Getting it right
Last week we told you all about the first steps of a Sitting – the measurements and some of the places that we’ve been lucky to travel to. This week we’re going to talk about hair, eyes, skin and tattoos!
We take along a hair sample ring of around 100 different colours to match to their hair. We almost always have to mix two different samples together to get an exact match. We also check for the texture of the hair, if it’s straight or curly, rough or smooth. The density is also looked at to see if the hair is thick or thin. It’s really important to check the hair line, parting and hair growth pattern. Lastly we make sure we have a good reference photograph of their hair style. We used to cut a hair sample, but that doesn’t happen much anymore (unless of course you have the nerve to ask!).
There is a selection of around 30-40 eye samples we use, which unfortunately never seem to match exactly! The eye sample is always a combination of different samples and a selection of good photographs.
We take a colour kit to each Sitting. The palette and paint is used to mix colours to match to the celebrity’s different skin tones. We will mix a general tone, lip colour, colours around the eyes, cheek colour and hands. The colour mixes are then compared to magazine photographs and to daylight photographs to ensure accuracy.
All tattoos are measured with a tape measure. It’s important to measure tattoos with the celebrity in the pose that their figure will be in. For example, if their arm is bent, it’s important to measure the tattoo with the arm bent as it will be longer than if the arm is straight! Lots of photographs are taken from many different angles. We also mix paint to find the right colour of the tattoo.
We take lots of photos from every angle possible! The amount of photos taken can vary between 60 and 300! It really depends on how much time we have with the celebrity!
That’s about everything that takes place during a Sitting. We’re off over Christmas so make sure you check back in 2009!!