Makeup Lesson By Kimberly of Trish McEvoy at Saks

As many of you know, Kimberly Taylor of Trish McEvoy at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco has

Renata Bodon having makeup done by Kimberly Taylor

been doing my makeup for the last six years.  Many of you had the wonderful experience of having her do your makeup at our “Make The Media Love You” event at Saks in August.

I had the happy accident of stumbling across a blogger who got a make up lesson from Kimberly recently.  Check it out and find out why she’s one of my key peeps!

Jenn

3 Things To NEVER Say To A Reporter

I recently asked Maureen Naylor, Emmy award winning journalist and South Bay reporter for

Maureen Naylor of KTVU Channel 2

KTVU Channel 2, to share a few tips from her experience interviewing people just like you.

Here’s what she had to say were the Top 3 Things to Never Say to a Reporter:

• Don’t tell them what to include in the story
• Don’t tell them what to shoot video of
• Absolutely never, ever make up fake or incorrect information

Stay tuned for more tips from Maureen!

Special – Charter VIP Media Training Intensive

Special – Charter VIP Media Training Intensive

Join us for our Charter VIP session on October 19th and 20th.   The first 10 people to sign up before October 10 get an additional $200.00 off. So hurry, only limited seats available! What is in our October 19 and 20 charter member training for you?

Over 50% discount on the 2 day training – $2800 value

Complimentary 30 minute one-on-one PR strategy session with your choice of expert  -  $100 value

Complementary ebooks : Pure Publicity, Making the Media Love You and The Happiness Handbook, authored by CEO trainer, Jennifer Flaa

Complementary pitch and interview question workgroup – $49 value

50% off six online web series by experts Adryenn Ashley, Jenn Flaa and Keren Peled – $1494 value

50% off headshots from world famous fashion commercial photographer Jesse Goff – on 10/19 only – $400 value

Retail price of Training:  $4,843

Cost to You:  $1,499

Total savings over $3,300

Join us for our Charter VIP session on October 19th and 20th.   The first 10 people to sign up before October 10 get an additional $200.00 off. So hurry, only limited seats available! What’s in it for you?

• Over 50% discount on the 2 day training – $2800 value
• Complimentary 30 minute one-on-one PR strategy session with your choice of expert  -  $100 value
• Complementary ebooks : Pure Publicity, Making the Media Love You and The Happiness Handbook, authored by CEO trainer, Jennifer Flaa
• Complementary pitch and interview question workgroup – $49 value
• 50% off six online web series by experts Adryenn Ashley, Jenn Flaa and Keren Peled – $1494 value
• 50% off headshots from world famous fashion commercial photographer Jesse Goff – on 10/19 only – $400 value

Retail price of Training: $4,843

Cost to You:  $1,499

Total savings over $3,300

Check out the bios of the fabulous team that will help you look and be relaxed, calm and yourself on camera.

We rocked Saks in August, now let us rock you!  Sign Up Now! Use Code “VIP02″

The Secret Is Out!

Angela Jia-Kim, the founder of Savor The Success and Om Aroma, spills
the beans about what she learned in her one-on-one on-camera coaching session with Vettanna ToGo!

Check out her blog where she talks about her 4 media experiences this summer, what she learned and shares the clips.

It’s no secret any more…our on-camera, authenticity training rocks!!

Social Media: The Power To Make Better Behaved People…

If you’ve been in my social networking class, you’ve heard my stories about “you never know who you’re talking to or who they are connected to”.

Here’s a tale that adds to that phrase “…and you never know how talented they are…”.

Once upon a time, not long ago, four musicians watched in horror as United Airlines tossed their guitars around on the tarmak. The moral of the story is…provide good customer service (and inspire a love song instead!)

Notice, the clip went viral with over 5 Million hits in 6 weeks. (Hope they sold some tunes from this so they could buy a new guitar!)

Enjoy,

Jenn

United Breaks Guitars

5 Tips For Dealing With Nervous Energy Before A Media Interview

Click Image For The Web Site

Savor The Success at Saks – Media Training Workshop

I am so happy & excited to tell you about this incredible event!  Savor The Success has asked me

Make The Media Love You

to do a value packed Media Training Workshop and Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square, San Francisco is hosting the event.

The cost is amazingly only $55! Here’s what you get to help you craft your relaxed and professional on-camera presence:

• 2 on-camera interviews (one minute each)
• Tips from makeup artists, hair artists, fashion stylists and media pros (moi and Julia McNeal)
• 1 on 1 time with hair artists, Trish McEvoy makeup artists and Saks fashion stylists and small group sessions with our media pros
• Validated parking
• Swag bag including samples and 15% off at Saks through 8/15

Click the picture above to sign up.  Do it NOW, there’s only 30 seats available!

Tip Teaser

• Did you know there are 3 types of on-camera interviews?
• How to do flattering makeup for the 2 types of lighting you’ll encounter
• Fashion dos and don’ts on-camera!
• Gig Bag: What it is, why you need one and the 5 must have items in your gig bag
• Nerves – how to release them or better yet – use them!
• Sparkle – the secret ingredient to creating awesome on-camera moments
• Technical basics – where to stand, what to look at,  and mic technic (clip on and hand held)

There’s actually 2 other parts to this event that you can participate in:

Tonight, 7/21 at Bo Concept in San Francisco, Shameless Self Promotion expert Adryenn Ashley is giving tips for how to get media interviews and how to get them to ask you back for more!

There’s homework to prepare for your on-camera interview so we’re hosting a free brainstorming event on 8/1 in SF.  Add comment below with your email address if you’d like more info/time/location. Because it’s always easier with other quick thinking entrepreneurs, come and work on your:

• Short bio
• 3-5 Image words that describe you (or the you that you are growing into)
• 3 Interview questions

This is unbelievable access to information and stylists!  Don’t miss this opportunity.  Even if you don’t think you’re ready for PR, I can tell you that this type of workshop at a cost like this, isn’t going to happen again!

Start your happy dance, this is awesome stuff!

Jenn

Prepping For Head Shots

Here’s a few ideas about how to prepare for your head shot photo shoot so you can show up relaxed and confident. (Note: This is a reprint of a blog I did for Savor The Success. This is a longer blog post than usual, but you can print it out and use it as a checklist.)

1.  The #1 Thing To Do Before Your Shoot

Decide what image you want to convey – pick one word (ex:  confident, sassy, smart, sexy, vivacious, outrageous, soft, goofy,

Jennifer Flaa

warm, inviting).  All the rest of your prep (and your successful shoot) revolve around this one decision.

2.  Posing

Scan STS, FB, Twitter for examples of head shots that you like.  (hint: look at other people’s “followers” or “friends”)  Here’s some examples:

• Is it a partial head shot like @ev or @hoomantv or @imbrian or @mtiad?
• Spunky like our own @adryenn? or thoughtful like @alancfrancis
• Unusual like @evanphx or @deadprogram?
• Attitudinal like @71flavors
• Soft, sexy, beautiful like @inko9nito or @aplusk or @RealHughJackman or @BrandonBrey
• Goofy like @hrheingold or @StephenAtHome (really, you gotta check Colbert’s superhero pose out)
• With props like @maev2 or @marcelleturner

Practice in front of the mirror.  Ok, this might feel goofy or “vain” – get over it and just do it.  Try different combinations of things:

• Full face to camera vs face at a slight angle to camera
  

  Jennifer Flaa

• Eyes to camera or looking up/down/right/left
• Try face at angle to camera but eyes to camera, this is often interesting
• Full smile, partial smile, no smile, lips together, lips parted
• Goofy faces (get it out of your system or decide there’s a couple you want to do!)
• Pretend that you’re a model and do wacky poses, one after the other, flip your hair, relax, be playful and have fun  (This is a great attitude to bring with you to the shoot)
• When you’ve prepared step 5, try thinking those “thoughts” while you look in the mirror and notice how real emotion washes over your face and effects your body language naturally.  This is usually when you’ll look the most relaxed and beautiful.

Now, did the poses you like convey the image from step 1.  If not, you have 2 options: try more poses or pick a word that more closely resembles what you give off authentically and naturally.

You want to have several poses in mind for your shoot.  You can print them & bring them with. You can even write them down so you remember (“blue steel” – bonus points if you get this pop culture reference!)

3.  Wardrobe

Next, try on several different outfits and see what fits, looks good and fits with your image from step 1 & 2.  Remember to make sure it’s cleaned and ironed (unless the careless, grunge look is what you’re trying to convey!)

Pick the jewelry you want to wear.

Set out any props you want to bring with.

Do:

• Textured clothing
• Layers
• Colors that flatter you
• Your favorite outfit
• What you’re comfortable in
• Underwear that’s right for the outfit

Don’t (in general):

• Colors that “wash your skin tone out”
• Busy prints
• White
• Low cut (unless it is consistent with the image you want to project)
• Sleeveless

Remember to wear the shoes that make you feel like your image in #1 (ex: sexy stilettos, kick ass boots, playful sneakers).  it may seem weird because it’s only a headshot and the shoes won’t be snapped, but it’s all in how they make you feel!

4.  Makeup

If you aren’t having a makeup person help you out or you aren’t going to a makeup counter for their help, make sure you aren’t running low and remember to bring it with you to the shoot.  Remember:

• Foundation and powder are your friends
• You’ll probably need more than you normally wear, especially if you are under lights

5. Behind Your Eyes

Before your shoot, spend some time to think about situations/events/people in your life that bring out the image you want to convey from step 1.

• Reminisce, remember or fantasize a time you felt really confident, really sexy, really amused, really in love, really
  

  Jennifer Flaa

  fierce or defiant.

• Write down a couple of the scenarios that work well at bringing that feeling back into your body (and onto your face).
• Go back to step 2 and try them in front of the mirror.
• Rated “M” for Mature Tip:  Ok, this tip is not from the timid and comes from a well known actor.  Here’s her advice before my last shoot:  ”Think of someone you are/were really hot for – a major lust-muffin in your life. When you’ve got them well pictured in your mind’s eye and that soft, tingly, juicy feeling in your body, then image that person (and with all those yummy feelings coursing through your body) think ‘I wanna f* you’”
  • My actor friend swears by this and recommends doing it at least once in your shoot. You can crack up laughing after too, that might get some cool shots too.
  • I tried it at my last shoot. Of course there were a couple shots that looked hilariously trampish but there were also a few shots that created a softness in my eyes, or a relaxed beauty on my face and one shot that I look absolutely fierce in!  It was absolutely worth trying for a couple snaps…and no, I’m not gonna tell you which pix I was thinking this in!

Kira and Ross do a great job of capturing the thoughts behind your eyes. (Ross Pelton did the color shots above, Kira Stackhouse did the b&w shot above)

6. The Night Before

• Get everything ready (wardrobe, shoes, jewelry, makeup, props)
  

  Drink plenty of water

• Last minute eyebrow shaping
• Do a visualization of the shoot (like athletes & entertainers do before a performance). Imagine what it will look like, the camera, you, your poses. Imagine yourself relaxed, confident, playful and having fun.  Imagine that feeling in your body. Imagine looking at the shots and being really happy with them. Imagine leaving the shoot doing your happy dance because it went so well and you were so relaxed and natural.
• Look in the mirror and say to yourself “I am really beautiful” and smile at yourself.
• Set out music (or make an ipod playlist) of the music that will get you in the mood with your step 1 word and your step 5 scenarios.  Will you pick upbeat rock, relaxing classical, longing ballads, dance beats?
• Print out the directions to the shoot and SET YOUR ALARM.
• Drink a lot of water, get enough rest, eat well all the day before.  This is hugely important, the camera picks up the smallest nuances.  Just do it.

7. At The Shoot

Most shots are done with digital cameras.  Ask the photographer if they can take a couple shots and then review them.  You’ll be looking for 2 things:

• Enough/too much makeup? (Foundation, shine – more powder, eyes “popping”, hair)
• Relaxed or tense?

One tip is to bring an observant friend who can watch for:

• Shine
• Hair in place
• Jewelry not askew (sometimes pendants “stick” to your chest in the wrong place or dangling earrings take weird angles)

Use your cheat sheet from step 2 & 5.  Relax and let memories and fantasies flood your mind and wash over your face.  Don’t be embarrassed, just do it.  You can always try it and then go review the shots with the photographer, if it’s not looking relaxed an authentic. No worries, do/think something else.

The more pictures you take during your photo shoot, the harder it is to really make your smile ’pop’.  Professionals know to purposely frown in between shots so that your smile stays fresh for each click of the camera.

Nerves & Tension Tips:

• Work with it, don’t try to suppress it (it only shows up more in the pix!)
• Jump up and down, it releases nervous energy while it energizes you (that’s why rockers do it on stage)
• If your stomach has “butterflies”, imagine unzipping a zipper on your stomach and letting them fly free (goofy, I know, but oddly enough – it works)
• Try a grounding meditation and “get fully in your body”. Being nervous draws your energy and focus up your body, into your brain or even out your head.  To convey confident, relaxed, authenticity be fully in your body. Put your focus into your belly and your breath filling your belly. (Remember, it’s a head shot, you don’t have to suck in your gut!)
• OK, stop thinking that you’re gonna be “discovered” or that you have to be “perfect”. This is just for fun, just for you.  If they turn out, great.  If it’s a “learning experience” for the next time, great. Think of the performers that you love to watch.  Aren’t they the ones that aren’t trying to be perfect, they are just being themselves and having fun?  Do that.
• Go back to your work from step 5 and just relax and let your memories and fantasies flood your mind.  Stop thinking about how you look, the camera, the lights etc, just think about your step 5 stuff. (ie: go to your happy place in your mind!)
• Have fun and just play.

Other resources:

Preparing For Headshots

How To Prepare For Your Headshot

Hope that helps.  Anyone have any other tips to add?

Jenn

—————-

Jennifer Flaa

CEO, Vettanna ToGo

Media Training for Entrepreneurs, Authors and Speakers

www.vettannatogo.com

Toll Free:  866-422-0948

Direct:       415-460-1152

Cell:          415-640-3465

Twitter:      @jflaa1

Why Subscribe (and what is RSS)?

When you subscribe to a blog it means that you don’t have to remember to come back, you’ll be notified about the latest posts automatically.  There are two ways to subscribe:

1. In A Reader
2. By Email

Subscribing In A Reader

A reader is a really cool web page that let’s you stay on top of all the places you love on the web but it keeps them all on one page.  I’ve been using igoogle.com and I made it be my browser homepage.  Every time I open my browser, my igoogle page appears with my local weather, horoscope, headline news links and the blogs I’ve subscribed to.

But I’m thinking about switching readers.   I’ve been checking out netvibes and it’s really got a hip look and lots more cool things to include on your page(s). (My fear is that with all this eye candy and information, I’ll be very slow in actually doing real work!)

Subscribing easy.  Everytime you’re on a blog you like and click “subscribe in a reader” you’ll go to a page where you can choose the reader you want.  Try it out.  Over on the right of this page, click “subscribe in a reader” and you’ll see all the choices you have.  (Don’t worry it takes a couple of clicks to activate, so you’ve got plenty of freedom to poke around without committing.)

Subscribing By Email

Just pop in your email address and everytime there’s a new blog entry, you’ll get the post right in your inbox.  You can read it right in the body of the mail and you don’t even need to come back to the site! (Unless you want to leave comments)

What is RSS?

Don’t worry about it, it’s just the acroynm for the techie stuff about how the information is passed around behind the scenes.  If you’re really curious google or wikipedia it for all the gory details!

Remember to subscribe before you leave!

Jenn

Images On Your Blog

Here’s a couple of tools to help you modify the size of the images you want to use on the web.  Some of them change the file size for faster downloading and some of them crop.

http://www.picnik.com/

http://www.shrinkpictures.com/

http://www.resize2mail.com/index.php

http://www.1-hit.com/all-in-one/php/ii.htm

Got any other suggestions?
Jenn