Photographer Josh Kessler Shares How to Look Good in Photographs

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel Weisz (photos by Joshua Kessler)

Celebrity photographer Josh Kessler has snapped portraits of Mischa Barton, Mandy Moore, Susan Lucci, Betsey Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and the Jersey Shore cast, to name a few. He's also had his fair share of beauty experience, creating lookbooks for Nexxus salon haircare, sponsor of Bravo's popular hairstyling show, "Shear Genius."

Kessler met with a few editors on the heels of the "Shear Genius" headshot challenge episode, offering up his expertise in snapping flattering portraits. Below, his tips shared with Marissa Gold of StyleList.
 
If you have a long face:
"The direction of the light can change the shape of a person's face. If the light is coming from above the camera, it will make the face appear fuller," suggests Kessler.

If you have a wide or round face:
"To slim out a rounder face, use light coming from the side and slightly above."

If you think you look heavy on camera:
"A wide angle lens will make a person appear heavier, and a telephoto lens will have a slimming effect," Kessler says. Telephoto it is!

If you want smooth-looking skin:
"The closer and larger the light source is, the softer and more flattering the light will be," says Kessler. And avoid red backgrounds: "Very few people look good on a red background -- it brings out the redness in skin."

If you have dark circles:
"Use the flash -- even in daylight. If you're shooting in mid-day sun from above, the flash will fill in under the eyes. Also, try using a white or silver reflector card to bounce light back to the face, removing any shadows under the eyes," says Kessler.

If you're on the pale side:
"A warming filter such as an 81A placed on the camera lens (or added later in Photoshop) will give any skin type a healthy glow."

If you want to shoot outdoors:
"Try shooting in the shade on sunny days, and embrace the beautiful soft light of an overcast day. The clouds diffuse the sun, making it a larger and softer light source," says Kessler. Another trick? "Shoot during the magic hour: either one hour after sunrise or one hour before sunset -- lighting is ideal then to give a gorgeous glow to your skin."

If you want to look natural:
Many times posing for photos, especially a portrait, can look forced and stiff. "The most important thing is to feel comfortable and relaxed," says Kessler. He suggests striking up a conversation with your photographer so that you have the same easygoing facial expressions you normally do, and feel at east in the situation.

And a few additional beauty and fashion tips from Kevin Mancuso, celebrity stylist and Nexxus Creative Director:

• Get a trim a week within a week of the shoot so your hair looks healthy.
• Make sure your roots are touched-up, as they can stick out in photos, even black and white.
• Drape hair in front of your shoulders to help elongate the face and make you look thinner -- tightly pulled-back hair can look harsh and unapproachable.
• Pick clothing that works with your hairstyle -- big collars will look busy if you wear your hair down, and low-cut shirts won't work well with an up-do. It's all about balance, so stick to a simple crew or v-neck.

 
source: StyleList, article by Marissa Gold
photo images: Joshua Kessler

McCord-VanKempen Parenting Advice: Are You Kidding?

Laughter really is just so therapeutic. I just had a 'funny' come across my desk. Let me preface this by saying I mean no disrespect, though I fear it may come across otherwise. I just can't pass up a brief comment.

Alex McCord of the hit reality series The Real Housewives of New York City running on Bravo TV is being promoted by a PR firm (I respect this firm so I'm purposely not naming them) with offers to share Alex's "motherhood tips"; further, she is being touted as an "expert". I think the headline of the piece reads, "Talk to the Experts". Apparently Alex is touting a book she's writing about urban parenting slated for publishing sometime in late 2009.

Ok, people, have you seen the show? Have you witnessed Alex and Simon trying unsuccessfully to reign in their little darlings? It's not easy to watch. It leaves me wanting to just reach out to them. Whether in public, at home, in interview situations, what have you, one thing is clear - the kids run the show. I don't know, perhaps I am missing something, but for the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would seek parenting tips, of all things, from the sweet but observably ineffective Alex McCord. Come on, really?

It was good for a chuckle, though.

Defending Rachel

Do we really have to do this? I have to admit I'm really just amazed and disheartened that in this day and age people are still opting to be so vicious.

What's prompted my defense of Rachel Zoe? New York Times writer and critic Ginia Bellafante called Zoe "a pox on humanity" and her "mad consumption … downright unseemly." Add to this, articles all over the internet and in the press practically beating the woman to death with cruel nicknames and innuendo, choosing to display unflattering photos of her with little nasty catch phrases and the like. Have you never taken an unflattering photo yourself? I'm not going to reference these articles, posts, blogs, magazines, what have you aside from the one that sent me over the edge named above; just not going to perpetuate the hate. And make no mistake, hate it is!

I have to wonder what it is about Rachel that would draw out so much anger, hostility and venom. Is it jealously of some kind? Perhaps. Is it that these people, women mostly, think so little of the average Joe's (or Jane's) intelligence that they've made themselves believe we can't decipher entertainment from our own reality? Well, apparently they do - think that lowly of our intelligence, that is. Keep in mind, Ginia Bellafante is the same writer who has also been quoted as saying, "Defying our expectations, Heidi (Montag, of The Hills) has emerged as a kind of feminist hero". Puh-lease! Poor Ginia. Clearly she is confused about the difference between her reality and the rest of the world's.




Back to Rachel, you know I think BravoTV has done an excellent job presenting Rachel to us. The show, The Rachel Zoe Project, doesn't purport to say, "This is how you should live," at least not that I've seen. It's simply an entertaining look inside the world of a stylist wanting to branch out and expand her creativity and contribution. Yes, that's right; I said it - contribution. Further, it gives the viewer a teeny tiny look inside parts of the industries in which she works - fashion and entertainment. Look, for whatever hangups or issues the girl may or may not have (and only she knows what's really truth), she does have a skill, a talent, many actually, and it brings happiness to people. She is devoted to her work and her passion for her art shows. It is art; of course it is. Those who feel the need to throw sticks and stones at her, look inside your own inner makeup (no pun intended) to see what is causing those emotions to surface. The nastiness isn't about her, it's about you and your horns are showing.

xo

BravoTV's Shear Genius Gifts Robert Hallowell to an Undeserving Contestant Panel

You know, I really have to admit I'm sadly disappointed with this particular episode (#7) of BravoTV's Shear Genius. Who am I kidding, I'm disappointed with the whole season thus far, but let's stick to this episode for now.


Shear Genius had the good sense to bring on celebrity hairstylist Robert Hallowell as a guest judge for a shortcut challenge. Known as The Kitchen Beautician, Hallowell specializes in using and creating products that are natural and organic in ingredients, often using foods right in the client's kitchen to whip up delicacies for the hair. For the shortcut challenge of this episode, they had him judge the stylists based on their use of foods you might find in a kitchen cabinet to create a futuristic look with unusual cut, shape and height.


Where the heck did they find these stylists? With one or two exceptions (if I'm being nice), none knew what to make of having to use natural products/ingredients to create a stylish masterpiece. (side note: None seemed to know much about Robert Hallowell either, another sign that these contestants aren't "in the know" about their own field.) In today's day and age, this is really unacceptable. I'm so, so disappointed! They completely botched this challenge - they had all kinds of wonderful foods and ingredients and completely missed the mark on how to use them well. I can't even comment on the foods they actually did choose (with the feast of foods laid out before them) and how they used them, too frustrating to do so, click here and here for more on that.


Furthermore, Shear Genius should be chastised for not allowing Hallowell to educate the stylists and the viewing audience more on the good use of such ingredients in their haircare - on air! He's got the knowledge, it should have been aired, especially in light of this complete failure of the contestants to know better. Aren't these stylists supposed to be some of the best out there? Apparently not.


Hallowell has his own line of haircare products, aptly named pRAWducts (get the "raw" in the middle? okay, okay - I know you picked that out already), that are absolutely phenomenal in terms of ingredients and effective results. I've raved about his line before, but it bears mentioning with this Shear Genius fiasco now behind us. Take a look at his website and see for yourself what they (and we as the viewing audience) could have gotten from him had they done this episode right!

(click image to enlarge for detail)

For more information on Robert Hallowell and his wonderful line of pRAWducts, click here.

Bravo's A-List Awards: Fashion for a Cause

Ok, firstly, I know I may be really unpopular by saying this, but I really just think Kathy Griffin is adorable. Yes, I know she's insulted and offended people, and I'm not excusing that, but I just get a kick out of her. And did you notice how teeny tiny she is on the award's show last night? She looked smashing - in all her ensembles (and there were many)!

Project Runway Alum & Auction Fashion Designers (L-R): Daniel Franco, Alison Kelly, Michael Knight, Sweet P, Chris March, Nick Verreos, Malan Breton, Laura Bennett

Watching the parade of fashion for the autction to benefit UNICEF relief efforts in Myanmar, I knew instantly I wanted to blog on this today. My gosh, these pieces are amazing! And, initially I thought, well I'll rank them favorite to least favorite. BUT, I just can't do it. Each designer's dress is just so personal and appealing that I find I can't name a favorite and certainly not a least favorite. You designers have outdone yourselves - congratulations!!

Model - Niki Taylor (Designer: Laura Bennett); Model - Kat Von D (designer: Sweet P); Model - Candace Bushnell (Designer: Daniel Franco); Model - Holly Kiser (Designer: Chris March); Model - Karina Smirnoff (Designer: Michael Knight); Model - Nikki Blonsky (Designer: Malan Breton); Model - Rebecca Budig (Designer: Alison Kelly); Model - Kathy Griffin (Designer: Nick Verreos)

For more information on the auction and to read more about the Bravo A-List Awards: BravoTV

Nick Is Steppin' It Up

Could we get more adorable than Nick from BravoTV's Step It Up and Dance? ummm ... not much.

Again, please forgive the digression from all things beauty, but this show has really showcased some stunning beauty in its own right. I've been enjoying watching the show since the get-go and Nick has been my fave all along. I'm so glad to see he's pushing through to the top. Last night's performance was breathtaking, very emotional to watch. You go, gorgeous!

I'm gonna miss my little Janelle, though ... (tears) ... I love the power, energy and soul in her dance. She'll be writing some tickets of her own though, quite confident about that.

You know, it's really hard to pull for just one of these phenoms in the finals. They're all so, so talented - Cody has that broadway appeal, Mochi is just the epitome of gracefulness and beauty, and Miguel is so fluid, he makes the dance seem effortless (yes, we know it's quite hard).

So, I'm gonna ask you anyway .... care to place a little vote for your fave?

L-R: Nick, Michelle (Mochi), Cody and Miguel

For more info, photos and videos: BravoTV