Some jobs will just stick with you forever…  My so far last production of 2020 was one just like that

The new year was only 2 months underway, when I was packing my make-up and hair kit for a full week of shooting, on location in Spain, early March. This was the 5th Kawasaki campaign I worked on and joined the same trusted crew.

The team consisted of photographer Mike Van Cleven, videographer Bonavonture Hoste and  models Nathalie and Filip. The best part of already having worked with them separately, is  like you’re going on a trip with friends. They’re such a great bunch of people, it doesn’t feel like working at all.

Also the client, Kawasaki’s Marketing and PR department , joined the shoot on the best location ever, in the middle of an isolated landscape in Andalusia, giving some real Palm Springs vibes. 

On top of the best shooting conditions, the production rented a real showstopper, namely a gorgeous metallic airstream, originally from the 50’s, renovated and pimped. 

The Spanish production crew and set designer made an artificial campfire to give that extra realness in the pictures and create the story on a Kawasaki road trip.

Oh and did I mention there was a whole trailer just for me and my make-up tools with AC, running water, a professional make-up mirror with lightning bulbs and a fully equipped bathroom? This was just like the Hollywood productions, I felt like I made it, hahha ;)

All of this, to tell you I returned home with a heart of fulfilment and joy; the experience of shooting with the best crew, for an impressive client, in a one-of-a-kind location and coming back with some pretty cool shots… 

It only hit us when we touched down in Belgium, checked the news on our phones while waiting for the aircraft to open its doors, things got serious. On that day, Thursday the 12th of March, the Belgian government announced to go into lockdown as from Saturday the 13th…..

I just realized at that point, we’d been living in this perfect bubble for the past week. However we could have been exposed to a high risk of infection. 

As soon as I got home I put myself into quarantine and waited for possible symptoms…. Luckily no health problems occurred. However, I saw every future booking being cancelled as every day passed.

It’s hard  and surreal to think about the possibility that this could (have) be(en) my last shoot of 2020…. I’m super grateful for all the past experiences, encounters, laughs and beautiful results so far.

I can not wait to start shooting again with fellow artists, creatives and lovely models!

In the meantime, take care of yourselves and loved ones!

 <3 Frances

CREDITS:

Kawasaki Campaign 2020

Photo: Mike Van Cleven

Production Agency: SHUTTR

Video: Bonavonture Hoste

Models: Nathalie Fransen, Filip Hebbrecht

Make-up & Hairstyling: Frances Folies

This beauty series was created out of my personal experience from being a teenager experimenting with make-up, through the years of becoming a make-up artist. 

My godmother- Francine Van De Wiele, who worked for Dior for two decades as the PR manager- introduced me into the world of glamour and gave me my very first make-up product, namely a DIOR mascara, which is still my favourite to date.

Throughout the years, I went through all the phases of “do’s and dont’s” by discovering difficulties to obtain certain make-up looks.

The visual story let you rethink perfect images, which are taken for granted these days. Our eyes are used to observe flawless skin, perfectly executed eyeliner and lipstick. 

The industry never really shows the “ what-can go-wrong” in the stages of creating these looks. 

We shot the fun side of what can go wrong when contouring your face, going way overboard with eyeliner, having red lipstick on your teeth and even the silliest thing of having a “mascara-stamp” on the upper eye lid- which was totally my thing in my teens :) 

These “make-up- fail” shots are meant to hearten the girls and women feeling frustrated when trying to achieve e.g a smokey eye, a long-lasting red lip, or precise eyeliner. “Hey, it’s ok, to have fall-out when buffing out a glittery smokey out, it’s normal, you are not doing something wrong ;)”

Combining vintage Dior accessoires and the newly created “Doir Backstage” products, created by Peter Philips, these images pay homage to the ever-lasting inspiration of this fashion powerhouse DIOR.

TEAM:

Concept: Frances Folies

Production: Frances Folies

Art Direction: Lies Cobbaert @bizarhair

Make-up Artist: Frances Folies

Styling: Frances Folies

Photographer: Lesley Hoste

Model 1: Jolien Bass @only_model_management

Model 2: Lisa M @dominiquemodels_official

I’m a strong believer there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some people come into your life to test you, to teach you and others to inspire you. Last was the case when 16 year-old Cédric walked into my make-up class in 2017. 

He was the youngest pupil who enrolled for the “All around make-up artist” course at CVO in Ghent, Belgium. These courses are specifically designed for adults who need an re-orientation in their career. It was immediately clear Cédric wasn’t there to figure out which new path he wanted to follow, he already exactly knew how his future career would look like at this young age. 

It hit me, how much the industry has evolved since I started make-up in 2008. At this time, Mac Cosmetics just opened up his very first store in Antwerp and there were no other make-up stores like NYXX, Bobby Brown nor online webshops with endless choice of beauty products.

You-tube wasn’t filled yet with how-to vid’s of make-up influencers using their own make-up products, let alone there were no boys or men like Jeffrey Star and James Charles who are role models for males wearing make-up loud and proud. 

These contemporary ways of discovering techniques, products and communities all over social media, has led to a generation who’s more aware of the endless possibilities, goals and dreams in the make-up industry. 

I feel blessed I got to share my passion, with the kindest person and most beautiful face of next generation of MUA’s. We shot this series only a few days before Cédric’s 18th Birthday, the perfect way to celebrate and be inspired by his perception of beauty and make-up.

TEAM CREDITS

Model: Cédric Dewaele

Photographer: Kurt Anthierens

Concept-Styling- Make-up & Hair: Fraukje Van De Wiele