Drastic hair change!

So after umming and ahhing about whether to actually get my hair cut or not, I eventually did, thanks to Steven and Laurent Hairdressers in Bideford! After coming in and being made to feel so welcome, Cameron started to crack on with my hair. We decided on cutting it quite a bit shorter (Which I haven’t had done since I was about 10!) and giving it a freehand balayage to add some lighter blonde tones in.

On my way to the colour room I was offered a complimentary drink, and to my surprise when my orange juice came, a little selection of snacks came with it too. Now bearing in mind I love olives, I was very happy. Cameron and I had a lovely natter whilst he was doing my hair which was great, and added to the whole experience. The colour he used was from L’oreal, and we left it to develop for about 35 minutes before heading to the wash room.

In the wash room, Cameron rinsed my hair, then washed it with the Angel Wash shampoo from Kevin Murphy. He then put a toner on my hair to help protect the colouring he had done. After letting that to sit for 5 minutes and rinsing that off, he added the Blonde Angel conditioner, let that sit for 5 and then rinsed that off too. As I’m sure anyone who has had their hair washed in a salon will know, it feels just like a nicer head massage - you might as well go just for that!

Cameron had cut off about 4 inches before colouring it because it wasn’t worth colouring that bit too, and so when we went up to the cutting and styling room, and after drying my hair (which now takes so much quicker), he went to work cutting my hair even more. It’s now much shorter with layers and all in all, about 8 inches of hair was cut off! He loosely curled my hair to add some waves and it looked perfect!

I must say, I couldn’t be happier with my hair at the moment, and although it was such a drastic change, I’m so happy I did it and went to Steven and Laurent. If you’re looking to get your hair done, and live in the North Devon region, I strongly recommend you book an appointment, no matter what age you are or how you want your hair done! You can even say hi to their two adorable little dogs too! I’ve got the shampoo, conditioner and Hair Resort Texturising Lotion from Kevin Murphy too now, so i’ll be using those to keep my hair in tact!

Thanks again to Steven and Laurent Hairdressers and Cameron for doing my hair and having me! Check out www.stevenandlaurent.co.uk or @stevenandlaurent on Instagram, and @cameronbretthair on Instagram too!

How do I get work with brands?

Whether you’re a model, photographer on influencer, making money and getting work through social media is going to be a key aspect of your job. In this day and age, it’s difficult not to! Obviously being an influencer, you’re main income is going to come from collaborations or work for brands. As a model, growing an Instagram account can be really beneficial, and it will help getting work with both photographers and brands. As a photographer, social media is a chance to showcase your talent to a huge audience, and collaborate with brands to earn more money!

Where do I find brands to work with?

Social media. Easy as anything. Personally, I use Instagram and the wonderful world of google to find my brands. I get quite a lot of sponsored posts on my news feed because of the way I use Instagram, which is hugely beneficial to me as it means I don’t need to go searching too far to find brands to contact! From there, I can find more brands on the suggested tabs. If brands follow me, I always email them and usually I get a reply, which is great!

Just searching on google is another great way to find brands. Searching, for example, ‘top 20 UK clothing brands’ and then finding them on Instagram is a really easy way to find more brands.

How do I go about contacting brands?

Email them. You can’t wait for brands to just contact you, because unless you’ve got over 100,000, realistically they’re not going to come looking for you. Most companies have their contact information on their Instagram page, and if not it will be on their website, so it’s more than easy to find out an email address. Just send them an email explaining who you are and what you offer and hopefully they’ll get back to you!

But no one’s responding to me…

It’s not going to work like clockwork. I email so many brands to get work, and only a very small percentage will get back to me, and then an even smaller percentage will actually say they’re willing to pay to work with me. Offering free services to start your collaboration is a great way to create a working relationship that might lead to them paying you for your services further down the line. I always say that even if a brand doesn’t have a social media budget to spend, I will always post stories on my Instagram in return for them sending over products. If your stories get loads of views, this can be really beneficial for them, and then you’ll probably get a paid collaboration with them in the near future.

All in all, you’ve got to put in the work to find the brands to work with. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got 5000 or 50000 followers, you can still find work on social media, you’ve just got to go out and get it! If you’ve got any tips on how to find work on social media, let me know in the comments!

The Best Undiscovered Handbag Brands on Instagram Right Now

Everyone needs a handbag. It doesn’t matter where you’re going, what you’re doing or what your general style is, without a bag, how are you supposed to carry all of your belongings? Especially if you’re like me and carry loads of random things with you everywhere (emergency sewing kit, plasters, paracetamol, charging packs). Below is a little collection of what I think are the best somewhat undiscovered handbag brands I found on Instagram at the time of writing.

Haerfest

@haerfest

Haerfest (pronounced harvest) produce bags with the goal to equip professionals in motion. Their simple and straightforward bags, also have the essence of being unique and different to others on the market. The range of different sized and coloured backpacks, tote bags, handbags and cross-body strapped bags mean there’s something for everyone on their website.

Goodeehoo

@goodeehoo

Goodeehoo, a vegan friendly UK based handbag and accessory brand, produce practical, fashionable handbags along with other items in a range of dusky and pastel shades. Their signature logo of a little owl is a great addition too. Their range includes handbags, purses, pouches, and clutch bags, along with key rings, notebooks and pens, all of which you can personalise with your initials if you wanted.

Mashu London

@mashu_london

Designed in London, made in Greece, these modern bags have a unique strap not seen anywhere else generally. The founders pride themselves on the bags being made in an ethical and sustainable way, and on being vegan. The range of blues, burgundies, blacks and whites creates a stunning colour pallet that will pair perfectly with any outfit.

Desinger Ionna Topouzoglou said "[My] vision is to create modern handbags that showcase the finest craftsmanship and materials without compromising the planet”, something we can all get behind.

Imago-a

@imago_a

The handbag and accessory brand based in New York City bases its bags on sculptural shapes, creating original and functional handbags. They have a large selection of clutches, handbags and wallets in a range of sizes from fitting just your phone and purse, to fitting everything you need for the office in. Along with their bags, they also sell leather belts. With their neutral and few brighter shades, it’s a guarantee that you’ll find something to suit every ensemble.

Mieti

@mietistudio

Based in Barcelona and founded in only 2017, Mieti have come a long way. Their bold colours and out-there shapes inspired by 60s and 70s furniture really makes their bags stand out from the crowd, whilst still fitting in to whatever look you’re trying to create. If you’re looking for a more muted bag, try their simplistic totes in solid shades. Along with their bags, they also produce leather jackets in a range of styles to match your bags.

ORRI

@orrinewyork

Aiming to bridge the gap between luxury and mass-market handbag companies, ORRI have produced a range of functional bags ideal to suit the on-the-go person. Based in New York, their collection of sleek satchels, totes, strap bags and clutches are made with over 100 years of workmanship, taking care of every little detail possible. Their range of neutral and burgundy shades mean they’re perfect for day or night, whatever you’re doing, and whatever you’re wearing.

Sarah Haran

@sarahharanuk

The UK based functional handbag brand have a range of neutral and pastel coloured practical bags for the everyday person. With the range of straps it means you’ll find the perfect bag no matter your height. The totes, handbags and clutches come in a range of styles and colours, with even the occasional funky pattern. They also sell accessories such as extra straps, glasses cases and purses to put in your bag. One special feature of a lot of the bags is that they have unique tassels, making them more recognisable.

Jardine of London

@jardineoflondon

As shown in the name, Mary Jardine makes all of her bags in her London workshop. She always wanted to design and make handbags - the first one produced came out 4 years go and she’s still going strong. Her bags feature chic, clean lines made from the finest grained leather. The adjustable shoulder straps also mean that they fit any body type. The selection includes handbags with straps and pouches along with leather journal and some stunning candles.

Working with Goodeehoo - a vegan handbag and accessory brand!

Working with brands is one of my favourite things to do, especially when they produce products I love, and would definitely use on a day to day basis. I reached out to Goodeehoo simply because I loved their bags, and hence started our collaboration! Their products range from larger tote bags to smaller purses, key-chains and day to day clutch bags. I personally use the Tucuman Tote bag and a matching Tawny Large Pouch most days for when I’m out and about or in the office.

We started the collaboration by producing 10 photos of me modelling a selection of their items around North Devon. Starting at Westward Ho! and making our way to Appledore, we got a range of photos in several different locations, along with some we took in the house before we left for the photoshoot. I also changed outfit twice so that the photos didn’t look too similar, but went with a couple of dresses to fit in with the summery theme and because it was too hot to wear anything else.

When I posted the first post on Instagram, I also ran a competition too (which at time of writing is still running for another week) offering the Tucuman Tote bag and a matching Pacific Large Purse if you won. I also use the purse daily too as it’s a decent size and fits in all my other day to day bags I use. The one I’ve got is grey and blue, so fits with the grey handbag I’ve got that I use sometimes if I’m not carrying much.

All in all, I loved working with Goodeehoo, and hopefully this will be an ongoing collaboration as I can really see my followers on Instagram loving the bags as much as I do! If you wanted to enter the competition, it’s over on my Instagram (@oliviajtucker), and whilst you’re at it, you may as well go check out @goodeehoo too! If you wanted to check out their products, then head down to www.goodeehoo.com where they’ll be releasing new items soon too! So keep an eye out! ;)

Huge Jewellery Project for Philip Jones

A while ago I produced a small set of 10 photos for Philip Jones Jewellery of me modelling their items. They liked them so much, that they then asked me to produce more photos for their website of me modelling, holding and showing their jewellery in prop situations. With a collection of over 600 pieces of jewellery, this meant there were over 1800 photos to capture - a large project, but well worth it!

Modelled photos:

With the help of Will (my photographer) we went to a range of locations, mainly around Exeter, to get the modelled photos done. Changing outfits every 10 shots and locations very often meant I managed to get through most of my wardrobe throughout the 3 days we shot the photos! (I since realised I could do with some more clothes, so cheekily did a bit of online shopping too!)

Handheld photos:

These were much quicker to shoot because, although we did have to change the background every 25 shots or so, I didn’t have to change my clothes unless there was a distinctive sleeve on the clothing, making it much easier to efficiently shoot the photos. the editing was also a bit quicker with these shots too due to not having to worry too much about the lighting or tones of the photos, considering we did these in the studio.

Prop photos:

Once I set up a prop scene, the photos were extremely quick to shoot. We set up the studio lights and camera, meaning all I had to do was place the jewellery down and change the prop scene every 25 shots. We changed it every 25 shots so that there was a variation for the website and it just made the photos look more interesting as a set.

The outcome:

You can now view all of the photos on the Philip Jones website: https://philipjonesjewellery.com/

I’m really proud of the work I did for Philip Jones, and think it went really well. The overall feel of the photos was designed to be quite modern and lifestyle-like, meaning that you could see what they looked like when worn in a lifestyle situation rather than just in a studio. I do really love the jewellery Philip Jones do too, and I have several pieces I wear often too. It’s very modern, contemporary and of high quality, meaning it’s good as a gift for someone or a treat for yourself!

How to get photoshoots with photographers

I see a lot of people asking me how I got into modelling, how to go about getting photoshoots or how to contact photographers, and I think, it’s lovely that you came to me to ask, but it’s really not that hard. Once you have a portfolio, it’s amazingly easy to get photoshoots with photographers - although these will mainly be on a tfp (time for photos) basis - and then once you’ve had one with a photographer, it’s even easier to get more.

Portfolios:

The main thing to start out with is having a good portfolio. I understand a lot of people won’t have the budget to make a website, or pay someone to do it for them, so we’ve got to look at the free options. Instagram is the best, I feel, for having a portfolio. With its photo grid format, it’s really easy for someone to scroll through your pictures, see what kind of modelling you do, and decide whether they want to shoot with you.

With that being said, you need to make sure your Instagram (if this is what you’re using for your portfolio), is full of modelling pictures with different photographers, and not full of selfies or pictures of your pets (as cute as they may be). Some kinds of selfies may be okay, for example if an MUA has just done your makeup and the photo is of very high quality. You need to make sure your photos also haven’t got obvious filters on, and all somewhat match. You could do this by putting the same filter on all of them, or displaying similar photos in rows, columns or grids.

You could have a portfolio on purple port for example, but personally I don’t feel that’s very useful. Instead, I would suggest having a facebook page for your modelling, and joining lots of photography and model groups on facebook. I’m part of probably about ten groups on facebook, where I share groups of photos from different shoots which I’ve also posted on my page, suggesting that if anyone wants to shoot with me, they should message me. Facebook groups are also a great chance to find other photographers in your local area you may want to work with.

Contact them:

Another thing I think that is so obvious, yet so many people don’t do, is just message photographers you like on Instagram and see if they’re willing to shoot with you. Once you have a few good photos on your instagram of you modelling, you’re bound to find a few photographers at least who will be happy to do a photoshoot with you, and would suit the style you’re looking for. It also helps to follow the photographer and interact with their posts to show you’re definitely interested in working with them.

You could also contact photographers on Facebook, by commenting on their posts and messaging their facebook pages. Interact with them on facebook groups and they will probably get in contact with you too. I recommend messaging their business pages however rather than their personal facebook account, just to keep things professional and making it easier for them to find work rather than just another friend on facebook.

Ask for recommmendations:

One thing I tend to do every three months or so is put a question on my instagram story along the lines of ‘suggestions of photographers to work with in the South West’, which usually gets a good number of responses. The recent one I posted got about 25 replies of photographers saying they wanted to work with me, and so I’ve got lots of shoots lined up for May and June which I’m very excited about!

One thing I would say, is that make sure you give them the exact dates you’re available, and what you have in mind for a shoot. I’ve had times when a photographer would say they were going to let me know when they’re free for a photoshoot and then never do, and so I never give them the dates I can do photoshoots on. No one would expect you to be free for shoots all the time, but you’ve got to give your available dates so that a shoot can be organised.

If you have any other questions about how to go about getting tfp photoshoots or anything related to modelling, send me a message! I love hearing your thoughts on it all, and answering any questions!

Working with Huers Clothing Co

Having already done a shoot with Huers Clothing Co, I was very pleased when Will said they had asked me to model for them again. A day shoot with them generally revolves around visiting different areas of Cornwall and getting loads of photos wearing different pieces from their collection, all with a laid back feel, making it a really enjoyable day.

Huers is based around Padstow and the idea of the Cornish Coast which is just stunning any time of year. We headed down to Padstow beach to begin with and got a load of photos wearing their new low tide collection, along with the occasional pic of their dog. Considering it was only February, it was surprisingly very warm and so a jumper wasn’t needed - I probably could have gotten away with wearing shorts too but the british weather is fairly unpredictable with rain at this time of year so I didn’t want to risk it.

After wondering around the beach all morning and afternoon, we made our way to Bedruthen Steps, where the cold weather definitely set in and it became rather windy with a few rain drops. It was the first time I had been there with the tide in. Usually when I go there the beach is sandy and beautiful yet this time the waves were crashing against the rocks creating a really surreal site.

Following Bedruthen Steps, we found a little rarely known cliff formation called Tregudda Gorge on the coast. Its two cliffs with a gorge between and a spikey rock formation between in the distance. I’m sure if the tide was low you would be able to walk between the two cliffs onto the other but obviously not in the windy weather we visited it in. It was beautiful and the waves were so ferocious, the sea mist coming off of them got us all drenched before I scuttled back to the safety of the car.

Me and Will made our way back to Padstow for some dinner at a little restaurant called Burgers and Fish on the harbour front. We both had burgers, but I had a blue cheese and beetroot one which was delish - they even make their own ketchup! He got some beautiful night shots of the harbour before we headed off home after a day of sea, sand and the Cornish coast.

Check out Huers Clothing Co on their website (www.huersclothingco.com) or Instagram (@huersclothingco)!

Check out Will’s Instagram (@willlamerton)!

Working with Philip Jones Jewellery

As my first brand deal purely focused on me modelling jewellery, I was extremely pleased with how it went, how the photos came out, and how great the jewellery pieces were themselves that Philip Jones sent over to me to model. As per usual, I produced a set of 10 photos of me modelling their jewellery - a different item in each photo. They sent over a selection of earings, bracelets, necklaces and rings, all of which were stunning and I now wear on a regular basis.

Will Lamerton took these photos on a trip to Exeter; we focused on two areas of Exeter for the photos - Gandy Street and Exeter Cathedral. Both locations offered a variety of backdrops for the photos, and I switched up my clothing so we got a range of photos with the jewellery.

Personally, my favourite items of jewellery would be the rose gold stud earrings, and the rose gold ring as they’re just beautiful, go with most items of clothing and suit me quite nicely. If I were to go out somewhere a bit more glam however, I would wear the silver necklace with the matching bracelet as they’re a bit more sophisticated.

Exeter is one of my favourite locations to shoot in, and is where I do most of my photoshoots. However, I do usually shoot in only Gandy Street, the Cathedral or Princesshay in Exeter, so if you know of any other good locations to shoot in around Exeter, let me know!

I really recommend you go and have a look at Philip Jones’ website (www.philipjonesjewellery.com) too, as the jewellery is all reasonably priced and stunning!

Working with Boomer and Jen Organic Clothing

Recently I did some work for a great clothing company called Boomer and Jen where I went to Abbeyford Woods in Okehampton, and to Exeter to get a set of 10 photos, some of which I would post on my Instagram page. Will Lamerton came on the shoots and took the photos for me, which was lovely of him.

Boomer and Jen is an organic clothing company which focus on sustainable 100% cotton clothing. They’re based in Devon, so the fact that they were local and have a great ethos made me want to work with them. I was so happy when they reached out to me as from a first glance I could tell they were a great brand. Their clothing designs are also great and promote messages of environmental friendliness; they have a range of clothes for men, women and kids, along with some reusable bags as well, which are always useful.

We chose Abbeyford woods for one of the shoot locations, as it links into the sustainable natural side of the brand, and it is just such a beautiful area of Devon. It’s quite a small forest but is perfect for photoshoots seeing as though theres a road nearby, so it is easy to get to, and it is fairly flat ground. The trees are also really tall and look great in the background of pictures. Luckily it wasn’t too cold the day of the shoot, and wasn’t raining like it usually does in the UK!

We chose Exeter as the other location for the photos, specifically Gandy Street due to the colourful buildings and unique shops around. I do a lot of shoots in Gandy Street due to just how different each building is to the next so you can get so many different photos in just one location. This building specifically is a restaurant that has beautiful teal walls and little plant pots in the windows which make for a really nice backdrop.

If you have a chance, you should definitely check out Boomer and Jen on their Instagram (@boomerandjen_organic_clothing) or on their website (www.organiccottonclothing.co.uk). Also, thanks to Will for the photos so check him out on Instagram too (@willlamerton).

Working with Literarture Prints

A while ago I did some work for a literature quote based brands named Literarture Prints, which specialise in wall prints, mugs, and reusable bags featuring literature quotes. Will Lamerton did the photos again for this which was great of him as usual.

They sent over two wall prints, a mug and a bag, which we produced a set of 10 photos from. The mug was really cute and I currently use that to hold my makeup brushes seeing as though it matches the rest of the decor in my room. The two wall prints I put in frames and are currently hanging on my walls. The reusable bag I use often when popping to the local shop. I’ve now got a collection of reusable bags for shopping, which is much better than paying for a plastic bag.

We took all the photos in our house, and the cats even joined into the photoshoot. We got a range of photos, and a few of them were quite autumnal considering the shoot happened last October. We tried to keep all of the colour tones the same in the images so that the set of photos looked like a proper set and they all matched.

You can check out Literarture Prints on Instagram (@literartureprints) or on their website (www.literarture.com.au). Be sure to check out Will’s Instagram too (@willlamerton)!

Working with Neon Kactus

Neon Kactus sent over one of their mugs in return for a feature on my Instagram page, which I happily did. Their mugs are made from glass and have a grip sleeve on them to stop you from getting your hands too warm. The best thing about them, is that they are reusable of course. They’re also stylish and easy to carry around. The size is perfect because it carries the amount of a cup of tea, and isn’t too big or bulky to carry around.

I think it’s really important that we start using reusable cups so that we’re not constantly buying plastic bottles or using one use takeaway cups in coffee shops, and therefore we can reduce our waste we’re producing. Furthermore, it’s not a hard thing to do; it’s a one time purchase and a lot of coffee shops give you a discount if you bring in a reusable cup, so it;s helping you out too!

Be sure to check out Neon Kactus on Instagram ( @neonkactus) or on their website ( www.neonkactus.com)! Also, thanks to Will for the photo (@willlamerton on Instagram).