Category: Featured

Editing Portfolio: 247 Magazine – Diamond Jubilee Special

This month, 247 Magazine, the South West leading music and lifestyle guide, which I edit, takes on a new look – bolder, fresher and funkier than before. As well as the redesign, this month the magazine is themed around the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – after all  60 years of The Queen’s reign deserves some recognition! Why not have a read of the magazine online here – as well as all of our Jubilee goodies, we’ve got some great features for you: South West lovers, The Pigeon Detectives talk to us about their tour this month, we interview Grime MC and rapper; Wretch 32 and we meet singer/songwriter; Jack Wallen who’s first gig was supporting James Morrison. Don’t miss our feature on breakdancing in the South West either.

Rachael Sharpe

Career Advice feature in Digital Photographer Magazine

Exciting news – I’ve starting contributing to Digital Photographer magazine. My first feature for them, in issue 121 – in the shops now, sees me demystify copyright for photographers and all of its trappings. If you want to know how to control the use of your images have a read.

Rachael Sharpe

Crowning Glory: A guide to bridal headpieces

From decadent and daring forehead bands to ethereal flower crowns, headpieces make an exciting addition to your wedding gown. So, in this feature written for WED magazine, I explore all the different headpieces available to the modern bride and give advice on choosing something to fit your face shape too. Issue 21 marks the magazine’s fifth anniversary and is avaliable to buy here.

You’ll have to buy the magazine for my definitive guide to tiaras, flower crowns, garlands, fascinators, forehead bands, flapper bands, headbands and combs, but here’s my guide to choosing something to flatter:

Oval – Perfectly in proportion, oval faces are egg-shaped with forehead and jaw the same width.

Choose: Almost any style will look good on this perfect face shape.

Avoid: Heavy fringes and styles that push a lot of hair onto your face.

Round – Circular faces without height on top or a protruding chin.

Choose: Side partings and styles with height at the crown. Go for an up-do or half-up.

Avoid: Styles with fullness at the sides and fringes in general.

Oblong – High foreheads and long chins: oblong faces are longer than they are wide.

Choose: Wear you hair down, with fullness at the sides – waves and curls look great.

Avoid: Adding any extra height on top and center partings.

Heart – Although wide at the forehead, heart-shaped faces narrow to a point at the jawline.

Choose: Hair down, or half-up, with a side parting or gentle fringe.

Avoid: Height at the crown and severe up-dos.

Square – Angular looking faces with both a strong forehead and jawline.

Choose: Romantic waves and curls – wear your hair down or half-up. Consider a soft fringe.

Avoid: Polka straight hair and severe up-dos.

Rachael Sharpe

Editing Portfolio…April Edition of 247 Magazine

Spring has settled in and summer is definitely on it’s merry way – it’s festival season! And the sunny South West is certainly the best place to live in to enjoy it…This month’s 247 Magazine features a 20-page festival is bursting full of homegrown festivals, as well as a few worth travelling for, if you’re so inclined. From independent festivals like Leopallooza and Beautiful Days through to big shebangs like Boardmasters and local one-days we’ve got it all covered. Grab a beer and a red pen and decide which ones you’re up for! Strapped for cash? Read our guide to doing festivals for free and enter all the ticket comps we’re running at www.247magazine.co.uk. Read the April edition online here.

Rachael Sharpe

5 best intimate wedding venues in the UK

Modest guestlists lend themselves to unusual and exceptional venues. Be inspired by my top 5 venues for small and chic weddings in the UK, which you can read in this month’s Perfect Wedding magazine.

Here are my top five:

1. Temple of Apollo, Stourhead, Wiltshire

Who for: Romantic couples who want a beautiful, classic and intimate ceremony. The garden temple will seat 30 guests to witness your wedding.

What: A tranquil paradise. Situated in one of the finest landscape gardens in the world, the stone built Temple of Apollo, built in 1765, is truly stunning. Looks familiar? You may well have seen it in the proposal seen in remake of Pride and Prejudice. If it’s good enough for Keira Knightley Matthew MacFadyen…

Why: It’s timelessly beautiful and will provide a magnificent backdrop for your photographs.

Marriage license: Yes

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

 

2. Millbrook Estate, High Bickington, Devon

Who for: Nature lovers who want to be married hidden away, in a breath taking valley. Millbrook specialises in weddings for up to 20 guests, they also do ‘Runaway Weddings’ for less than four guests…

Why: Stunning and very private, Millbrook is set within a valley location of 32 acres of beautiful countryside with lakes, wild flower meadows and mature woodland. Marry in the extremely intimate secret garden conservatory or in the summerhouse, which has enormous folding doors to let the outside in, and a huge fireplace for roaring log fires in the winter months. The venue even offers private dinning for true romantics.

Marriage license: Yes

Website: http://www.millbrookestate.co.uk

 

3.Forter Castle, Perthshire, Scotland

Who for: The Bride and Groom who want a venue fit for a King and Queen. The castle can accommodate 16 for a sit down meal or up to 24 for a buffet and sleeps up to 12.

What: This16th century fortified tower is like something from a fairytale – it’s been lovingly restored from a ruin to retain it’s original character and charm, but with opulent modern-day comforts and even boasts its very own chapel. The surrounding highlands are unspoilt and sure to impress.

Why: It’s dramatic and intimate at the same time.

Marriage license: Yes

Website: http://www.fortercastle.com

 

4. Nash Point Lighthouse, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales

Who for: Quirky couples looking for a unique place to tie the knot. The spectacular Lighthouse can hold 25 guests, over two floors.

What: One of the few operational lighthouses where you can get married, beautiful Nash Point Lighthouse is situated on one of the cleanest, sandy coastlines in South Wales and noted for its variety and birdlife. You’ll be treated to a spectacular view while you say ‘I do’ – a great choice for those with an affinity with the sea.

Why: It’s a deliciously different option and a real statement about who you are as a couple.

Website: www.trinityhouse.co.uk

 

5. Tunnels Beaches, Ilfracombe, Devon

Who for: Couples who want to a beautiful, informal ceremony at the beach. Tunnels Beaches encourage weddings for up to 60-70 people, with the option of more even guests.

What: A network of hand carved tunnels lead you to a tidal Victorian bathing pool and stunning sheltered beaches, where this chic, contemporary venue lies. Get married in the Thatched Gazebo overlooking the sea, with a sublime view of the rugged coastline and the sound of the sea.

Why: It’s a stunning yet understated choice and the scenery will look fantastic in your photos.

Marriage license: Yes

Website: http://www.tunnelsbeaches.co.uk

Rachael Sharpe1 Comment

Fall in love with vintage wedding jewellery: Published in WED magazine


Planning on crowning your wedding gown with a covetable treasure from a beautiful bygone age? Good choice: there is something wonderful about wearing a piece of jewellery with a story – and shaping its next chapter.

This month I had the enviable task of writing a complete guide to vintage wedding jewellery for WED magazine – it was the most enjoyable wedding-realated feature I’ve written to date, and not just because it involved looking at lots of lovely sparkly jewes! In the feature I explain the difference between vintage, antique, estate and heirloom jewellery, as well as how to age rings, provide questions to ask when buying vintage and teach all about the hidden meanings of vintage jewellery. Did you know diamonds symbolise consistency, hence there use for engagement rings, coral was said to protect against evil, rubies mean passion, amethyst’s signify devotion, emeralds show hope and pearls symbolise tears? Fascinating!

Click the pages for a larger view. Published in this month’s WED – see www.wedmagazine.co.uk or  buy online here.

Rachael Sharpe

Feature: A day in the life of a press photographer

In the second installment of a new series I’m writing for Photography Monthly, I spend a day with Brad Wakefield, an editorial photographer, employed by the South West News Service: the largest independent press agency in the UK. The day saw us cover a repatriation funeral at Bath Abbey and was quite an eye opener…

This feature has been published in the February edition of Photography Monthly, out now.

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Rachael Sharpe
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