Ashley Maxwell Photography

Be Bold

Hello gal pals!!! I just hosted my first Makeup Seminar, and wanted to thank everyone who attended the event!! It was such an amazing night- full of laughter and lots of girl talk!! We had healthy food, yummy sweets, champagne, coconut water, amazing flowers, girly music!! Ah! It was a perfect group of ladies too!! I hope everyone had as much fun as I did!!

I demonstrated one of my favorite looks right now, and thought I would give those who were not able attend a brief overview so you can learn how to create this look too! It was all about creating a flawless complexion paired with bold brows, bold lashes, and a fun bold lip!!!! 

Skin Prep

I am going to say something crazy...Prepping your skin is more important than the actual makeup application. What??? I know it sounds odd, but it's so true!! Always cleanse, tone, detox, and hydrate-especially under the eyes!! Next apply an oil control primer in your T-Zone and/or a hydrating primer in the drier areas like your cheeks! Diffusing shadows and texture is another great trick to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sun spots before even thinking about foundation. Products like Dior's

Dreamskin

or Buxom's

Divine Goddess Illuminator

 are perfect to make the skin appear youthful and more even!

Complexion

When your complexion is clean and appears flawless- bold makeup will take on a more natural look, and won't look so wild! Apply your foundation and concealer first, and instead of using a bronzer in a powder formula, try a cream foundation in a deeper hue. Here I am using

Bobbi Brown's Foundation Stick in Warm Almond

to contour the cheek bones, forehead, jaw line, the nose, and a little under the bottom lip! I like to blend this darker foundation color into the complexion with my all time fav brush The

#130 Short Duo Fibre

by MAC.

Next add some life to those cheeks! My only rule is to match the blush and lip color for a cohesive look! Think about the undertone! Red goes with Red, Blue/Red pairs with Blue/Red, Yellow/Orange with the same undertones,  and so on with Red/Orange!

Adding a contour underneath the bottom lip and a hightlight or a glow on the top of the lip/in the bow of the lip can visually enhance the size of our lip shape. I like to add a little bit of

Baremineals Queen Phyllis 

 eyeshadow right in the bow of the lip - it catches the light perfectly and in my opinion looks better than drawing over the lip with lip liner.

Brows

Bold brows are on every gals mind right now, and the bolder the brow the more youthful we appear! But what about all the ladies who over plucked? Maybe you're experiencing hormonal hair loss, or you've got some wiry little gray hairs all of a sudden?! There are

pencils

out there to help you create new shapes, but you have to be careful with how boxy the front ends up. We don't want our brows to be too obvious or appear fake! I like to draw one line under the brow to create a seamless line - than I go back with a brush to soften and lift the product into the rest of the eyebrow. If you have empty spots, go back in with a quick hair-like strokes to create a fuller appearance. Try a

brow gel

for those wiry little guys and remember to comb upward - this will create a lifted appearance for the eyes and face making us seem more awake and lively!

Eyes + Lashes

BIG + BOLD lashes make you feel sexy! Here are a few tricks to make what you got look a lot fuller! 

1. Curl the lashes 

2. Apply

Dior's Lash Maximizer

- Wiggle the brush at the base of the lash, and than pull into the tips of the lash. Let this dry for a few moments! 

3. Apply your favorite mascara with the same application technique - base to tip! 

4. Apply some

small individual lashes

on the outside of the eye, and

mini individual lashes

on the inside of the eye to create a fuller appearance. Remember to glue them onto the actual lash- do not apply the tip of the false lash to the skin! Try a

black glue

so there is no shiny residue to be seen. 

5. To finish this look, add

Dior's Blackout

mascara to blend the false lashes into the real lashes and intensify the color. Yep, there are many depths to a black mascara, so this one is 15X the pigment of others! 

To enhance the lashline, try the tightlining technique- this means filling in the little gaps between the lashes! Pull your eyelid up a little with your thumb, and press an eyeliner into the gaps on the lash line to get product between the lashes.

Lips

The best way to hide your sleepy eyes from the outside world is to apply a BOLD lip color! People's eyes will instantly be drawn to the beautiful color instead of your dark circles! Bold colors also seem more confident, so rock that bold color at your next job interview and especially if you work in sales!! My favorite color for this season is an orange red - and

LadyBird

by Butter London is such a hot color!! Plus, you have a lip liner, a lipstick, a gloss + pencil sharpener and you only have to carry around one product! *With LadyBird lip color, I would recommend to pair it will a light peachy blush like "

Deep Throat

" by Nars. 

A special thanks to my right-hand gal Makeup Artist Kim Baker. I don't know what I would do without her sometimes! She is the best assistant ever!!! 

Venue + Rentals:

Pleasanton Rentals

|| Photography by:

Ashley Maxwell

|| Floral Arrangements + Flower Wall by:

Freckled and Floral

|| Desserts by:

Ma Petite Maison Cake Design

|| Customized Pencils:

A Blissful Nest Shop

|| Napkins:

Southern Fried Paper

|| Swag Bags are filled with:

Butter London

,

TypeLites

, Fauxlash,

Rodan + Fields

, and

It Works

Booking Brides {Summer 2013}

While it is only January 9th...2013 seems to be already booked up! My phone calender has too many little dots notifying me of events to come this year.

Looking back, I had an amazing 2012. I was blessed to meet some amazing women, and getting to work with them on their special day was such an honor! Honestly, every single girl I met was stunning-personality wise as well as just straight up good looking. It was so cool to connect with strangers, and once we met, there was a comfortably-like we have been friends for years. Hearing about their proposals, listening to their dreamy honeymoon plans... I love every moment I get with my brides!

Location: Rose Hotel in Pleasanton // Hair by Kellie Gish Renzulli // Photography by Ashley Maxwell
Location: Grace Vineyards in Elk Grove // Photography by Ashley Maxwell
Location: Hecker Pass Winery in Gilroy // Hair by Danielle Derksen // Photography by Ashley Maxwell
Location: Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco // Photography by Ashley Maxwell

Now, on to business! I am officially booking for the summer of 2013-it is never to early to start booking your wedding vendors. The earlier the better, because time sure does fly. If you or a friend are getting married, contact me via email at priscillafrancine.makeup@gmail.com

My commitment to you is picture perfect skin, kissable lips, and eyes your future Hubby will never forget! (...and we will have a great time together too!) Never feel like you are bothering me...this is my job-it's what I love to do. Even though it breaks my heart, if I am unavailable I will help you find another makeup artist that you will love!!

When contacting me, please provide the date and location of your special event. View more details and prices hereI AM SO EXCITED TO MEET YOU! 

Congratulations on your special day,

 XOXO
Priscilla Francine

Photoshoot: Fleur Envy

While we all work individually, photographer Ashley Maxwell, hairstylist Danielle Derksen and I are one of the most effective "teams" when combined. Our styles merge beautifully. The last session we worked on together was for BoLee Bridal Couture's gowns...seen here. We captured some delightful moments that day with our 4 beautiful models...Well, we did it again for Fleur Envy! This is a line full of delicate handmade bridal accessories. The pieces were insane with how much detail went into the bead work...the stitching-oh, and there were feathers galore!! Enjoy these breath taking "whimsical" images.

Photography by Ashley Maxwell
Look #1 Earth Tones: Green, Gold, Nude, Brown
Audrey FAUX Lashes
 FAUX Lash
Look #2 Classic Bride: Purple Hues... Plums and Mauves
Lace FAUX Lashes
Look #3 The Sultry Swan: Black Smokey Eyes & Pale Pink Lips!
Bridal Accessories by Fleur Envy
Hair by Danielle Derksen

Makeup by Priscilla Francine
Photography by Ashley Maxwell
Hair by Danielle Derksen
Lashes by FAUX
Bridal Accessories by Fleur Envy

XOXO
Priscilla Francine

Not just any ol' Birthday

Timelines were very important to me in my younger years. I enjoyed planning out my life, and giving myself deadlines of when I needed to achieve certain things. Today is my birthday, not just any ol' birthday, but a date that I gave myself a deadline for a few things. Ironically I have not achieved what I thought was important, but much more than I could have dreamed of...

While I could tell you about my well deserved fine lines of wisdom, and give you some product knowledge on a great ant-aging (full body) cream...I though it would be fun to reminisce on what I have accomplished this last year, and say thank you to those who supported me along the way. 

 Fleur Envy with Ashley Maxwell and Danielle Derksen
Modcloth with Kristin Cofer
Style Me Pretty with Ashley Bats and Taylor Sterling.
Glitter Guide
...I can't wait to share a surprise!!!
My beautiful Brides and their families -BellaLu Photography

This past year went by so fast... Thank you to my dear friends and family who are so accommodating to my crazy schedule, and lastly but oh-so-very important... Thank you to my loving husband who is my number one fan. While today marks the deadline of some things I needed to accomplish... I have accomplished more than I could have dreamed of with you by my side. Thanks for loving me, and for letting our house be consumed by makeup!

I can't wait to celebrate.

XOXO
Priscilla

Things that make me smile...

working side by side with Ashley Maxwell Photography
Smashbox Brushes
Feathers in my hair...
YSL Mascara
the color purple
Kiehl's Creme de Corps collection
Being organized the night before a photo shoot
I think it's obvious I like Deborah Lippmann!
Bare Escentuals glimmers and my pearls
I love being part of a Bride's special day
Dinah DeRosa
photoshoots...sigh
my signature scent xoxo



What makes you smile?

XOXO
Priscilla

Boots with a White Dress

Sometimes the most wonderful pictures are the last few snapped before packing up the gear. Here is a teaser of a photoshoot I set up a few weeks ago with BoLee Bridal Couture, Daneille Derksen @ Salon Mona Lisa, and Ashley Maxwell Photography.


Simone Carvalli


Make sure you follow BoLee Bridal on their Facebook Page!!
I can't wait to share the rest! Stay tuned!!!

XOXO
Priscilla