Ever wondered how celebrities get those high-end luxury brand campaigns? Is it their name, their face, their box office pulling power, their ability to look good with a little plastic surgery and a lot of Photoshop…?
It’s probably all of the above, but as someone who is the same age as Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz (both 41 and both stars of campaigns for perfume and watches), I thought it would be fun to create and star in my very own advert for a luxury brand. I already had the photographic equipment – a DSLR, tripod and flash – and set out to create a mock up of what I thought could be my big advertising campaign – and prove it’s not all that difficult to look super expensive!
How to Star in Your Own Campaign in 5 Easy Steps:
- Get those rollers in your hair (your hair can’t be too big for this) and get your make up done (contour like crazy and ensure you have plenty on)
- Choose your luxury brand product to advertise – I chose the Hermès Arceau watch from The Watch Gallery to match my hair
- Set up a little studio with your camera and tripod in your kitchen or somewhere with a blank wall
- Use a ring flash to blast your face with even light and iron out wrinkles and blemishes
- Superimpose your luxury brand product over your image in Photoshop… voilà!
So it just goes to prove that with the right lighting and make up we can all look polished and worthy of an advertising campaign – believe me I don’t look anywhere near this glossy in real life (plus I’d never wear such heavy make up, but you need it for the photos). And if you also had the added benefit of a little nip and tuck and a lot of Photoshop, it’s no wonder we see 40-something celebrities as these age-defying creatures of wonder. I did this in my kitchen with my DSLR and a ring flash, plus a bit of Photoshop auto levels adjustment and stray hair minimising just to add a touch of gloss (I won’t deny there was a bit of tweaking, but that was the point – to add gloss). I could have gone a lot further with the Photoshop than I actually did.
So – if money were no object, would you consider buying a luxury product as a result of my advert? Have I convinced you this could be a real advertising campaign…?! Let me know what you think in the comments!
P.S. This was in part a response to the Mumsnet thread that mentioned me and got a few of you riled on my Facebook page (thank you my little lammies!). I’ll give her “she looks closer to 50 to me”, pfft…!
I have written this post in collaboration with The Watch Gallery. All content is original, however, and any opinions are 100% honest. I am also not suggesting that the celebrities mentioned have had plastic surgery, just to be clear(!)
WOW you look absolutely incredible!! I'll have to give this a go 😉
Suzy x
http://www.suzyturner.com
Don't you just LOVE photoshop? If I Ccould choose any campaign, I would definitely opt for one of those Bvulgari campaigns where there are cabochon emerald necklaces as big as a dinner plate.
Oh, and I have a giveaway on the blog this week, so if you and yours want to get in on the action, have a look see. I think you would ROCK the jersey wrap dress that is part of the prize 🙂
K.
LOL! I'm sure you have fun doing this shot though! =D
I'm pretty convinced that you are actually advertising for Hermes! You did well with the photoshop I guess.
Hope I look as good as u in 10 years time Catherine! 50 my arse!! X
PS you should do a make-up tutorial as your make-up looks lovely, especially the contouring, I have tried as advised by my 13 year old daughter but never quite get the effect I'm after. x
Wow Catherine you look amazing, particularly like your hair and eye make up. Ask Mrs Mumsnet what she thinks now !!!
You look amazing Catherine, love our hair and eye make you really are very photogenic, ask Mrs Mumsnet what she thinks now !!!
You look fabulous! Some people are so dumb.
Monica, http://www.pear-shaped-gal.com
Amazing! Gwyn n Cam who?! Ax
You certainly sold me. Your makeup looks AMAZING! What color lipstick is that?
Thanks Kristin – there's a ton of it on me!!! I'm actually wearing mostly lip liner and a bit of balm – the make up range may not be available in the US, but it's the Natural Collection lip liner in Plum which is only sold via boots.com, a bit like Walmart. I tend to wear two lipsticks and a lip liner or sometimes even blush on my lips, so I'm not the best person to ask what colour lippie I'm wearing 😉
such fun
I do hope I'm this stunning when I turn 40! Love the idea; it would fit perfectly in any high-end magazine.
http://rhythmandruffle.com <3
That's really kind of you, Toni – thank you xx
Fun post! And you are gorgeous with or without photoshop:)
Don't be surprised when you get a call from Hermes begging you to work for them. :o) And yes, they should at the very least give you a watch for all the free advertising they're getting here!
http://www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com
Oh, if only, sweetie!! I can wish…!
Haha. This is a fun post. You look great… with or without the make-up and light photoshop;)
This is so beautiful you look amazing! I'm 100% following all your tips 🙂
elissex.blogspot.com xx
Omg. I love this! Hermes would be foolish not to hire you for an actual campaign!
Heehee you're too kind, Gracey xx
Wow Catherine! Looks like Hermes just got a new ambassador 😀 this image could go on the billboards any day, you look fantastic! Kisses xxx
Beata
Fun! I need that flash for everyday life : > You look glamorous and gorgeous.
I need it too, Patti!! Seriously I don't look like that, but that was the point I was trying to prove :)) And thank you x
You know i think you look AMAZING! You just can win with some people. No matter what anyone's age is, if they look and feel great, that is all that matters. Quite frankly, I'm fed up of people judging women by their size/age/hair colour/anything they can find to nitpick…etc. You look beautiful with red hair, and you can most certainly pull it off! xx
Wow – that's really well put, Sarah. Thanks so much xoxo
Bloody hxxx, you look fantastic. I hope they have remunerated you for this post with that watch, as I so want to have that now. LOL
:))) thank you, Greetje! (See the bottom of the post for the answer to your question…!) xx
I did read that you had been "compensated". I just hoped they compensated you with that -no doubt- very expensive watch haha.
Who needs Gwyneth, Cameron & Co if we have Catherine?? Wow, you look so glamourous!
And your chosen watch is really great.
Annette | Lady of Style