Style Me Easter by Marie Labbancz for Beautiful Blooms

Happy to say that I did my first photo shoot at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center the amazing photographer Marie Labbancz, and it wasn’t long before the lovely Easter-inspired photos were featured on Style Me Pretty.  Styling and floral by Maya and team from Beautiful Blooms and very chic hair by Claudia Seyler.  Adorable cake courtesy of Whipped Bakeshop.  Pretty paper by Loveleigh Invitiations.

We also did beauty shots for our delicately gorgeous models, Stephanie and Jamie and the results speak for themselves.  Truth be told, it was rather chilly that afternoon and both women were troopers.

You can see the full spread on Style Me Pretty….

Shoot at The Queen, Wilmington

I’ve been lucky to be involved in a some special photo shoots lately, at locations that were delightfully new to me.  Case in point: my day with photographer Laura Novak, Beka and Kimberly of Styled Creative, and others to highlight the beautiful bone structure of a grand and revitalized theater in Wilmington, DE, The Queen.  And I was thrilled that hairstylist Mike Rossmark was able to join us at the last minute.

All of the drama and textures of this unique venue make it an amazing backdrop for a wedding!  You can see more of these photos on Laura Novak’s blog.

Full credit goes to:

Photography: Laura Novak and Jason Thomas

Stylists: Styled Creative

Makeup: moi
Hair: Michael Rossmark
Gowns: Jennifer’s Bridal
Accessories: Houppette
Venue: Live at the Queen

Shoot with Jenna Stamm: Pretty Macabre

Funny how these test shoots come about.  First, I have an urge to do a doll-like face – photographer Jenna Stamm, as usual, is up for it.

Next, I meet Marilyn Cohen, who creates unique, statement jewelry from all sorts of vintage pieces (and is ensconsed at the Van Cleve Collection every weekend).  She is willing to loan us some of her stuff.

I find myself in a Goodwill store in Amsterdam, NY (if you know where that is, you get a special prize) and purchase a velvet jacket with organza inserts.  Although it probably came from an unfortunate two-piece outfit that got up and went to a prom, it will work rather perfectly for my vision.

Mike Rossmark is in for hair….hooray!

Finally, we take on the macabre (love the word so much I’m using it twice) and spectacular work of Beth Beverly of Diamond Tooth Taxidermy.

The best part was that our original model for the shoot didn’t show up.  But M.G. at Reinhard Agency came to the rescue and in walked the perfectly beautiful creature, Priscilla, who couldn’t have been better if we built her from scratch.

Here’s what we came up with ….

 

Shoot for Hush Salon Philadelphia

I’ve raved about Hush Salon before on this blog….see my 2009 post.  Carlos and his wife Adrienne just get the whole hair thing perfectly right, and they have a talented team of stylists to show for it.

Carlos wanted some new shots for the salon, and of course I jumped at the chance to help out.  He manipulated Gosia’s versatile cropped cut a bazillion different ways (a look I’d love for myself, but unfortunately, I have crazy hair on fire).   See more shots here on the Hush site.

Photo by the fearsome, dog-loving and Ducati-riding  Robert Little.

Happy Love Day, with the help of Alison Conklin and Styled Creative

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a few of my favorite images from a recent shoot with photographer Alison Conklin, all styled by the aptly-named Styled Creative team of Beka Rendell and Kimberly Fink.  You can see more by heading to the Ruffled blog, where it was originally posted.  Spread the love, people…

Style Me Pretty Creative

Talk about an adorable pre-holiday spread! Beka and Kimberly of Styled Creative asked if I would do the make-up for a shoot at Trust with photographer Alison Conklin, starring the sparkly Dallas Shaw, a talented fashion illustrator and Ms. Beans (see pink tutu).   Delectable baked goods by Brown Betty (get a load of that polka dot cake…wow!).  Hair by the wonderful Amanda D’Andrea.  Paper embellishments by Two Paper Dolls. 

The folks at Style Me Pretty thought the shoot was…..well….pretty. I’ve posted some of my favorites below.  Go here to see the full pictorial on SMP - it’s delicious!

 

Ms. Beans in haute couture...

In the Spirit of Healing

I worked with delightful and talented photographer Sas Becker on a photo shoot for Holy Spirit Hospital this summer. The photos were for a campaign to promote cancer care at their facility in Harrisburg.

The first session was with Judi, a breast cancer survivor well on the mend, and her little nephew Jordan. I think she really enjoyed having some lashes and eyebrows again, even if only for the day.

I met James at the second shoot. Even though the exterior did say “military man” and “black belt in judo,” he was really very good-natured about having make-up applied.

I’m grateful to Sas for giving me an opportunity to meet these very brave and special people.

Jenna Stamm and the Pit Crew…

I’ve had the good fortune to work with photographer Jenna Stamm several times, and I’m always impressed with how seriously she approaches shoots (all the while being very wry and adorable). Lots of planning, a well-conceived idea…such a pleasure. Here’s my favorite shot:

Model is Ericka from Reinhardt (just caught her on QVC’s Fashion Week extravaganza), hair by Michael Rossmark, styling by Delicious Boutique. To see Jenna’s full post and more pics, go here.

House Beautiful

Photo Joe Pulcinella has had a hankering to find a beautifully decorated setting to shoot in. So when I walked into my client Francine Giannone’s home for the first time, I wasn’t shy about asking if we could invade her turf with models and cameras. As an interior decorater, she was flattered. As a make-up artist, I was thrilled.

Francine and decorator Sue Miller work with Wendy Spampinato of WS Interiors in Conshohocken. Let me tell you…Francine’s home is spectacular. It’s a turn of the century gem in a neighborhood of newer properties, and Francine and her husband worked hard to restore the house to its rightful splendor.

Friend Dar Clinton made a return appearance on hair, and fashion prodigy Catie Joyce of Kristel Closets came along to do the styling. Joe also brought in low-key, high-talent Krista Valla to assist, and as you will see below, got some lovely shots as well.

Our models here are Alex Slatina and Star Behl, both with the Reinhard Agency - very special thanks to Emily Calvanese for her help.

Alex, who is in real life an accomplished pianist, is pensive by candlelight…

Joe Pulcinella

Star as “mafia wife who has been very wronged and is going to get very even”…

Joe Pulcinella

Alex is looking radiant in what could be an ad for Estee Lauder…

Krista Valla

And finally, a real life cameo…

Krista Valla

In the Lab with Photo Joe Joe Pulcinella

When I have the time to spare, I’m more than happy to collaborate with seasoned photographers who want to try interesting things. This is my fourth shoot with the ever-inventive Joe Pulcinella, a total pro who is always waiting in the wings with some new technique or other.

On this particular day in late February, Joe was waiting outside his studio in the snow. As I walked up, I’m thinking “Oh, cool! We’re shooting outdoors.” Not so. Joe was setting up equipment to produce some rather beautiful shadow and light effects on the inside of the studio.

Joining us once again was friend and hair stylist Dar Clinton. In addition to bringing the talent and high spirits, Dar also recruited our aspiring models, Catlin (like a little sister to Dar) and Stephanie (a fellow hair stylist).

I love working with photogenic women who haven’t modeled, because it’s so satisfying to see how delighted they are with the process and how much the transformation uplifts their sense of self. I can’t help gushing when I see how spectacular they look. Not that they don’t start out beautiful to begin with. Who wouldn’t want to look like the “before” Stephanie? Un-retouched, people…

The “after” was remarkable. I was really getting the Lana Turner vibe from Stephanie, with her beautiful blue doe-like eyes and classic bone structure.

Catlin, on the other hand, was channeling Jessica Alba in a big way.The similarity in their face shape is striking.Joe’s lighting technique worked beautifully on this one.

Did I mention that both of our models were wearing my clothes? If only I looked that good in them!

Thanks so much to everyone involved- the amazingly patient and enthusiastic Joe Pulcinella, the darling Dar Clinton, and models Catlin and Stephanie.