This week I get back in to documenting my word vomit by drinking lots of tea and showing things I bought! New year but not a new me...
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New Vlog: Hauls, Tea & More Hauls
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Minimal Makeup
PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
Origins Vitazing Moisturiser
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (Vanilla)
Mac Studio Fix Powder Foundation
Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder
Bobbi Brown Brow Kit (Saddle/Mahogany)*
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara*
Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm (Shade 6)*
Also mentioned - Clarins Instant Light Lip Oil*
*PR SAMPLES
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The Sunday Post: Nala, Meet Snow.
In typical Nala style, she wasn't too keen on the snow - but then again she's not a lover of the great outdoors at all. Wrapped up in her coat she pranced around, flicking snow with her nose and then snorting at it because it felt cold. Silly sausage. She also played with a fellow brown pomeranian - they looked mighty cute frolicking in the snow together (completely reinforcing my dream of a fellow pom sister for her in the future).
Unfortuntely a morning of snow fun (in addition to all the London visits this week) has set me back a little on my work schedule. I've got a lot to do tomorrow before crazy february rolls around. Cross your fingers for me!
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The Drugstore Haul: Makeup & Skincare
Last weekend I tweeted a photo of one rather hefty Boots bag and there were a lot of requests for a haul. It's a mixture of makeup and skincare with an additional hair product thrown in for good measure.
WARNING: I say definitely far too many times in this video. I promise to be more eloquent next week...
THINGS I BOUGHT:
Bourjois CC Cream (shade 51)
Bourjois Powder (shade 52)
Bourjois Bronze & Highlight
Rimmel Apocalips Matte Lip Laquers in Orange-Ology & Meteoric Matte
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Frambourjois
Tanya Burr Everyday Flutter False Lashes (Superdrug purchase)
Charles Worthington Texturising Spray
L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Water
Una Brennan Hydrating Mask (Boots purchase)
Garnier BB Cream (Light)
Garnier Caffine Eye Roll On
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Five Reasons Why Braids Are Awesome.
THEY WEAR WELL - Especially fishtail braids. There's just something about layers and strands that naturall fall out throuout the day that add a little boho edge to a look.
THEY LOOK LIKE YOU'VE MADE AN EFFORT - A simple side braid can transform a bad hair day, and a fishtail braid screams "this took me hours" but they take minutes (seconds if we're talking about a basic braid). HELLO TIME EFFICIENCY. Don't even get me started on milkmaid braids. Princess hair at it's finest.
THEY'RE EASY (MOSTLY - I'm still perfecting the waterfall braid) a few YouTube tutorials can completely change your outlook on braids. I wish I could refer you to my channel but I'm no master of hair tutorials. But there are some real goodies out there. FACT: I googled how to do a fishtail braid in 2010 - my first dip in to YouTube tutorials. I had the fishtail down in 10 minutes and then taught all the girls at work how to do it.
THEY TRANSITION WELL. From different hair types to different occasions. Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. They're a particular favourite of mine for working out too. My favourite transitional braid is the Halo braid. A side braid that stretches from one side of your head, to the other (and can continue round the back of your head). Great for hot summer days and perfect for scarf wearers with long locks.
THE WAVY HAIR AFTERMATH - Even if it's just for five minutes, there's nothing better than unleashing a lions mane of crazy hair.
Braid lovers unite!
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Going Out-Out
When Estee Lauder invited me to dinner and a night at The Beaumont (more on the hotel later this week) I knew extra effort was required. This was not going to be a converse and striped t-shirt kind of affair and both my wardrobe and makeup needed to reflect that.
My going out makeup look is pretty solid, and I'm finding it hard to break away from the Charlotte Tilbery Dolce Vita Palette, so the application of eyeshadow/liner is pretty much what you see in this video here. However there are a few new things that I threw in to the mix that I feel made all the difference:
BOLDER BROWS: I'm back on the big brow loving band wagon (but when was I ever really off?), I reigned it in for a bit and had them looking slightly more "natural" but I just can't break away from my love of a bold brow, especially when I'm really playing up my eyes - it helps balance my face - y'know?
LESS IS MORE: ...When it comes to base, I mean. I've been using the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (no one uses flash anymore really so no panic there) as I find that light layers give a far more flawless and illuminating finish than any medium - full coverage foundation I own. Mixed with a little Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer under the eyes, with the Estee Lauder Double Wear Brush on Glow BB Highlighter (been a fan for so long I know the full name off by heart) in a "V" shape under my eyes to brighten and perfect. I've also been applying the Clarins Instant Light Lip Balms over my lip liner as it gives a seriously plump look to my lips but in a way that looks so effortless and not too "done".
The HEAVENLY HIGHLIGHTER/CONTOUR COMBO: Two newbies from Clinique dropped on my desk this week and they are my new favourites for sculpting and highlighting my face in an almost Kim K way. I feel like that level of contour is a bit over the top for daily wear, so every chance I get at the moment I'm going to town with it. There will be more on this magical duo this week, but until then - they're GOOD.
AN OLD FAVOURITE:Nars Gina Blush is back in my life ladies! My first Nars purchase back at the age of 20 after a bad day in the office (little did I know that that would forever be seen as a very forgettable day in terms of bad work days). It gives a peachy/orange warmth to the cheeks which compliments bronzed and contoured cheek bones perfectly. It also works beautifully with the more orangey toned Clarins Balm. I'm hooked.
FALSE FLUTTER: I caved and bought a fair few packs of the Everyday Flutter lashes by Tanya Burr whilst in Superdrug last week. No regrets. Ever.
THE MAKEUP LIST:
Collection Fast Stroke Liquid Liner
L'Oreal Gelmatic Liner
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara*
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour
Topshop - Stallion
*PR SAMPLES
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A Night At The Beaumont
I know, that's a strong statement there, but they really are when you think about the amount of their products that I use religiously. I didn't snap much of dinner as I think they're quite strict on the photos their, but I did vlog a teeny bit! The menu at The Arts Club is awesome, I must worm my way back in soon for some more of the chocolate pudding.
And my stay at The Beaumont? Well, it is one of my favourite hotel rooms I've ever stayed in so far, (other favourites include the K West, London, Hotel Indigo (Edinburgh) and Barcelo Santiago for (Tenerife) for it's views!), 1920's vibes with the most stunning marble bathroom and heated floors quickly cemented it's place there.
My outfit is an mixture of my current favourite items in my wardrobe: The ASOS Cold Shoulder top, Topshop Joni Jeans,ASOS Heels(I've worn them three times in the past three weeks - this never happens). I also carried an old Ubran Outfitters black clutch and snubbed my coat as we were lucky enough to have cars take us to and from the venue (one of the many reasons why I need my own car in my life this year). My makeup was an amped up version of my usual going out makeup which I posted about earlier this week.
Definitely one of the more "WHAT IS MY LIFEEE" posts that I have on here. I felt extremely blessed and couldn't not take a bazillion photos as a reminder. The bathroom mirror was also lit from all angles (the best lighting I've ever experienced), so I took more than a few selfies too...
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The Sunday Post: Good Life Eatery
Last week I went for breakfast with my friend Holly, who had the breakfast bowl, including yoghurt, granola, raspberries, blueberries and a few other bits. I had what I think is called "so fresh, so clean" (something along those lines) which included a poached egg, quinoa, sweet potato and kale, with a Choc Norris smoothie and peanut butter cups for later!
I pray that something like this will pop up locally in Brighton soon. There are similar, but nowhere that's go it right like the Good Life has.
My only gripe is the lack of seating, but I'm sure there will be more to come in the future. Next time you're in the area, be sure to get up early and grab a table, or prepare for a long wait! I often get a juice and peanut butter cups to take home with me if I swing by in the afternoon. In all seriousness, I've mentioned the peanut butter cups three times already but they are incredible - I need the recipe for these pronto!
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January Beauty Favourites
It's that time of the month again... No, not that time of the month. TMI. This month I had a lot of products to choose from as there have been so many wonderful new beauty releases, not to mention some cracking christmas presents and a lot of old favourites making their way back in to my life.
THINGS I MENTIONED:
Kiehls Skin Rescue
Topshop Stallion Nail Polish
Anastsia Dipbrow Pomade (Dark Brown)
Clinique Contour & Highlight Chubby Sticks*
*PR SAMPLES
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A Night At The Great Northern
On Monday I had a little whistle stop trip to Paris (seriously, I think eight hours is the smallest amount of time I've ever spent there!) with a very early departure time. So I suggested to Alix that we book somewhere close to the station to save ourselves from the delights of the first train of the day (if I ever see another sleeping human being dribble on their newspaper it will be too soon).
We found ourselves a nice cosy (read: tiny) room at the Great Northern Hotel and snapped it up. It seemed close to the station and the room far surpassed premiere inn. When we arrived we realised that the station and hotel were mere metres apart and we had been upgraded to a rather nice room on the fourth floor. The room was incredible and the staff were brilliant and I can't wait until my next trip to Paris just so I can have the excuse to book a room again.
If you want to see Alix and I girly squeal in excitement at our room... We have it in vlog form. Enjoy!
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Dear Winter, We're Over.
-SPONSORED POST-
Dear Winter, we're over. I've had enough of wearing the same coats and wearing at least one pair of socks every day. Spring is coming soon and we're moving on to better things. Sincerely, Suzie.
But in all seriousness, anyone else sick of the cold? I've already started stocking up on lighter layers and let's not even begin to discuss the number of pointed flats I now own. I'm ready for light layers, structured hats and lots of denim in my life over the next few months. I've had a bit of an obsession with blue denim recently, thanks to a certain Miss Chung and her most recent collaboration. I'm one layer away from rocking the 90's Britney vibe, so I've been counteracting the latest obsession with black jackets and accessories. There's something very transeasonal about it.
A few weeks back (before the chill really hit Brighton) I dug out my favourite boyfriend jeans. They're perfect for work as they're so comfy but aren't so slouchy that I feel inappropriate leaving the house in them. I always struggle styling them for meetings in fear of looking too casual, so I threw on a cropped tailored jacket from Sainsbury's to balance out the casual vibes a little. Little black jackets like this are great because they add a little more than just a jumper would, but can also be worn under big coats (note: for outfit shots like this there is almost always a coat just out of shot) for those moments where we need to venture out in to the cold.
I optimistically threw on some pointed flats as they balance out the proportions of the outfit perfectly but also help to keep the vibe on the right side of smart casual. Let's call it sma-sual. On second thoughts, let's not.
WHAT I WORE:
HAT: TOPSHOP
JACKET: Tu at SAINSBURY'S*
JUMPER: ZARA
JEANS: LEVI'S
SHOES: Tu at SAINSBURY'S*
BAG: ZARA
*SPONSORED POST
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Sainsbury’s via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sainsbury’s.
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The Sunday Post: Paris, What I Wore & Other Things
But rewinding to Monday for a moment, if you watch my vlogs you will have seen already that Parisian beauty subscription box "My Little Box" invited me over to have a little poke around in their office and for a day of exploration in the Northern quarter of Paris. We had breakfast at the MLB headquarters where I secured my vision for our upcoming living room revamp, followed by lunch and a skincare workshop, and couldn't leave before having a supermarket sweep style dash around a few pharmacies.
WHAT I WORE:
COAT: Zara
SNOOD: Zara
SUNGLASSES: ASOS
JEANS: Topshop
Boots: Topshop
Bag: ASOS
It was a very fleeting visit, but has confirmed my desire for day trip number two. I'll hopefully be booking that later this summer, with the potential to continue further south for an extended vacation - we'll see!
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How I Store My Makeup & Organisational Tips
I'm regularly asked about how I keep things in order, so along with the video I thought I'd share a few of my tips for keeping things tidy...
KEEP A ROTATION: I try to rotate products as regularly as I can to keep things fresh in my mind and being used. This not only helps cement my love of certain products when I find I gravitate towards them, but reminds me of the ones I'm not so fussed about. This way I can easily determine whether I really should be keeping something and brings me to my next point...
USE IT OR LOSE IT: If I don't use something regularly (and it's not limited edition - the only semi-acceptable reason on the planet for not using a perishable makeup item) then it needs to be re homed in one of three places, an overflow (see point 4), another human beings stash or... the bin (reserved only for the truly disgusting - as long as it's in date you should always try to re-home).
KEEP IT CLEAN KIDS: Clean out your storage! Acrylic Storage gets dirty surprisingly easily, even if you aren't one for foundation fingers, dust settles and makes your storage look uncared for and therefore slightly more unorganised. Dust out the drawers, wash your brushes, polish any mirrors. I guarantee you in the clean up you'll find something you no longer want too.
SET ASIDE AN OVERFLOW: I'm not going to pretend that when I get sent new things I can easily house them in the set up featured in this video. I do have a sizeable box in one of my drawers that holds seasonal products and new things to try. Once this fills up a mass cull ensues, but for the most part it works as an excellent way to keep the overspill tidy, and can help you to recognise whether you miss a product if you're constantly going back to the overflow to search for it!
Any more tips on makeup management? Pop them below and share your organisational wisdom!
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Just Landed: Clinique Contour & Highlight
I know Kim Kardashian is killing one half of the populations love of contour (and fuelling the other half) but for me a strong contour is a look that my face carries rather well, so I wasn't afraid to pick up a slightly darker and warmer one-shade-fits-all contour stick and give it a good swipe. And the highlight? Well that one's a no brainer...
As far as contour and highlight duos go, these are my all time favourites. I know, that's a pretty bold claim, but hear me out. The contour may look terrifying, but it actually blends so beautifully and seamlessly into the skin that it can be used on paler skin tones and can also be built up for darker skin tones. One to two swipe and blends (depending on the occasion) does it for me and I use a dense buffing brush to blend it out. Ashy toned contour girls should steer clear as it is on the warmer side, but (IMO) this warmth is inevitable when you release one single shade of contour and try to please the masses (Note to Clinique: more shades soon please - I'll buy them all).
The highlight is an easy peasy, blend with your fingers kind of affair. It's less shimmer more sheen and looks incredible wen swiped over cheekbones. It's one of those "impossible to over-do" products and is the perfect middle ground between icy and gold highlights - more of a pinky/nude sheen - almost rose gold - almost verging on Jemma Kidd's All Over Radiance Highlight in Rose Gold.
When worn together this duo has the "hello cheekbones!?" effect on friends and family that I could quite literally have only dreamed of before. The amount of people I've accompanied on their purchase of this in the past few weeks is insane so there's definitely something to be said for the reactions to this duo.
And if nothing else - these make me feel like a Kardashian in half the time it takes to make up a real one. Leaving more time for digestive biscuit eating and question time re-runs. So classy...
*PR SAMPES
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Another Haul...
When it comes to ASOS and Topshop, I can't seem to help myself. After my most recent stint of shopping I've realised I'm definitely overdue a wardrobe clear out. Partially because I can't fit my clothes in my wardrobe at it's current size and also because I'm nowhere near finished building my spring wardrobe yet...
THINGS I MENTIONED:
Miss Selfridge Shirt Dress: SOLD OUT
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Date Night Makeup
Valentines day might be over, but date nights are an all year round occasion, whether it's a simple coffee date or more romantic dinners. Regardless of the occasion or location there are a few simple pointers that I keep in mind when getting ready each night and the look in the video above is one of my favourites for easy no fuss makeup that still has something a little more special to it.
TIPS FOR DATE NIGHT MAKEUP:
KEEP IT NUDE.
If you planning on coming in to contact with your date for any reason at any point in the night then you're going to want to go for a nude lip. I've managed to get lipstick on people with a simple hug, so it's best to keep it clean and sheer. Putting more emphasis on your base and eyes to keep things looking a bit special.
LONG LASTING & LOW MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS
For any social event I like to keep things long lasting and low maintenance, but especially so when it comes to one on one occasions. Any kohl liners and base products should be long lasting with non crease formulas for eyeshadows, whilst lip products should be low maintenance and avoid obvious wearing to maximise time between application.
STICK TO YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
All of the above tips are great, but the most important thing is to stick to your comfort zone. If a red lip is what you need to feel at ease then DO IT. Ignore my nude lip pointers and make sure you feel at ease.
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The Sunday Post: Valentine Fashback
It's been a funny few weeks, after swearing I'd catch up on my life after the madness of January, February seems to be following suit. To balance things out I've taken some time out over fashion week - so I'll be washing my favourite outfits instead of wearing them. That just made the past few days sound horribly uninteresting, but feel assured that junk food and The Good Wife are being consumed on mass.
Flashing back to last week, I had a little time off from posting over the valentines day weekend in the name of quality time with the boy. We exchanged gifts, walked the small furry one, continued with our extensive DIY list and giggled over pizza express dough balls. I was lucky enough to receive the Alex Monroe bumble bee in rose gold that I've been harping on about for almost a year now. It looks gold in photos but I assure you it's the perfect rose gold colour and although it looks slightly bulky, its very comfortable, looks beautiful and is a joy to wear. There are no words to contain my glee so I'll leave it at this before I start churning out "boy did good" and "lucky girl" phrases.
Before I sign off, you may or may not have noticed (I'm not sure which one I'd prefer) that Sunday posts have been a little irregular recently. I've been struggling a little lately to whip out my camera at the right points in the week, but I'm hoping to get back on track with 9am Sunday posts over the next few weeks. Blog posts during the week will now be going live at 1pm - I'm not an early bird and sometimes making changes/giving one last proof read is difficult when posts go live pre first cup of tea...
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Drugstore Beauty Haul & First Impressions
I was lucky enough to wander in to my local boots straight after a re-stock last week. Accompanied by Liv, I went a little wild and she watched as my beauty basket piled up. Suffice to say I found some real goodies in that pile. Loves came in the form of a certain concealer and cream eyeshadow from Maybelline and the leaves were kept to a minimum with the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper taking the lead.
THINGS I PURCHASED:
Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer (Light)
Maybelline Colour Tattoo Leather Effect (Creamy Beige)
L'Oreal La Palette Nude (Beige)
L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper (Dark Brown)
L'Oreal Infallible Lip Liner (701 Stay Ultravoilet)
Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Lip Pencil (140 Minimalist)
After all that, the only point left to cover is: what do I need to try next?
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Thing I Wish I Knew When Starting YouTube
I've talked about a few of my core tips for running a blog and YT channel before, but more recently I've been pondering the things I wish I knew when first starting my channel - tiny things (mostly at minimal or no extra cost) that would help to improve my video quality by miles. The things I wish someone else had told me (or in my case having a genius boyfriend who's a pro at editing - the wording should be LISTENED to) from the very beginning. Depending what stage you're at with YouTube, be it a non existent channel or a growing one, some of these might be helpful to you.
COLOUR CORRECTION.
I only realised the true benefit of colour correction after filming videos for mine and Alix's channels. Shot same day, same place and one looked significantly better (FYI: it wasn't mine). Alix did a number of things that I didn't at the time, but the one significant factor that made a huge difference was the colour correction that took place. The camera doesn't always capture the way things look in real life, so upping the saturation, brightness and contrast can make a huge difference. You don't have to work with fancy curves and levels for this, the simple functions on iMovie and other more basic software can still make a noticeable difference.
MAKE TIME.
Daily vlogging is hard. When you're vlogging your day to day life as it's happening the day really can run away with you. Every now and then you see vlogs with huge gaps or no ending and that's totally okay, because life happens. If this is something you struggle with then it's important to allow extra time for vlogging. For example, If I have a busy day ahead that I'm going to attempt to capture then I'll make sure I get up early, allowing time for an intro and extra contextual footage.
It's also important to leave extra time for tutorials and more structured videos. Rushing things can lead to shots that aren't quite right, serious concentration faces and incorrect sentences. Make time to make sure you've thought through your shots (even better film some from different angles for extra choice) and speak at a slower rhythm, thinking through what you want to say if you aren't a natural speaker (*points at self*).
TO LIGHT OR NOT TO LIGHT?
Both artificial and natural lighting is so hard to get right. Natural light is forever changing, but artificial light can easily go wrong. Everyone lights their videos differently and that's okay. It's good to remember no matter what that you are one man band and not a professional production company. Some people might have lot's of equipment or someone to help them set up and some might only use natural light. Neither options are right or wrong. It's important not to beat yourself up over it and don't ever feel like you must have natural lighting to make visually pleasing videos. No one can tell you which one is right or wrong as everyones lighting in their filming space is different, but below are a few pointers to help you decide.
Artificial lighting can look artificial or verge on natural depending on how you set it up. Natural light bounces off of surfaces and lights you from different angles. If this is the look you are after then you may need one or more lights or equipment to bounce it. The best way of lighting is a three light system. This can be done with up to three studio lights or various light sources. For example, some use two box lights (one for the wall and one to the side) and a ring light (to light from straight on or from below), where as I use one studio light (straight on), a window to the side of it and a lamp in the background to light the wall behind me. To mimic natural light and make it more flattering I sometimes place a mirror at an angle to bounce the light ahead of me on to my face from below. Artificial lighting can often make your background feel cold. So for me I like to use lamps, candles and fairy lights in the background to add a warm glow as well as brightening the wall behind.
Out of everything natural light is my favourite, but it's very temperamental. For my sanity I've been using studio lights much more over the past few months (especially whilst the weather is awful). But in the summer my videos were really well lit without a single light being used. I have white walls, and when the sun shines through the light bounces beautifully and lights from every angle (super flattering). However if there are clouds this can cause the lighting to be inconsistent, so it's good to make sure you're not in direct sunlight on very bright days to avoid sudden changes to the light. Bright but completely overcast days are best for consistent natural lighting. It's also a good idea to make sure you film directly facing a window to avoid harsh shadows.
BUY MORE THAN ONE MEMORY CARD
If you have more than one camera (e.g. one for vlogging and one for photos) then its important to make sure you have more than one memory card for two reasons:
1) MEMORY: Video files take up a lot of space, regardless of the type of videos you make (vlogging regularly will naturally take up more) and if you don't keep super on top of clearing your card after filming they will all build up. There's nothing worse than being out of memory in the middle of filming and having a back up.
2) COORDINATION: When I just had one memory card it made switching between cameras such a ball ache. Having two or more means each of your cameras will always have a memory card, or if you just own the one camera, you will always have a spare card to use. No frantically deleting old files in an attempt to clear up space anymore!
BUY ALL THE BATTERIES
Like memory cards, it's good to keep spare batteries. Alongside no memory, no power is a mass ball ache. Having to wait for one battery to recharge because it ran out mid-film will add hours on to the production time. This can ruin entire videos during the winter months as we lose the light so much quicker.
TRIMMING YOUR AUDIO
Depending on what editing software you use (if at all) you could have lots of different audio options. One thing I came across quite early on that isn't always picked up on when you're starting out is the importance of trimming your audio (both speech and music) to ensure your music starts at the exact same time as your clip (some tracks come with an extra 10 seconds at the beginning before the music kicks in) and your silences and the "inbetweens" (for lack of a better word) of clips are cut out. It sounds so basic, but it often doesn't happen and makes all the difference.
Some of these are definitely more on the technical side - this definitely isn't a beginners tips type of post (there are plenty of those out there already and I'd already touched on a few pointers here). Let me know if these types of posts are something you would like to see more of - I have a little something else drafted just incase!
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Spring Steps
I know I've been wishing for it, but things really are starting to warm up down on the coast. I no longer have to wear six billion layers plus a scarf and hat, and more recently even a light coat is acceptable some mornings. I can almost feel spring time creeping in, and with S/S related projects starting to drop, I can't quite contain my excitement! Lighter coats and cardigans have been purchased, my army of open topped flats have been dusted off and if my trusty leather jackets could do a dance then I'm sure they would!
More than anything, I'm just looking forward to not being rained on daily...
WHAT I WORE:
HAT: TOPSHOP
CARDIGAN: TOPSHOP
TOP: ASOS
JEANS: TOPSOP
BOOTS: SAINSBURYS*
BAG: SAINSBURYS*
*PR SAMPLES
SAMPLES SHOWN HAVE BEEN USED
IN PREVIOUS SPONSORED CONTENT,
HOWEVER THIS POST DOES NOT
CONTAIN PAID FOR PLACEMENT.
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