come.

Now a simple little design isn't the end of the world if at 24 you hate the design you loved at 18. It can be covered, or lasered if you feel necessary. The problem comes when you start looking at larger scale pieces such as sleeves or back pieces. These shouldn't be taken lightly.

I started my first sleeve at 22 after I secured my first proper full time job. Now two and a half years later I'm starting my other arm and legs.

Tattoos are a huge part of my life and I wouldn't change any of  my newer, larger pieces.  That's not to say I wouldn't change any of my tattoos.

One tattoo at age 19 is not my style any more, and will most likely be covered in the coming years. But that's my point I guess. You can't be certain how you will feel about something in 5, 10, 20 years time.

My advice,  think carefully about your tattoos. Go to a good tattooist. Have a reason for it. Whether its just the right time due to a change in life, because you want to remember something or someone, or some other deep reason.

And remember most importantly. You only live once.

Do you think we tattoo too soon?
What are your experiences of young tattoos? 

TATTOOS: Interview with Dani Green

I have developed a slight obsession with instagram and to be honest, I am thankful for it. Without it, I would never have discovered and met the super talented and ultra lovely Dani Green. You can read more about my first meeting with Dani here.

So after my first tattoo from, her, it only felt right to even out my legs and get another in the same place, but on the other leg from her two. I'm all about symmetry! Unfortunately due to some badly timed insect bites,  we had to move the design to my thigh, but that just means I will have to get that spot filled too!

Anyway, about the design; I've been a huge Disney fan from as young as I can remember. My first ever trip to the cinema was to see the Lion King. But my favourite Disney girl has to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She's the smart one, who loves books, who in the end falls in love, not with looks but with the personality,  and saves the fate of many... heart warming right?! Yes I'm a sucker for a fairytale happy ending. 

So I asked Dani to draw me up one of her iconic girls, with a Beauty and the Beast theme. 

Just the sketch, and then the sneak peek on her Instagram had me buzzing with excitement.

Needless to say I am totally over the moon with her. She was a tough one to sit through, but Dani was extremely understanding and lovely  and really took the pressure off. Plus her numbing spray really helped for the shading (it can only be used on an open tattoo so the lines were done with no extra help).

So I decided to find out a bit more about this talented young tattooist, and share it with you.

 

When did you start tattooing?

Not counting a handful of willing guinea pigs prior, I started tattooing in Febuary 2013; this is when I started taking custom as an apprentice.

What got you into tattooing in the first place?

I wanted to be a tattoo artist since I turned 19 and got my first tattoo. I had always admired the art of it but it was finally being in a studio that I realised it was a way I could get to be creative every day and make a living from it; there is no bigger want for an artist.  To please my folks I went to university and didn't begin until I was 25.

Best tattoo lesson you've learnt?

It's about the art and the process, don't work for people who want it to be about money.

A hard one, what's your favourite tattoo that you have done?

Every time I do a tattoo I am happy with it is my new favourite!  I love loads of my tattoos for different reasons.

What tattoos do you have personally?

Quite a few now, I only made the step onto visible places once I had tattooed long enough to know I was in it for life.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from all sorts of places, subliminal and interest based.  Mostly for me I would say comics, anime, Disney, fine artists, Japan, and all sorts of different cultures. 

Who are your favourite tattooists?

Sooo many it's near impossible to narrow down enough for this interview.  I have really appreciated people that I do admire actually taking the time to talk to me and turning into friendships.  Jason Minauro and Fabian Langes are two in particular, go check them out!

And favourite artists?

I love Junko Mizuno, Mark Ryden, Aya Takano, Jason Limon, Francisco Goya, and many more!

What's your advice to others wanting to start a career in tattooing?

Know your drawing capabilities back to front!  Don't directly copy people; take inspiration but have your own ideas and own world, it's the only way you will stand out.

Now for some random questions:

Favourite food?

Sushi 

Favourite drink?

Tea

Favourite film?

I have to name a few, there is no 1 favourite - Into The Wild, Princess Monoke, Muppets Treasure Island.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Brie baguette

Dream holiday destination?

Japan

Dead or alive, who would you most like to meet for dinner?

Betty Page

Go check out Dani on her Facebook or Instagram page

*watermarked photos courtesy of Dani Green - last photo by me

*please do not copy - use for inspiration only, it's not cool to steal! - illustrations copyright of Dani Green

TATTOOS: Should you let an apprentice ink you?

So we know the reasons not to visit a scratcher, but you don't have to find a tattooist with 10 years experience to get an amazing tattoo.

All tattooists have to start somewhere. Yes many in the industry probably did start in their kitchens,  because if they are old school enough, it was the only way in. 

However these days, the best way in is through an apprenticeship.

Thankfully with the help of Instagram, these lesser known individuals are to grow their own customer base and fans. And their talent is really something to watch out for.

Some of my favourite tattoos have been done by apprentices, or artists who have just finished apprenticeships. Saranna was an apprentice when I met her and she did this butterfly on me. And I was so happy with her work, she is currently working on my left lower arm sleeve.

Apprentices tend to charge slightly lower rates,  and will spend more time with you whilst they refine their technique, learn new skills and increase their speed and confidence.  None of this takes away from their natural talent. It can take several sessions to complete your tattoo, where normally it wouldn't/ For instance, my butterfly took two sessions totally around 3.5 hours, but Saranna was very new to tattooing - and I'm still over the moon with how bright and beautiful it still looks. 

Many apprentices start out by selling prints to get their name and art out there. Followed by flash sheets and some willing volunteers. If you're happy to sit a little longer, to get a real bargain, it can be a fabulous way to add to your tattoo collection from a budding tattooist. It can take over a year to complete an apprenticeship as a tattooist, so there's a lot of development (some would argue that you never stop learning or developing, but that's a philosophical discussion for another time).

My advice: keep an eye out for new talent,  based in a studio, with other talent. Any apprentice will be being mentored by someone,  so a good teacher will create a good student. 

Remember,  everyone has to start at the bottom.

Have you or would you get inked by an apprentice? 

Who are your current favourite apprentices?