Nailed It! How to remove glitter polish

One of the most annoying things about glitter polish (and in fact, most textured polishes) is how difficult it is to remove. I hear people complaining about this all the time, so I thought I’d put together a quick tutorial to show you how to remove your glitter polish with ease!

Aussie Curves: Tee

So you might have noticed that this post is really late. Like, only just making it in time to join the Aussie Curves linky kind of late. That’s because this week has been crazy busy for me and I didn’t get a chance to shoot these photos until today. And then I went and hung out with my friends, because taking time to chill out and wind down is extremely important!

Editorial Shoot with Cassie Ace

Cassie Ace is one of my favourite models to work with, and we have collaborated together on a number of fun projects. I’m also proud to count her amongst my very best friends, and she’s someone that I talk my ideas over with quite often.

When I shared with her my vision for where I’d like to take thisismeagankerr.com, she got as excited as I did. Like me, Cassie is curvy. And like me, Cassie loves great fashion – clothes, shoes, you name it. So we figured that there must be many other curvy gals who love fashion too! This blog post is for you… and hey, stick around. There will be much more future content for you too, as I search for all the best plus sze fashion.

Here’s a wee collaboration between myself and Cassie. We wanted to show a couple of the amazing swimsuits that are out there for plus size gals. I’d love to hear what you think of these beautiful swimsuits (I really want the Bondage Bathers by Gisela Ramirez!).

These Bondage Bathers are so flattering, with straps that hug your curves

What a wonderful week #8

1. I attended a delicious high tea at The Langham to celebrate Redcurrent’s support of Endometriosis NZ. Not only were the refreshments delicious, but it was wonderful to be surrounded by women supporting such a fantastic cause. I have a great interest in women’s wellness, and it was interesting to learn more about women living with endo. March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, so you can expect to see a little bit more on that topic from me!

What a wonderful week #7

1. Remember that job interview I went for last month? I signed my contract this week and will be starting at the end of the month – working part time as a library assistant! Perfect for the final year of my degree.

Stanmore Bay, Whangaparoa

2. An amazing swimsuit shoot with the lovely Cassie Ace, at Stanmore Bay (pictured above). There is nothing that makes me appreciate my job more than being able to photograph someone I admire in a stunning location, and then being able to swim in the ocean, all while the beach is practically deserted because it’s Monday morning and everyone else is stuck in the office. Keep an eye out for pictures from this shoot in the weeks to come…

What a wonderful week #4

I know, it’s Monday and technically I’m posting this late. And I realise that one of my highlights from the week actually happened today. It’s because it’s Auckland Anniversary weekend, and I kind of lost track of the days – oops!

1. I kickstarted my week with an amazing shoot with the gorgeous Dani McAllen from dani just is – she’s a total babe and super fun to shoot with, so we had loads of fun creating so fab images … that I can’t share with you just yet. But hold on to your britches, because she is definitely worth the wait (and I’m hoping to include a whole post about her soon).

2. Summer fruit is where it’s at. I’m going crazy for fresh fruit salad at the moment, and this is how I kick off most days – with a bowl of whatever tasty fruit I have on hand.  My fave fruit is definitely nectarines right now, how about you?

30 x 30 (Some resolutions for the New Year)

I’ve recently been made aware that 30 isn’t that far away for me – 18 months, in fact.  In light of this, and the impending new year, I thought that this is a great time to sit down and think about what I’d like from my future. Time for some goal setting.

I made a New Years Resolution two years ago to quit smoking, and am proud to say that as of 1st January 2013, I will have been smokefree for TWO WHOLE YEARS! That’s a pretty big deal, and not really something I thought I could achieve. So, now that I know that I have fierce determination and am extremely stubborn, it’s time to set myself some more goals.

I was inspired by Hannah at Dressed In Pixie Dust to create my own version of her 25 by 25 list (obviously doing a 30 by 30 because I have a couple of years on her …). I thought I’d share a few of them with you, both to encourage you to try something similar and because writing this down and sharing it makes me feel accountable!

Image: puuikibeach via Flickr

1. I will develop a healthy relationship with my body

No more obsessing over the numbers on the scale, no more stupid diets or exercising till I throw up, and no more crying because I’m not a size 8.  I will love the skin I’m in, eat healthily (but still allow myself the occasional treat), exercise regularly and wear clothes that I feel good in.

Many thanks to fabulous fashionista @honorcurves and amazing model and make-up artist Cassie Ace, I am making the concious decision to #honormycurves!

Image: Jarkko Laine via Flickr

2. I will learn to bake Ciabatta

I love bread and have always wanted to make it but for some reason I never have.  I am determined to master the making of bread (without the aid of a breadmaker!), especially ciabatta. Thanks to my twinny Hazel for sending me a recipe to get me started!  Yum.

Image: @thisismeagankerr via Instagram

3. I will become comfortable in front of the camera

Over time I have become increasingly awkward in front of the camera.  This probably has something to do with my negative self image (okay, definitely), and it’s something that has got to be remedied. If I can’t be comfortable in front of a camera then how can I expect my subjects to be comfortable in front of mine?

Image: @thisismeagankerr via Instagram

4. I will develop my medium format photography skills

My wonderful boything kindly got me a Mamiya RB67 for Christmas (so spoilt!), and I am determined to learn to use it as well as improving my film photography overall.

I love the way using film makes me slow down and consider my shots much more than when I am shooting digitally, really looking forward to this one.

Selfie. Lipstick by Maybelline.

5. I will experiment with makeup more, and try new things!

I am a fashion and beauty blogger, so this may surprise you: I’m not actually that great at applying makeup. I know, right? I pretty much always stick to the same natural-ish look and have only very recently started wearing lipstick.

Time to break out of the comfort zone and start experimenting with things that everyone else seems to have mastered, like smoky eyes, and using coloured shadow.  Please be polite if you see me and I look like I’ve been shot with a make-up cannon! Hopefully I won’t though, and you may absolutely feel free to tell me if I look fabulous!

Some of my other resolutions include graduating, drinking more water and spending more time with my friends and whanau.  Remember, your resolutions can be big or small!

What are your New Years resolutions for 2013? Have you made your own 30 x 30 list? I’d love for you to share a couple of your resolutions with me in the comments below!

xx Meagan

Text © Meagan Kerr 2012
Images as credited

Upcoming group exhibition – Full Basket

Tomorrow brings the opening of “Full Basket”, the group exhibition being put on by the second year photography students (of which I am one) from Unitec (check out the facebook event page here).

Poster image by Anton Maurer
Poster design by Janelle Baptist

I have  one piece in the exhibition, a portrait of my lovely friend Violet, from a collaborative shoot done a few weeks ago (hair and makeup by Cassie Ace) that is the lead up to a series of avant garde beauty portraits.  I haven’t shared any images from the shoot yet, so if you want a sneak preview, you’ll have to come along to the exhibition or wait a few more weeks until I post them online.

If you’d like to join me at the exhibition opening, it’s on Monday, September 17 at 5.30 pm at the Te Po Gallery, located in Building 1 at the Mount Albert Unitec campus (139 Carrington Road, Pt Chevalier, Auckland).  There will be wine and nibbles to enjoy while you peruse the art, and if you find a piece that you’d like to purchase, you will be able to arrange that directly with the artists.

If you can’t make it to opening night, please do come and have a look at the  exhibition – it runs until Friday, September 21, and the regular Te Po Gallery hours are 9 am to 4 pm from Tuesday to Friday.

Many thanks to APIX Photographic Supplies for their kind sponsorship of our exhibition – your support is very much appreciated!

NZFW 2012: Backstage at Phoenix – Truly Outrageous

I was backstage at the final day of New Zealand Fashion Week 2012, and got to see some of the preparations for the Truly Outrageous show by Phoenix Cosmetics.  I saw amazing make-up, amazing hair, and amazing outfits. I saw lots of smiling ladies in pink jackets using beautiful pink Phoenix brushes (which I really really want!).

Nocturne Magazine Website shoot with Nocturne Girl Lily Lachrimae

Lily is proof that intelligence is hot! Get reading!

I had the pleasure of shooting with Nocturne Girl Lily Lachrimae recently, in a 1940’s themed shoot for Nocturne Magazine. We were fortunate enough to be able to shoot at my favourite book store, Hard to Find Books in Onehunga (pro-tip: make sure you take plenty of money when you visit there, because they have the most amazing selection of second-hand books at very reasonable prices, and you will want to buy everything within reach!).

Lily’s hair and make-up were done by the ever talented Cassie Ace, and styling was done by Lily herself. I’m only going to share a couple of the shots here on my blog, so you should pop over to Lily’s web gallery on the Nocturne website and check out the rest for yourself!

There is nothing better than curling up with a cup of tea and your favourite book.

 

There is a lot to be said for curling up somewhere warm and sunny, and escaping on mad adventures in a book…

© Meagan Kerr Photography 2012