Have you heard the news?

Arbonne Cosmetics are a collection of lightweight, beneficial formulas for gorgeous skin, eyes and lips. It all begins with Arbonne’s exclusive Optilight Technology. Stunning in its duality, Optilight Technology works in two ways:

1. Light is diffused to create a soft-focus effect, blurring imperfections so skin looks flawless from virtually every angle.
2. Simultaneously, finely sized pigments allow skin to breathe, imparting a “light as air” feeling and promoting a healthy glow.

A perfect complement to your skin care regimen, Arbonne Cosmetics is a comprehensive line of makeup that lets your innermost beauty come to light.

Arbonne Essentials™ can help you accomplish your goals and get you on the path to healthier living with nutrition that’s individually targeted to your body’s needs. You can choose products from Daily Essentials, Fit Essentials or some combination of the two.

Find out more on my site, jbrownwellness.myarbonne.com.

Want to see these products first-hand? I’ll be demonstrating the products and donating a basket to the Grand Opening Fundraising Party of Char’s Hair Design’s new salon! The money raised will go towards the Billy De Frank community center.

Here are the event details:

When: February 4, 2012 beginning at 6pm
Where: Char’s Hair Design, 1343A The Alameda, San Jose, Ca. 95126.
Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, endless beer, endless wine, live entertainment: an all girl band and Drag King and Queen show, raffle prizes and fun.
For more info, visit charshairdesign.com/134.

I hope to see you on the 4th! If you can’t make it, feel free to contact me to find a convenient time to show you how Arbonne can help make a healthier, beautiful you!

This will be my last blog post for Jeanine Brown Photo Design. 2012 is a year of change, and I have closed down my photography business. I am open to new business ventures, and will soon be launching a wellness blog, as I have undergone many personal changes over the last year and a half.

Thanks for your friendship and here is to 2012!

Looking good is not superficial. You make an impression in everything you do. Why not have that very important first impression be right on target?

What did the process entail? We spent about 2 hours in his studio going through thousands of colors, which he held up to my face. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup, and he draped a neutralizing beige cloth around me so no color was reflected upward, giving him a more accurate reading. He looked at all of the colors in my eyes, on my teeth and within my eyebrows, and he asked if I was going to keep my current hair color, as all of these components affect the outcome of the color palette.

After Joseph narrowed the colors down, we went to the mirror and eliminated even more colors. It was amazing to see how a color that was just one or two shades off didn’t look nearly as nice with my coloring.

After a week or two, the palette came back assembled, and Joseph showed me how to shop with it and what the colors mean. My colors ranged from subdued to quite a few bold colors. He explained my essence through color, and I felt like he was right on target.

My color essence is:

• Supportive – able to give something greater credibility by being consistent with it or providing further evidence of it
• Adaptable – able to adjust easily to changes and new conditions that suit a higher ideal
• Sensible – able to be perceived through the sense
• Philosophical – concerned with or given to thinking about the larger issues and deeper meanings in life and events

The palette is used to pick out clothes, accessories and even makeup. Apparently, I do better in solids as opposed to patterns, and smooth rather than textured fabrics. Since obtaining my palette and shopping with it, I’ve gradually revamped my wardrobe and made a few interesting observations:

1. People look at me, not my clothes. The purpose of the color palette is to find colors you’re harmonious with, which seems to have worked.
2. I get more compliments on my clothes.
3. It really does take the guesswork out of shopping. By sticking to the colors in the palette, it looks like you paid more for what you’re wearing because the color is right – even if you bought it at a discount store. It helps you save money and time.

As I’m currently in a career and life transition, I figured knowing my color palette would be an important first step, and I’ve already seen it make a difference! Next year I plan to hire Joseph as a personal stylist so he can help me further-define the look and image I want to convey.

Have you ever had a color consultation? What was your experience like? What did you learn about yourself?

Here are a couple of examples:

The photo above is Tom. It was taken straight on, with full flash against a white door. There is really nothing interesting in the composition. In fact, the photo looks like a mug shot. It doesn’t even reveal anything about the subject, as it is cropped below the neck.

The above photo might work for a passport application, but suppose this gentleman wanted to use this photo on a dating website, LinkedIn or even on Facebook? I don’t think he would get the results he is looking for.

This second photo of Tom was taken with an iPhone. It’s much more interesting for a couple of reasons, including the background and ambient lighting. By keeping a portion on the piano in the frame, it gives the portrait an interesting focal point. I also stood on my toes to get some height.

I think you’ll agree the second photo of Tom is much better, even though it was taken with a camera on my phone. Remember, no matter what tools you’re using, there’s no excuse for a boring picture!

Most women wear makeup every day, but the makeup you put on for being out and about is different than they makeup you want to have on in front of a camera. You want your makeup to be a little bit heavier, but does that mean you should cake it on? Here are 7 tips from HowToDoThings.com:

1. Use photo-friendly lines of makeup. Brand lines like Cargo Blue Ray and MUFE HD are just some of the many lines that specifically target consumers who always want to look good on photos. Using any of these lines is a sure way to look more gorgeous in every photo.
2. Apply more. The flash from the camera and the lights will rob some tint from your makeup. This is the reason why you look paler and your makeup looks less vibrant in photos. So, applying more makeup than usual will remedy this common photo shoot problem. That means you should apply darker lipstick, more eyeshadow, more blush and more eye liner.
3. Use a magnifying mirror. This type of mirror will come in handy if you will apply the makeup on yourself. This is also a good way to spot the tiny blemishes on your face. You need to hide even the slightest imperfection on your face especially if an SLR camera will be used or if the photo will be taken under daylight.
4. Choose matte. Using shiny makeup might only reflect on the photo. Better avoid using glittery makeup and stick with matte finishes.
5. No to SPF creams. These creams, when applied on moisturizer or foundation, will only cause white casts on your face. The white casts will be visible on your photos.
6. Black-and-white picture makeup. Using colorful makeup will be useless for black-and-white photos. The makeup trick here is to accentuate the nice contours of your face like the chin, forehead, nose, and cheekbones. Use light-color makeup, too. Instead of using red lipstick, stick with pink or yellow.
7. Ear foundation. Apply some foundation on your ears if they tend to be reddish most of the time. The foundation will conceal the ears’ redness.

Want a few additional ideas? eHow has a lot of great videos to check out. See them here, or give me a call and we can go over specific suggestions for your skin type together!

Photo Credit: jerine

What a great reminder that you can be glamorous at any age! I am so glad Irene had her photo taken. We also had several ladies who did traditional pin up style pictures. A big thanks to the expertise of the talented stylists at Lillies; the ladies were transformed into vintage vixens. The photos turned out wonderfully!

Pin up photos make great gifts for Christmas and Valentine’s Day, as well as birthdays for that special someone. A pin up party is less expensive then a private session and the hostess can get a free session, so contact me for more info!

With makeovers, massages, glamour shots and more, this is the ULTIMATE pampering event. Perfect for a fun afternoon with the ladies, plus you’ll be able to get a jump start on your holiday shopping. Men are welcome too!

When and Where? Saturday, November 5 from 12pm – 4pm at the Studio Art & Beauty Salon (3463 Union Ave in San Jose). You’ll get complimentary facials, beautiful baubles, delicious treats, glamour pictures and more.

Want a preview of the event? Here are the businesses that will be there:

• BambooPink, affordable luxury through beautifully designed jewelry and career opportunities that give women the freedom to blossom.
• Beauty Society, a company with a conscience that provides beautiful skin care and lucrative opportunities for women everywhere.
• Desserts By Jeanette, creative cakes and desserts made to taste divinely delicious and look elegantly exquisite.
• TrioSpa provides therapy for the mind, body and soul through specialty services in a comfortable and friendly environment.
• Jeanine Brown Photography, my company that captures the essence of individuals and brings their personalities out on film.

Find out more about The Leukemia Lymphoma Society by visiting my Team in Training donation page. I’ll see you there!

Family Day in the Park at Vasona Park, October 15, 12-5pm. In exchange for a $50 donation to Team in Training, I’ll provide a 20 minute session that includes 1 digital high-res image! Email me to sign up for a time slot.

I started Team in Training in 2002 and have done 5 events with them: the Honolulu Marathon twice, the Nike Women’s Half Marathon twice and the San Diego Rock and Roll Half Marathon. My most recent time (during the San Diego Marathon last season) I came in with a time of 3:21.

Find out more about Team in Training by visiting my donation page.

Here are a few fun ideas for integrating two separate backgrounds into a wedding:

• Following Mistry and Jovenel’s lead, create a fun blend of different styles of music at the reception so everyone can have a few songs they love.
• Incorporate your heritage into some of the photos through props, backgrounds or specific poses.
• Choose a common color or two from one tradition and combine it with decorates from another.
• Serve the bride’s and the groom’s native food so the guests can experience a little bit of both cultures.

Mistry and Jovenel planned a beautiful wedding, and I was honored to be a part of it. The evening wedding took place in the gardens, and even included the bride shedding a few tears of joy as her brother escorted her down the aisle (see photo to the left). I also enjoyed working with Marcia Coleman Joyner of A Joyous Occasion, the exclusive planner for the property, and Larisa Mar of HD Video Memories, a pleasant, easy going and professional videographer.

Sometimes called “beefcake” or “dudoir” this is a specialty area of photography, where men can get the same rewarding, self-expressed experience that women have enjoyed for quite awhile. Here are tips to prepare men for a boudoir photo shoot, and what you should expect at Mistress J’s Boudoir Photography Studio.

First, identify your target audience. Is this a gift for a lover, wife, or partner? What do you want your picture to express? Do you want to capture a moment just for yourself? Need a sexy shot for a modeling portfolio?

Next, identify your best features. Admit you have fabulous biceps or an outrageously firm butt; this is the time to celebrate it! Is it your glorious eyes smoldering over powerful shoulders? Decide what parts of yourself you are willing to share with the camera, and we’ll build from there. Boudoir photography is not only for “beautiful people.” A great boudoir photographer can make men look powerful, sexy and hot, whether they think they are or not.

Are you into the outdoors? Are you an athlete? Do you love leather? We can build a shoot around your hobbies or fetishes. Feel free to bring special props that add to the uniqueness of your shoot. Another thing people don’t think about regarding this specialized photography is that very sexy results can be achieved with varying amounts of clothing or coverings. Boudoir photography is NOT pornography, although many boudoir photographers foray into tasteful (and edgier) nudes. You choose your “dress scale.”

Mistress J provides a relaxed atmosphere where your self-expression flourishes with guidance, not judgment. We recommend at least one phone conversation prior to your shoot to review your objectives and discuss studio set up. Your scheduled in-studio shoot includes plenty of time to ease you into the groove, and allow yourself to become immersed in this very personal experience.