name Whitney Williams
location Jonesborough, TN
age 25
working as pro photographer and make-up artist
sign Scorpio
favorite style icon Francoise Hardy and Joey Potter
favorite color I haven’t been asked that one in years! I’ve always been fond of any shade of blue, so I guess blue would be it.
favorite Chictopian post I really cannot pick just one. Here’s my top 4: Plaid & Polka Dots by mselle 70’s Flare by FashionZen Just Like if I was at School by FashionisaPlayground Harriet Quimby by joujouvilleroy-
Amazing style, gorgeous picture, a stunning default image, it seems as everything about whitneywhitney is as perfect as it possibly could be. Time to learn more about this utterly chic Chictopian.
First time when people see your pictures, they’re all astonished by their beauty. It shows that you are an expert in both make-up and photography and I bet a lot of people envy that. How did you decide for a career in the make-up and photography business? Wow. Thank you. I’ve always been into the art of transformation- the way a face can be transformed via make-up and a mundane scene be transformed into a beautiful, transcendent, emotive one through a photograph; I have a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, so, with the skills I acquired through my studies, it was a no-brainer for me to turn what I am fascinated with into a career. Make-up and photography really go hand-in-hand in the work that I do.
Sounds like a very interesting career. Do you have any tips for Chictopians to either improve their appearance or their pictures? I really love the variety of styles and looks from my fellow Chictopians, so I guess my best advice would be to find your own style and stick with it. There are all sorts of photo styles that work well, so it’s all about finding what works best for you. Personally, I enjoy whimsical, ethereal photos, but with fashion blogs, one doesn’t have time to take that sort of photo daily.
Do you edit your pictures with Photoshop? With the photos I post on Chictopia, I try to be as honest as possible with the setting and outfit, so I usually don’t Photoshop them. With my conceptual and fashion photography, I go wild with Photoshop techniques. Sometimes I post some of my more “worked-on” photos on Chictopia when I have time. Right now, I’m into adding soft, ghostly lighting to my more involved photos; A lot of my photography (and make-up) work lends itself to paranormal and macabre styles.
Since you are a photographer, we probably may assume you take them all the pictures on Chictopia yourself? Most of my photos on Chictopia are self-portraits. Some of them are taken by my partner Gabriel Gould (like Funnel Cake). I use a Nikon D200 most of the time and my favorite lens for standard fashion blog shots is my trusty Nikkor 55-200mm (really nice for a blurred background, making the figure stand out). I have several cameras and lenses, both film and digital, that I use occasionally in addition to my D200. I live out in the country on 50+ acres of land, so that is the setting I use most of the time for my photos. And with no neighbors, the rolling hills, trees and tall grass makes a nice backdrop for my looks. My favorite part of day to take photos is definitely at sunset because there’s nothing better than adding a little umph to a photo through backlighting and sunspots!
The setting looks amazing indeed, I live out in the country as well, but don’t have the benefits, we do have a lot of neighbors and there’s always someone watching…
If you had to pick just one, what garment really defines you? A loose-fitting button-down shirt. My absolute favorite item in my wardrobe is my vintage double-layer cream silk button-down blouse (seen here). I can wear it with anything: boyfriend jeans, leather shorts or a patterned skirt. My style is all about wearing simple pieces and then throwing in something fun for a little flair- like a harlequin-printed skirt or a funky pair of shoes. I’ve always been into old-world French fashion and Swedish fashion-forward style, so my personal style is a mix of this with a comfortable touch.
What brings you to Chictopia on a daily basis? The everyday style blogs from my fellow Chictopians definitely keeps me coming back. I really love Chictopia for it’s positive community; Other street style fashion sites with hyper-competitive atmospheres take the fun out of personal style and make gals (and guys) feel self-conscious when they don’t receive enough hype. Chictopia, however, makes one feel like they don’t have to have the latest Jeffrey Campbell or Acne platforms and be a size XXS to be considered stylish. It’s all about celebrating personal style no matter what body type you may have. I just love it!
If you could change wardrobes with any Chictopian out there, who would you change wardrobes with and why? I think I’d love to switch up wardrobes with mayo_wo. She has a very feminine, ethereal style, and it’d be fun to switch my wardrobe with a gal who’s style is on the other end of the spectrum from my own.
What’s your favorite place to score affordable vintage clothing? Estate sales. Going through an old lady’s clothing who is no longer with us, it’s like the clothing tells her life story. You can really get to know a person from one’s wardrobe. Plus, it’s such a great feeling getting to breath new life into a person’s past wardrobe.
That sounds like something I should definitely try. I never even heard of the idea, but I love it already.
We all know no one is exactly alike, but if you had to choose: which make-up look do you think looks good on us all? I believe a very natural, romantic make-up look works well on anyone regardless of skin color, hairstyle or personal style. It’s a fairly simple process, too. Anyone can do it! Here’s how: 1. I start with a matte complexion, 2. then I put subtle doll-like blush (peach under the apple of the cheek, then pink on the apple), 3. next comes black or dark brown mascara only on the outer lashes 4. put matte eyeshadow that is a hue slightly lighter than your skintone on the eyelid from the lid all the way up to the browbone 5. Finish the look with a nude/pale pink lip and a sculpted, strong brow (Brows should never be ignored when doing make-up). You can check out the finished look here.
Thank you so much for that tip, I’ll definitely try that sometimes. Any last words? I have a blog called a la Ladywolf where I blog about photography, beauty and style, and I give my readers sneak peeks of the latest vintage to hit my store, Ladywolf Vintage and have bi-weekly contests/giveaways. Come visit!
Dear Whitney, I want to thank you for this very informative interview, I was happy to learn more about you, your style and artwork. Thank you so much for this insight of your background. My dearest readers, thank you all for your support!!
