Hi everyone. You may have heard via Twitter or Facebook that I had an amazing opportunity just before Christmas to feature in the Daily Mail.
An email dropped into my box asking if I would be interested in sharing some style and beauty tips for the Femail which is the Daily Mail’s weekly women’s editorial. Would I like? Are you kidding? I was blown away at the thought of being asked!
Emails back and forth explaining what would happen and of course, me passing over some of the favourite items that I would totally recommend were forwarded on & I found it hard to limit my list of ideas as this was for a column in the paper, so space was limited although it was a full page online.
Arriving at the Daily Mail
To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Deciding what to wear, my room was littered with clothes. Too smart? Too dressy? Too casual?
But let me tell you about the arrival. A true Del boy style moment! I got out of my taxi and in front of me were several large revolving doors. I walked up to the first and it wouldn’t budge. I walked up to the second and that was the same. As I was just about to try the third a woman from the inside started coming towards the door and it started revolving so I jumped in. As the woman left her side of the door it stopped revolving! Help!
I didn’t realise that they were all security doors! So security had to come rescue me! They were really ok about it and ushered me to the reception and showed me the small entrance door for us visitors! I was shown to a seat to wait for reception and I couldn’t help chuckling away to myself! It actually calmed my nerves. Only me. It can only happen to me!
Meeting the girls…
As soon as I met the girls I felt comfortable. I’ve done a couple of photo shoots before. One for the Sun newspaper and one for the Daily Mail, but both of these were with other women. Sadly the Daily Mail shoot never got published which is a real shame, but I met some amazing women that day.
A cup of tea and a chat and then straight onto makeup. I have found this interesting on my photoshoots having my makeup done, you pick up all sorts of hints and tricks. I particularly wanted to share my thoughts on the Radiofrequency treatments that I had with Bodyvie. I’m so happy with that treatment and I would so recommend it. You can catch the read on that treatment here
I chatted to Florence the features assistant for Feamail and we talked about my blogging history and I added some more tips for the post. I surprised myself how relaxed I felt.
A sea of makeup and hair devices – It’s always good to learn any new tricks
The makeup assistant explained everything that she was using and I found it really interesting and did pick up on a few new items that I would like to buy. Of my four photoshoots, this has been my favourite. A lot of makeup is applied for these shoots for it to actually show in the photos, but this looked very natural and I didn’t feel like a drag queen. This gave me more confidence for the camera too.
I was asked my dress size and favourite colours before the photoshoot. I liked all of these above and honed straight in on the Pink! This is a colour that I don’t have anything of in my wardrobe but I will get something. I loved it as soon as it went on.
I didn’t have to remove my jeans because this shoot is only for a facial shot, so at the most, it’s only going to be my shoulders on show.
The girls were so friendly and really made me feel at ease. A little tweaking of the makeup and they decided that my hair needed taming a little bit ( no surprise there!) and within 10/15 minutes the shoot was over. I was asked to look at the photos and choose my favourites which I thought was really nice. There were lots of photos that I didn’t like! And don’t forget that this is going into the Daily Mail the national newspaper. It’s quite nailbiting just to think about it!
I left feeling pretty good about myself and thought how easy it had all been. No need for nerves.
I’m adding a couple of photos of the Daily Mail building. It really was a lovely place. Very plush.
And a huge Christmas tree!
The finished article – publication
This is where it all goes a bit tits up for me. This is the finished photo that was published. Do I like it? Yes. But where have all my wrinkles gone?
Hello? Is this not called “This Is What 54 Looks Like? Why oh why did they over photoshop? And can I just clarify that I didn’t get to see this photo before going to press. I am 54! Of course, I’m going to have wrinkles! I just think it makes a mockery out of the whole title of the article.
I am not some botoxed paralysed faced woman of 54, In fact, I don’t have any botox! I most probably would try it if I could but because of my allergies, I can’t even sample it. I’m quite proud of my skin and my wrinkles, they are the story of me! This makes me wonder if all the famous people out there get photoshopped without knowing it’s going to happen and dread looking in the media news.
I was really happy with the written article though
On the whole, I really enjoyed the whole process of this feature with The Daily Mail. The photoshoot was a great experience and it’s a piece to add to my scrapbook of memories that I’m creating about blogging. Another part of my journey. If you would like to read the article I’ve left a link below for you. I will never forget that Del boy moment!
This Is What 54 Looks Like – The Daily Mail
What I Wore
I settled on smart/casual for my day. Jeans, a long sleeved T-shirt a smart jacket, my new Jaeger necklace and a new Mustard bag from Joules.
These were just taken on my phone. I just wanted to add this one of myself with my wrinkles!
XO Laurie
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Wow what an incredible opportunity! You must have been so excited! I’m stunned that they photo shopped anything as it’s just not necessary. Absolutely beautiful pic though. Thanks for linking to #DreamTeam x
Laurie, what an experience! Love the pink on you, but I agree, leave off the Photoshop!
What a cool experience! Love the final photo although for sure you didn’t need the photoshopping!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
https://fashionshouldbefun.com
Yay Laurie. Thank you for sharing your experience. I love getting my make-up done (not the hair though :)) And that pink looks fabulous. Great color for you. I already read your twitter post but just dropped by to congratulate you once more.
Btw. I stopped using fb messanger for various reasons So was unable to read your message in case you want to connect thru other channels xxx Sabina
I was thrilled when I read the article in my newspaper a few weeks ago, and love to read your account of the day – what an exciting time you’ve had. (The door thing would have been my downfall too sweetie!) Anyway, I think it was a great showpiece for you and will be another piece to add to your cutting book – do people still keep these? I think we all knew that everything in the press gets tweaked, be it words or imagery, so don’t worry. Having met you, I don’t think the photo was too far away from what you really look like.
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Anna x
Coming over from Shelbee on the Edge and I love this post! So interesting and quite ironic that they chose to Photoshop. I think you look great in the photos and not “over-Photoshopped” but I’m sure you see the difference more precisely. Still, what a great experience!
Laurie this is such an interesting post. Like you I question the photoshopping element. It is contrary to the tone of the article and a reflection of your experience. It makes you realise how all of those idols we have in the press are not true reflections. I loved your selfie. So natural and I also admire your choice of outfit. Looks my kind of thing.
Author
Thank you Anna! I’m useless at selfies! xx
Looks like a fabulous experience was had! I agree, there really was no need to photoshop and I too prefer your 🤳 selfie. Must say though, pink suits you x
Author
Thank you, Valerie. I really liked the Pink and this dusky pink took me by surprise. I’m searching for some now xx
Having met you I know that you have beautiful skin so definitely no need for photoshopping! It’s still a fabulous photo, but to be honest I actually prefer the selfie you took – I think your personality shows more. As for revolving doors – we have them at work and I detest them! They’re really heavy to push and if someone comes in behind and shoves it hard I get spat out the other side in a very ungraceful manner! We also have the weirdest lifts that have the floor numbers on the outside and the display tells you which lift to get in. Once you’re inside you can’t make it stop where you want! Whoever thinks of these stupid inventions?!
Emma xxx
Author
Haha! I’m not visiting your workplace, Emma. I dread to think what could happen! xx
Beautiful job – you look wonderful with or without photoshop
Author
Thank you, Carol. Thanks for stopping by & I hope you return xx
What an incredible experience. You look fabulous! Would love for you to share this post at my linkup. Have a great week!
Sherry
I did laugh at your del boy moment Laurie!! You look beautiful in the photo but like you say it’s a shame they photoshopped it and that you didn’t even get to see it before they published. Nevertheless a fabulous opportunity for you.
Steph
Author
Thank you, Stephanie. It was without a doubt a great opportunity and the day was fantastic. The girls were lovely, just a shame about that photo! The Del boy moment is the norm for me though! xx
You know I’m a great fan of yours, Laurie and what a wonderful experience. You encourage us all (even a 60 yo like me) to try to look and feel great in midlife and beyond. Thank you for sharing this with us at #overthemoon and you do look gorgeous! I love the colour of the dress and you are right that the make up didn’t lok overdone! have a great week. Sue x
Author
Thank you Sue, and that is such a lovely compliment! Makes everything worthwhile xx
Hi Laurie! Sounds like you had a fun day and what a great opportunity to grow your blog! I also am 54 and would love to see a post about your makeup tips. By the way…the pink looks great on you!
Have a great day!
Author
Hi Suzanne. I’m so pleased you have stopped by. There is a vlog on everyday make up. Just look to the right of the page and click on that. Or you can find lots of tips in my beauty section. I will be posting beauty items that I recommend 100% tomorrow! xx
A beautiful post, Laurie, in which it is nice to discover your sensations and your joy when being called by the newspaper. I agree completely with you in the no need to use photo retouching, because the only thing that is achieved is to hide your mature and serene beauty, with your beautiful wrinkles and all your personality. The last photo, with your phone is much more beautiful!
Author
Thank you Josep-Maria. xx
What an exciting opportunity! I’m all for a few tweeks and you do look fabulous – but I agree our wrinkles are hard earned and characterful. Love your hair and makeup and the pink is fantastic on you. Sounds like you had a great day with The Daily Mail x
Author
It was a great day Maria. And yes those wrinkles are definitely earned! xx
What an experience 😊 The pink certainly suits you – great colour for your Spring/Summer wardrobe!
Author
Thank you Linda! Thanks for stopping by xx
It is a shame that they photoshop out the wrinkles, Laurie. Because we don’t want others to feel shameful about them either!!
I want to hear about your makeup tips though….that would be a fabulous post!!
XOOX
Jodie
Author
Thank you Jodie. There’s a beauty post just gone live! And there’s a make up vlog coming up next week xx
Congratulations, what an achievement, I have been featured in the local paper when I campaigned to get the park upgraded, but nothing like this! #overthemoon@_karendennis
Author
Thank you so much Karen. It was a great moment for me and a great opportunity I must say. Thank you for stopping by xx
Wow, that photo of you looking down to your iPhone is SPECTACULARLY beautiful. Much more alive and beautiful than the published one. You look GREAT!
Author
Thank you, Wendy, that’s so lovely of you to say that. It makes you wonder how many other people, even famous ones that don’t like what the press has done to your face!Thank you so much for stopping by. Please return xx
I keep looking at those two photos, trying to grasp why the one published is not as OBJECTIVELY BEAUTIFUL as the one looking down at your iphone. Because that really is my impression. In the one looking down at your iPhone, your beauty is STRIKING! In the other one, you look less confident somehow. Maybe next time try to insist that they use one of YOUR photos and not mess about with it?! At any rate, the iPhone picture captures a much more truly alluring image.
Laurie you look absolutely wonderful, there’s no doubt about that! But I too would be sad to see my face photoshopped. One thing I ALWAYS do with photo shoots for publication is put in the contract that I have control over the final picture and want to see a draft before publication. That way you can decide what goes out… I had an experience with a magazine where everyone but me loved the photo, and I thought I looked hideous, all sour-faced and miserable. I just didn’t look like me.
Never again!!
It’s still lovely that you were featured, it’s just a shame when we have to defend ourselves as readers usually end up thinking it’s our fault or that we insisted on the Photoshop 🙁
C x
Author
Thank you, Catherine. I remember reading your post about this. I remembered to proof read and accept what written article was to be published and I was asked to choose which photos I prefered, but I didn’t ask for a proof copy of the photo! I will for sure remember next time xx
how exciting! You look gorgeous and you’re right, that pink is perfection for you. Congratulations on the article, and thanks for sharing it with Visible Monday, xo
-Patti
Author
Thank you Patti xx
It’s crazy that they want to photoshop everything – your del boy moment did make me smile though, sounds quite an experience. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
Author
Thank you, Stephanie. You wouldn’t believe some of the things that happen to me at times! xx
My mum and I had a photo shoot for the mail in November, sadly it’s not been used yet, however my commented that she felt she had too much make on and it made her feel very conscious of it and then a few weeks later that all the photo shoots everywhere wears the same dresses. in fact I notice the 2 dresses in the rack that mum and I wore for the shoot. I’m 46 and mum is 73, we’d never shop in the same places and wear the same style of clothes we all end up looking the same regardless of our age lol #pocolo
Author
Interesting comment! I had a shoot for the Sun and two of the dresses were the same there too. I will say that I was really pleased with my make up this time though. I’ve done a few shoots and have had to wipe some off! xx
What an awesome day and experience Laurie. Beautiful photos.
I was just thinking how young you look as I noticed my wrinkles the other day when I smiled and never realised how many I have.
I am with you and can understand how you must have felt, the best thing about blogs are that we are all real women and that is why I always get my inspiration from other bloggers and not magazine 🙂
Thanks for sharing at Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop hope you’re having a lovely weekend.
Author
Believe me Claire they are there! Certain treatments do elp and I’m fighting it in a most natural way possible but they are there! xx
Lovely posts Laurie 🙂 Thanks again for sharing over at Creative Mondays last week. You are one of my featured blogs this week 🙂
We are the same age, lovely! And yes, I have wrinkles too…and plenty of lines. No botox either. Thank you for being honest!
Author
The pleasures all mine Carrie! Better to be honest and I’m proud of who I am! And I do believe that this is why bloggers are so popular to read nowadays because we are real! Magazines should sit up and take note xx
Wow Laurie you look stunning! Congratulations:)
XO Tina
Author
Thank you Tina xx
What an awesome opportunity Laurie- CONGRATULATIONS!!! You look amazing!
Xx
Joi
Author
Thank you Joi! xx
Good for you, Laurie! You’re a great role model with your right thinking about the again process!
Author
Thank you Michele. That is a lovely compliment xx
You look stunning, the makeup, the vibrant color of your jacket, across the board beautiful. Xo Jonet
Author
Thank you so much Jonet xx
Author
Thank you Pamela! I agree, a new colour to try.xx
Security doors can be so intimidating! I’m glad their were kind people to help you! Your photos are gorgeous with and without photo shop! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
#pocolo
Author
Thank you so much Marci xx
What a great opportunity, and you look fabulous! What wrinkles?? Thanks for sharing on Share Your Style.
Author
Oh, They are there Carol believe me! Thank you! xx
You look stunning! Thanks for linking up to Top of the World Style.
Author
Thank you Nicole xx
Super read, I feel your pain at the security door, something I would do! You look simply superb in the shots, but I get what you mean. You look amazing in both photos, we can’t get to our 50’s without a few wrinkles, that’s what makes us … us!! Thanks for sharing your special day Laurie. x Jacqui
Author
Exactly Jacqui! And the title of the article! Thank you for your kind words, I’m glad you enjoyed reading xx
Well, you’ll either get one email from me or about 10. Something’s playing up. So I’ll keep this one brief. Well done, I’m in awe. You’ve worked so hard to get where you are in order to get these opportunities. You keep living the Bloggers’ Dream and you deserve it. And what wrinkles, I don’t see any in ANY of the shots!
Hugs, x.
Oh Laurie, what an amazing experience. And wrinkles, what wrinkles?!! You look amazing in ALL the shots!
You keep surprising me with your antics and opportunities. I get so impressed by something BIG you’ve done, then a short while later you go and top it with something bigger! You really are living the Blogger’s Dream. Well done for working so hard to get where you are, it’s only then these opportunities come along.
I’m in awe!
Hugs, x.
Author
Aw, Mary! You are too kind! Yes I do work hard at this blogging but for the life of me, I don’t know how these people find me! And I always wonder what they want with little ole me!I do have something big lined up for this year but I’m not revealing in case it falls through. xx
How exciting!! You look fabulous with or without wrinkles…but I totally agree that they should not have photoshopped them out.
Author
Thank you Darlene. I agree, and I think it’s sad at the same time that while this is going on other women are made to feel less confident xx
How exciting, although I do get your disappointment with the photoshopped picture. I don’t understand their problem with a few wrinkles … That pink looks lovely on you, though! I did have a good chuckle at your Del boy moment. Believe me, it could have happened to me, and I would have been mortified! xxx
Author
Ann it was hilarious! We have to laugh at ourselves right? xx
Oh my God! I would have died in that revolving door! That could also have happened to me , really! Awfull! But what a fabulous experience! I actually think(to be brutal Dutch honest) you look better in,, real life,, then photoshopped!
Author
Thank you Nancy. That means a lot. And I totally agree xx
What a fab post, Laurie! And how cool is it that you had a photoshoot for Daily Mail?! You looked beautiful, but I must say I prefer your own photos – the one you took on your phone even! It’s such a shame that all these publications feel the need to photoshop out what makes us… well, us. But at least you had a great time!
Huge hugs,
Suzy xxx
Author
Thank you Suzy and yes absolutely! I feel as though my personality has been erased! xx
Laurie I am so glad you have written this post and are standing up for everyone who is proud of a few life affirming wrinkles. All that filler and stuff not for me either!
You are a stunning woman and your spirit shines through!
Ashley x
Author
Thank you Ashley. I agree, there is nothing shining through in the photo. It’s like an empty shell xx
This is such a great post! You look beautiful but I understand your disappointment with the altering your picture. At the very least they should ask a person. But the whole experience looked fun!
Peace!
Cheryl
Author
Thank you Cheryl xx
Oh Laurie, what a fabulous experience! I love the pink dress on you! And I would be upset with the photoshopping business, too. I like to keep things real and authentic just as you do. But you look gorgeous nonetheless! And your moment stuck in the revolving door…I laughed out loud because that would totally happen to me, too. My life seems to be a massive series of mishaps like that! Thanks for sharing. This was some great morning reading with my coffee!
Shelbee
Author
Oh Shelbee, trust me I have loads of happenings like this! xx
Glad you had such a fabulous day and experience Laurie but you look amazing all the time – certainly no need to Photoshop. In fact, it flattens a bit of your sparkle! Loving the pink, it’s a different color for you but looks brilliant.
Pamela x
Author
Thank you Pamela, and yes a new colour to try. xx