Rihanna & Kabuki & Gold Confetti, Oh My!

Rihanna.  The girl is bad.  Bad as in good.  Good as in bad.  She's a force to be reckoned with in the music industry but she's also a fashion icon that millions all around the globe look up to.  I personally adore the talent she bestows on the world even when she disregards her manners to stay true to her fantastically controversial self.

Her new music video for "Where Have You Been" has been released and it's been in heavy rotation on my playlist ever since.  What a visually orgasmic experience.  I mean she only changes looks a half dozen times during the 4 minutes she seduces the camera.  Which brings me to the reason for this post.

Cut to 3:17 of the video...



Did you see all that glorious sparkling gold on her face?  I immediately started googling behind the scenes footage to find out anything and everything I could about her makeup and the vision behind it.

A still from Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" music video
and a photo of legendary makeup artist, Kabuki.
Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records/Kabuki

Enter Kabuki, Makeup Artist slash Artistic Director of Myface Cosmetics.  His resume is something any aspiring celebrity makeup artist would drool over.  Interestingly enough for me this wasn't the first time I had heard of him.  I actually discovered who he was when I entered the Live Your Fantasy Halloween Makeup Contest on Myface Cosmetics Facebook page last October (2011).  He was the judge and chose the winner of that contest.  Sidenote: My Corpse Bride was a finalist but did not win. BooHoo. In any case, I was excited to find out that he collaborated with Rihanna on this video.

MTV sat down with Kabuki for a chinwag as they called it and got the proverbial scoop here.

Kabuki behind the scenes touching up Rihanna's makeup.
Photo: Courtesy of Kabuki

A still from Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" music video and a sketch by Kabuki.
Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records/Kabuki

A still from Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" music video and a sketch by Kabuki.
Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records/Kabuki

A still from Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" music video and a sketch by Kabuki.
Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records/Kabuki

I am now unabashedly on a mission to recreate that seductive sparkly gold mask!  And perhaps a few of the other looks.  First stop.  Party supply store to look for silver and gold cross confetti.  Wish me luck as I plan to be sequestered in my cakery until the mission is complete.  When I resurface I will reveal what I created in a follow up post :)

Stay tuuuuned....

Chic Critique: Summer Cover Contest Entry

Good Afternoon Lovers!

Today I'm posting an entry for Chic Critique's Summer Cover Contest.

Chic Magazine is geared towards female photographers and prefers to showcase women on their covers. 

*Fingers crossed* I've decided to enter this photo of my beautiful friend, Missy, hoping we have a chance to grace the next cover.  

There are really so many fab entries and as always I'm just excited to participate.  I am new to Chic Critique but I'm enjoying their fresh approach from a female POV :)  Join the Chic Critique Forum! if you are female photographer or just want to take a peek at how they operate ;)

"CHIC Magazine is the “IT” magazine for female photographers (yes, we’re biased!) with inspiration + information."  ~ Chic Critique

Epiphanie PICTURE IT: APRIL PHOTO CONTEST

Ok.  One more photo contest this month :)  Obviously it would be great to win a prize or just have my photos acknowledged right :)  But honestly I enjoy participating in these because it not only inspires me to pick up my camera and shoot the wonders of the world but it also challenges me to hone my photography skills.  

With that said this photo contest is put on by Epiphanie.  They happen to make the dopest camera bags I have ever seen.  And they are giving away one of these bags to the winner of this contest. EEEEK! :)

Their April theme is RAIN.  After mulling over tons of photos I have taken with Instagram this month I finally decided on this one.  I like the vintage feel to it.  And despite the murky tone I like the ombre of the pastel colors in the rose and the rain drops that adorn it. 

I entered the Epiphanie Camera Bags + Zenfolio Picture It photo contest! http://bit.ly/Ix1mXq

Do you have Instagram? Follow me @sisicakes and say hi :)

RTS April Photo Challenge: Water

It's another photo challenge! Love these :)

This one is for Rock the Shot and the theme is WATER.  This one challenged me a bit just because there are so many different images that the theme of water conjures up.  Here in California the weather is quite bipolar in April haha I mean it was literally 93 degrees last week! Hello...it's only Spring! The week before that we had thunder and lightning storms.  And this week, well let's say it rained again yesterday.  Sheesh ..Can't figure out if I need an umbrella or a bikini this month!

Anyway, I favored the sun over the rain and here is my submission...

Gina was floating around the pool soaking up the sun while I was soaking it up on the diving board.  I looked down at her and shouted "Hey! You are so photogenic right now!  Don't move!" haha

www.rocktheshotforum.com

Do you enjoy the rain or the sun more in April? Hope you have both your umbrella and beach gear handy in any case ;)

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge | By The Book

Another week. Another I Heart Faces photo challenge :)

This week the theme required a book.  Immediately I thought of Heather.  During this shoot she requested I photograph her with a book.  While going through the proofs I kept coming back to this shot because it gave me a sense of reverie.  Ya know how you can read an epic love story and you picture yourself in the fantasy world you're reading? I feel as though she's lost in her thoughts...daydreaming of her epic love story. 

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge | Family Fun

I'm excited to participate in another I Heart Faces photo challenge.  This week's theme is Family Fun.  So I chose a family that is dear to my heart.  We went to the beach and my goal was just to capture special moments of them enjoying each other.  Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy :) 

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

***UPDATE as of 1.20.2012***
I'm honored to announce that this photo was chosen as 3rd place by this week's Guest Photographer Judge, Shalonda Chaddock, of Chubby Cheek Photography.  
EEEEEK :)

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge | Best Face Photo from 2011

So. I have been meaning to enter an I Heart Faces photo contest for what seems like forever 

....but for whatever reasons never got around to doing so.  Well, there's no time like the present right :)  It's their first photo challenge of the year so I decided to sit my booty down and get busy.  It's been so difficult trying to pick just one face out of all that I photographed this year but my heart kept coming back to one particular little face...

My Chloe Cakes ..<3

This little cupcake was my favorite child to photograph in 2011. She never needed any direction and was a doll to work with.  She loved the camera and the camera loved her.  And I look forward to shooting her with her family again this year.

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – Best Face Photo of 2011

Thank you for taking a peek and I look forward to any and all of your feedback ..<3