Special Day for a Special Friend

It's not often one of my oldest and dearest friends gets married...so of course when my friend Penelope got married last Aug. I was beyond excited...not just that day but literally mths leading up to the day.  She was actually the first of my "Toronto friends" to get married so of course it was kind of a big deal lol!

Plus Penelope is a gorgeous girl and she took my advice and hired an amazing photographer - Zach Hertzman so I knew I was pretty much guaranteed some awesome wedding pics for my blog and site!  I actually first showed you guys some pics of Penelope's engagement shoot a couple of mths ago...those pics were stunning!

So the wedding took place back in late August.  My busiest wedding month to date w/ a grand total of 17 wedding books in that month alone!  I'm not going to lie...I was bit worn out by the end of that month.  In fact the crazy work schedule (2 weddings the day before & 1 other wedding the morning before Penny's that afternoon) + the "good times" had at Penny's wedding caused me to not only lose my voice but also get very sick w/ a hacking cough for at least a week after :(

But of course I'm a professional and I wasn't going to let a little tiredness affect my day or ability to give Penny my all!  I actually think there may have been times during my appt. w/ Penny that I was more nervous than her...and that says a lot b/c 1. I don't really get worked up or stressed on the job that much 2. Penny was a giant bag of nerves lol!  I just wanted to do such a good job for my friend so you know I felt an extra special amount of pressure that day!

Thankfully everything turned out beautifully and I couldn't be happier w/ the pics she sent!  I actually can't wait to see the rest b/c I'm still waiting for her to post them on Facebook!

For Penelope's makeup I actually did an airbrush foundation.  I don't always do airbrush and I promise great results no matter what type of foundation I use but I knew Penelope and she's a cryer lol...and airbrush makeup is sweat and water resistant so def. good for those "crying brides" lol.  Overall I kept the makeup clean and beautiful w/ a bronzed/rose cheek to accent her already naturally tanned Bajan skin (Barbados for ppl curious who Bajans are).  I did a brown w/ a touch of black smokey eye w/ a bit of a taupe shimmer and a peachy/brown nude lip.

Penelope's hair is where I really got to have some fun and try something new!  Penny really shocked me w/ what she wanted for her hair...not that it wasn't awesome it was just different than most of the pics my brides were sending me this year...always exciting for me!  She wanted an updo for sure but she wanted some that was elegant but not too perfect but also not messy curls...I'm so happy w/ the final result...I was stressing a bit on the day but it came together beautifully!  Plus I really do have to hand it to Zach on that one b/c so many photographers don't take great hair shots and he took a lot so thank you Zach very much!

Getting ready at the Trump Hotel in Toronto...gotta say I was impressed w/ the rooms!

Definitely not how I typically look after 2 weddings in one day...thank God I'm a makeup artist ;)

Love, Love, Love This Shot!

Such a great group shot of everyone...that NEVER happens!

Known these girls over13 years now...CRAZY...now I feel old lol!

Things you can tell from this picture...I'm exhausted...I don't normally EVER have bags like that under my eyes...Sophia and I are definitely having a "good time" lol!

More evidence of "good times" lol!

Such a great shot of the bride and I!  I got a spray tan before the wedding and I gotta say I LOVE it!  Definitely will start doing that again when it gets warmer.  Looks so natural!

A Long Way From Home - MEGA Man Editorial

So I just got my hands on the final editorial spread for MEGA Man magazine (Philippines) featuring my photographer friend and resident photographer/judge on Asia's Next Top Model Cycle 1 Todd Anthony Tyler. Before he became a photographer he was actually a model for several years which I think has definitely influenced his work and shooting style. It was so fun to get to work w/ Todd on a shoot as it had been such a long time...although this one was slightly different as he was the model and not the photographer lol!

It was a little chaotic to get this whole thing even planned and executed as we had to get it done during Todd's last visit to Canada in Sept. which also happened to coincide w/ TIFF and NYCFW...yeah...not the easiest time to do an editorial or source wardrobe let me tell you!  But it all came together in the end and I think it looks amazing and Todd totally captured that rugged, Canadian outdoors look we were going for...very different from the Philippines obviously...which was also another reason Todd wanted to shoot this in Canada.

Once Todd explained the concept to me and everything he was looking for I knew I had the perfect photographer for him.  I'm so glad Zach Hertzman (who I've worked w/ on a number of occasions) was able to shoot this story b/c his style was exactly what Todd was going for and he's so great on-location and w/ natural light!

The location for the shoot was actually Todd's sisters farm and land (and we also did a mini detour to a horse farm at the end of the shoot)...what's funny is Todd was location scouting and asking his family before the shoot for ideas and no one thought to suggest the farm (which he had never seen prior) b/c they thought it was too run down or "not pretty" enough...it's funny how ppl not in fashion don't always understand how we actually WANT those run down, dirty locations b/c they have character lol!

As far as my part in this whole editorial is concerned...I'm not going to lie...it was pretty easy.  It's male grooming and Todd has great skin so just cleaned it up a bit (covered some of those under eye circles) and styled the hair.  The thing w/ a shoot like this is to not make him too "clean" or "pretty".  I wanted him to look a bit rugged and dirty so I actually went to my friends at Blur Makeup Room  and picked up some Reel Dirt to work on to his hands and face to give him that slightly dirty, rugged look.

So here's the editorial!  I've also slipped in a couple behind the scenes shots from the day!  I actually have a bunch of pics that didn't make it into the editorial...there are so many great pics from this shoot!

His sister has mini horses...how cute are they!  Btw I know you can't tell but it was COLD outside...esp. considering it was the middle of Sept!!!

Zach doing his thing...Todd doing his

Me literally "getting my hands dirty" w/ the Reel Dirt

Beautiful Bluffs Engagement Shoot

Back in the Summer I had the honour of not only doing the wedding makeup and hair for one of my oldest and dearest friends Penny but I also got to work w/ her on her engagement shoot!  While I haven't seen any of the wedding pics yet if they are anything like the engagement shoot pics I know they will be nothing less than breathtaking!

I actually suggested a few of my fav. wedding photographers to Penny but strongly suggested Zach Hertzman who I've previously worked w/ on multiple editorial and fashion projects but never a wedding yet. Although I've always loved his wedding work too!  This past year he officially branched out on his own w/ the launch of  Times and Paper.  I absolutely LOVE Zach's style and he's so amazing w/ natural light and catching real authentic moments in both fashion and w/ his "real life" wedding couples.

The shoot couldn't have come together more beautifully - gorgeous weather...and the day after that insane storm we had back in the Summer so boy were we lucky there.  Penny wanted to look very natural and relaxed to go w/ the style and setting of the shoot - the Scarborough Bluffs which happen to be right near where she and her now husband Robert live.

I think these may be my fav engagement photos yet (and not just b/c it's one of my best friends in them ;) )!  I can't wait to add a few of these babies to my site!

Novus Capta

A little over a month ago I shared w/ you the awesome and edgy video editorial from the people at Light X Hevvy titled Novus (if you missed it before def. check out the video b/c it's amazing!).  Now I'm hear to share w/ you the gorgeous stills photographer Zach Hertzman shot during the two day shoot.  They are beautiful and I love the final edits and finishes Zach put on them.  He's seriously one of my fav. young photographers to work w/ b/c he has such a great style and eye.

Hope you Enjoy!

Photographer: Zach Hertzman

Makeup & Hair: Jessica Jean Myers

Stylist: Monika Tatalovic

Model: Madison (Spot 6)

NOVUS - Video Editorial

A few mths ago I had the pleasure of working w/ the VERY talented people over at Light & Hevvy on a new fashion video titled NOVUS.  This video was designed as a sort of creative celebration and reveal of the new studio space they moved into in Liberty Village and to establish them as an up and coming Creative Firm in Toronto.  Really great space btw ;)

I'm not going to lie...this was a hard shoot for me!  Well at least the first day.  I actually walked into the shoot not really knowing AT ALL what they wanted me to do...which I'm not going to lie is NOT something I like when it comes to creatives...I like to be prepared and I like to have what I need to have on hand and of course play a bit once I'm there...but I do like to know SOME details beforehand.  The makeup was exactly my sort of thing though...very striking, simple and graphic w/ a really cool eyeliner style. The problem...the first day was the "White" look and I didn't have a liquid or cream white liner w/ me (b/c I didn't know what i was going to do.  First I tried using my Face Atelier setting gel w/ a white eyeshadow but I just couldn't get the opaqueness the look required.  I then tried setting it further w/ more white eyeshadow but that just made everything crumple and fall off :(  Finally I settled on using the white cream from the MUFE Flash Palette mixed a setting liquid..still even w/ that I had to do the eyes probably 3 times completely from scratch and there were touch ups pretty much after almost every take.  So to say the day was a bit stressful for  me is an understatement...mostly just b/c I felt like I wasn't doing a good job as an MUA b/c the makeup just wasn't lasting the way I had hoped :(

The second day was better...we did still have to do the "White" look again but only for a couple of hours and then it was onto the "Black" look which was a walk in the park b/c I just had to replicate the white eyeliner design in black which was so easy and not smudgy b/c I had my MUFE Aqua Black which STICKS...not touch ups necessary there!

I can't wait to see the still from photographer Zach Hertzman (who was also the one that suggested me for the project) b/c I know they are going to be sick!

So even though there was a lot of self-imposed stress on my part I have to say the video looks Freakin' Amazing!  I'm so happy to have been apart of it b/c it's like a little work of art!...and the White eye makeup actually looks awesome so I'm glad I was a very diligent little MUA w/ touch ups and re-doing the makeup b/c it was worth it in the end (there are some EXTREME close ups of the eyes)!

Without further adieu here's the video - ENJOY!

Director / Editor: Steven Meyers
Assistant Director / Producer: Carina Mak
Director of Photography: Adam Syrnyk
First Assistant Camera / Producer: Lance Ludwig
Grip: Lulu Wei
Still Photographer: Zach Hertzman
Stylist: Monika Tatalovic
Hair & Make-up: Jessica Jean Myers
Model: Madison Dobson / SPOT6

Music: 
Beta Frontiers - Hondo (Lee Paradise of Phèdre remix)
Courtesy of Daps Records - www.dapsrecords.com / www.betafrontiers.com / www.phedreamour.com

STRANGE DAYS on Fashion Served

Here's an Oldie but a Goodie....This is a shoot you may remember from a few years back that was featured in Ink Magazine - photographer Zach Hertzman.  Now it's been featured on Fashion Served...and you know what - even after a couple of years I still LOVE it!  That doesn't always happen w/ my work...sometimes after a few years (or sometimes immediately after lol) I'll look back on a shoot and think Ugghh why did I do this or that or I wish I would have done this differently..that sort of thing but I think this one has held up nicely.  Still LOVE what I did w/ the model Danielle's hair...she has such great hair!  So anyway enjoy the trip down Memory Lane!  

STRANGE DAYS on Fashion Served

Btw...I know I haven't been the best blogger lately but I PROMISE lots of new and exciting work coming up!

Mackenzie Final Pics!

A couple of wks ago I shared w/ you some behind the scenes photos from my amazing (but cold) shoot down at Cherry Beach featuring up and coming singer Mackenzie.

Photographer Zach Hertzman was kind enough to send me a collection of the final pictures from the shoot so of course I want to share some w/ you b/c they look  awesome!  Zach did an amazing job of getting a great variety of both soft and edgy photos which is great to show her versatility as an artist.

Sorry there are so many but I just LOVE them so much!  Such a great backdrop and location too!

Is it just me or does it not look like it's either Spring or Fall in these pics?  In my opinion you'd never know these were shot in Toronto in late Nov/beg Dec.  Mackenzie was such a professional out there!