Anna Webber Makeup

Two's Company

2010-04-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

On March 15th I did a photo shoot with photographer Jeremy Nelson and models David Thomas and Tyler Hilderbrand. The shoot was actually supposed to feature two female models as well for an editorial in INK Magazine.

I arrived at Jeremy's apartment on the Upper East Side to get my hair and makeup groove on before taking the crew out to shoot in Central Park on the gloriously sunny mid-March afternoon. The boys showed up and I perfected their skin and primped their hair. We all sat around discussing philosophy while we waited for the girls who never showed. Although we were having a wonderfully interesting conversation, we finally decided to shoot the guys alone.

We walked a few blocks west to the park and found a gorgeous tree that begged to be climbed. The boys set about finding their footing up the slick bark that was mottled and looked like camouflage. David and Tyler were perched in the tree as Jeremy checked his light settings when all of sudden I see this flash of blonde hair falling as David took a tumble down to the ground. He was alright, but did get a scrape on his arm. Of course, my concern was that he didn't get any blood on his white t-shirt. I dabbed away the blood and he scrambled back up (see my picture on the bottom in the above set) and Jeremy got some single and pair shots of the guys.

When Tyler was doing his individual shots, I noticed that he had the eyes of Jared Leto, who of course played my dream boy Jordan Catalano in My So Called Life. To my horror, Tyler had no idea who I was talking about when I mentioned this. These are the moments when I am made painfully aware of my age on photo shoots.

Once we had enough shots of the tree, we meandered north through the park discussing baseball and girls. We came across a nice little corner with a stream that created a small waterfall among moss-covered stones. We all started shedding layers at this point and I was attempting to get a tan to no avail. They splashed around in the water and posed for a bit before getting some shots in an old brick-lined tunnel that was adjacent to the stream.

Our foursome followed the stream a little further to get some nice shots on fallen logs that spanned the water. David gave us his best Dirty Dancing impression of Patrick Swayze showing Baby how to achieve balance and he even sang "Hey Baby". It was pretty amazing and you can see a little of it in the first picture above.

We wrapped up our shoot there and headed back for some $5 footlongs at Jeremy's place. The day didn't end up being exactly what we had planned for, but the shots turned out nice and we had a great time. I gotta say, working with a group of all guys can be a lot more laid back and fun sometimes. We all just goofed around and played for most of the shoot. I hope you guys like the pictures!

Here is a link to the spread in the Spring 2010 issue of INK Magazine. It starts on page 47

Celebrate Spring With Gorgeous Lashes!!

2010-03-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung in the city! At least for today, and I am enjoying every second of this glorious sunshine! It just puts me in such a good mood. Another thing that puts an extra spring in my step is having my gorgeous new lashes from Primp Daddy, Morgan Hawes.

One of my biggest complaints has been having short, stick straight lashes. If I do nothing else before leaving the house, I religiously curl my lashes and apply a couple coats of mascara to open up my eyes and not look like a zombie. As of last week, however, I don't have to do anything anymore!!

My friend, Morgan, started Primp Daddy a few years ago in Portland as a lash extension expert. I loved the look and the ease of having thick, luscious lashes for weeks that needed no curling or mascara. When I moved to New York, I knew I would miss having them. Luckily for me, and for the rest of Manhattan women, Morgan has opened a studio on the island!! He is now splitting his time between Portland and New York.

So both coasts can now experience his amazing talent at creating a personalized lash look. You can choose to go natural and opt for a more subtle enhancement, or you can go bold and dramatic with lashes for days.

Contact Morgan to schedule a consultation or an application.

Product Giveaway!!

2010-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

So you just read about Skin MD Natural in my review, and now is your chance to try it for free! The manufacturer has been kind enough to offer one of my readers a bottle of this lovely lotion. I will be randomly selecting one entry to receive their free gift!

To enter:

* Make sure you are a follower of my blog

* Visit www.SkinMDNatural.com

* Leave me a comment with something you learned about skin care from their website

* I will announce the winner on my blog

Good luck everyone and thanks for reading!!

Give Your Skin a Breather

2010-01-12T11:38:00.000-08:00

Skin MD Natural

Shielding Lotion

Get out from under that greasy mask of heavy moisturizers this winter!! We are all guilty of it. That first blast of frigid air hits us, and we immediately run to our medicine cabinets for the thick, heavy moisturizer and slather it on with ridiculous heft in order to keep the scaly winter skin at bay. Our foreheads glisten like glazed hams, and we have to drag our woolen socks up over sticky legs.

I have come across a nice alternative. Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion that actually binds with your outermost layer of skin, locking moisture in, and keeping environmental irritants out. It does all of this while allowing your skin to breathe and leaving it feeling clean and soft.

I wasn’t quite sure about this product which claims that it can be used on the face, hands and body. Usually such a multipurpose lotion is too heavy for the face, or not very effective on the rough elbows and heels. The white bottle also looks quite medicinal with its red cap and first aid cross on the label. This is not generally the type of packaging I am drawn to for my skin care. However, as I read about it, I became more and more excited to see how this would work with my skin.

Lately, I am making strides and taking steps toward being a green makeup artist. As a part of AKA Natural Beauty, my focus is on finding and using natural products that are good for the skin, body, and the environment. Thus, I was ecstatic to see that this shielding lotion boasts a slew of herbal and natural ingredients to protect, moisturize, and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits!

Some of the ingredients of Skin MD Natural include Aloe Vera extract, Vitamin E, Arnica, Comfrey, Chamomile, and Yarrow. It is 93% natural. I was definitely a little bummed to discover that it is not totally natural, but they do explain in detail on their website why they chose the ingredients they did, and exactly what they are. I can appreciate a company who is straight forward and honest about their products.

The first day I used it, I popped the cap open and squeezed a dime-sized dollop of the semi-transparent liquid into my palm. As I spread it onto my face, I realized I had taken way too much, so I applied it to my elbows and arms as well. The feeling was silky and not greasy at all. It leaves your skin feeling very clean and smooth. It was hard to get used to this sensation. I almost wanted to apply more so I could have that familiar layer of product coating my skin. I restrained myself and continued applying my makeup which went on very smoothly over the lotion.

I have been using this product for three weeks now, and I have to say that I am very happy with the results. My skin is not chapped and dry, as it normally would be after braving the biting New York City winter wind. It feels hydrated without being greasy, and in addition, the breakouts I was experiencing around my hairline and chin have disappeared. It even helped heal my cracked elbows. Because it creates an invisible shield to protect your skin from moisture loss, you can actually layer it over your night creams and eye creams to “seal” them in and extend their benefits as well. Overall, my skin is feeling soft and smooth without a hint of the winter effects (other than my pale complexion, of course).

Although I am trying to incorporate totally organic and natural products into my regime, I do like the results that this light liquid provides, as well as the majority of its ingredient list. You can read all about the ingredients, science, and recommendations from doctors on the website www.SkinMDNatural.com. It is also available in a formulation with SPF 15, which I am always a fan of.

Wishing you a beautiful New Year!!

Title photo by Ben Pigao www.13bdesign.com

AKA Natural Beauty

2010-01-04T06:25:00.001-08:00

I am very excited and proud to announce the launch of a new collaborative endeavor! AKA Natural Beauty brings me together with two other freelance makeup artists under the common goal of helping women feel confident, healthy and beautiful. Kristen Arnett and myself are based in New York, while May Lindstrom is located in Los Angeles.

AKA Natural Beauty reaches out to individual women who may want private makeup lessons, tips on how to shop for cosmetics, skincare consultations, personal makeup application for a special event, bridal makeup, as well as group workshops. Kristen, May, and myself provide all of these services with the underlying foundation of total wellness, and incorporating products into your routine of the highest quality for your skin and body. Being able to utilize my background in skin care and wellness while focusing on building relationships with my clients, is something I have been looking forward to spending more time on.

I am thrilled to be joining forces with such talented women who share my same philosophies and the joy that comes from our work. We look forward to the new paths this joint effort will take us down, and the new doors it has already begun to open for us.

I will also be posting on our joint blog at www.AKANaturalBeauty.com, so please be sure to follow me there as well.

The Next Step

2009-10-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in SeaTac airport waiting for my flight to JFK. Its almost hard to believe that this moment is actually here. I have been plotting and planning to make the move to New York City for just over a year. In September of 2008, Megan and I took a week long trip to New York which prompted me to start looking for possible jobs out there as soon as I got home. However, life got in the way. What started out as a plan became a story that I told myself would happen "one day". I continued to live and work in Portland and "one day" started to get further and further away. "Maybe next Summer" became my general response when people asked if I still planned on heading East. Eventually, with no set date for departure, the likelihood of actually moving became less and less.

On a Wednesday night in September, just a few weeks ago, I met a friend to see the movie "The September Issue". Kirsten and I grabbed some sushi before it started and she asked me what my plans were for New York. As per usual, I said "maybe next summer". After all, I did have brides booked through next fall already. "Brides?" she asked almost disgusted. "That's why you're not going to New York?" I was a little taken aback since nobody else had ever questioned why I was putting it off. She continued to tell me what an amazing opportunity moving to The City would be and that the only thing that was actually keeping me from going was not brides, but me being a big chicken.

It took me a moment to let her words sink in, then I looked up and said, "You're completely right". I could keep telling everyone, and myself, that I planned to move to New York someday. And I could keep coming up with reasons why I couldn't go now. But really, if I want to go, I just have to do it. Set a date, look for apartments, make contacts, and just go. I took stock of where I was in my life and found that I am 27 years old, single, working freelance in a smaller market, and not really making plans to move forward.

Don't get me wrong, I completely love Portland. It is home for me, and my family and friends whom I love dearly are in Portland. I realized, though, that if I don't take the steps to experience anything outside of Portland now, I might never do it. I mean, I lived in San Diego for five years while attending college, and I have traveled a bit and lived in Paris for a few months. But, I just wasn't ready to say that I was going to stay there forever and settle down. Living and working in New York is something that I want to be able to say that I at least attempted. No regrets, right?

So, Kirsten and I went and watched our movie all about the fashion industry in New York, and I was ready to go. That night I emailed my friends that live there and told them I would be moving in 2-3 months. As luck would have it, my friend and fellow makeup artist, Kristen Arnett, called to tell me that she would be looking for a new place soon. Voila!! Roommate! From there, plans started to fall into place and connections were made very quickly through people I have worked with, friends, and family. It all started to feel real.

I put in my 30 days notice at my apartment and started packing. Kristen started hunting for apartments in Manhattan. The apartment search has proven to be a much more labor intensive, emotional, and difficult process than either of us could have imagine. I am so lucky to have Kristen who has put in countless hours, and exhausting leg work hoofing around to see available apartments. Last week I started to feel serious anxiety about the amount of time and energy Kristen was having to put into the hunt all by herself. So, I booked my one way ticket and asked my friend if I could crash with her and her husband until we find a place.

This pushed my departure date up quite a bit. I was planning on heading out in early November and spending my last Halloween in Portland with my friends. So, all of the going-away festivities had to be set up last minute. I had a wonderful weekend with my friends, who indulged my karaoke passion (but not skill) and sent me off with a New York survival kit and mimosas. I worked really hard to keep the goodbyes happy and not sad. If I actually had to say goodbye to these people, I would be completely paralyzed and devastated. I am holding onto the fact that this is not an end, but an exciting beginning. A beginning of something that I have no idea how it will play out, what the result will be, or when I will be back. I am leaping knowing that even if I fall hard and end up back where I started, it will be an experience that I will carry with me forever.

So, that's where I am. Sitting at SeaTac airport waiting for my flight to JFK. Three huge suitcases and 8 boxes to be sent later. I appreciate so much all of the support, encouragement, and reality checks that people have given me in the past month. I look forward to writing updates when I have them, whether successes or failures. I will be completely out of my comfort zone and the safe little bubble that I have relished in for the past few years. I am looking forward to being in the middle of an amazing new city, making new connections, expanding my work to levels I haven't yet pushed myself to, and to being completely humbled and realizing how insignificant I am. This is my first step of many new ones to be taken.

Layouts from Ty Milford

2009-09-21T15:21:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share some pictures from a couple of lifestyle shoots I have done with the wonderful Ty Milford.

We have collaborated on some fun shoots capturing real moments. Amazing how it can be much more difficult to photograph a scene that looks totally genuine than it can be to get the perfect pose.

The first three layouts are from a shoot we did with the help of the always-charming and wonderfully talented wardrobe stylist, Sarah Van Raden. We were able to use her grandmother's lake house for a fun day of playing and swimming, and paddle boating. Some of us were a little challenged by the paddle boats, but we eventually got the hang of it ;)

The last layout is from our most recent shoot using longboards. I was just happy we didn't have any major injuries or collisions with passing cars. We shot those around North Portland.

I look forward to doing some more work with Ty and will post pictures as I get them.

Look Good. . . Feel Better

2009-08-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

This past week has been a rejuvenating one for me. I spent it with my family in Chesapeake Bay, MD being able to relax and zone out and do some family bonding. I got back feeling refreshed and spent yesterday volunteering with the American Cancer Society. I lead sessions of their Look Good Feel Better program in which I meet with women undergoing cancer treatments and go over skin care and makeup tips for their sensitive skin and loss of hair. They receive makeup kits that are donated by the cosmetics industry and get to leave with all new products and even wigs and scarves if they find one that they like. Makeup can seem like a frivolous and superficial thing at times, but being able to use it to connect with these women and give them 2 hours of pampering plus practical information is something that I am very grateful to be able to be a part of. If you know of any women who are going through cancer treatment, they can find times and locations of Look Good Feel Better at www.cancer.org.

I worked with a woman yesterday named Judy who is halfway through her chemo treatments. She had lost all of her beautiful white hair and felt exhausted all the time, but was grateful for the fact that she wasn't experiencing much sickness. She lives alone and has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. When I asked her what makeup she normally wears, she said she wears blue eyeliner and purple lipstick. We had fun trying out different colors and figuring out new ways to tie her scarf. She ended up taking a red wig with her. It suited her perfectly. She was so open and joyful throughout the whole session. We talked about her husband who had passed away from lung cancer, her diagnosis, her family, and I talked about my own experiences and family history with cancer. But never once was it depressing because of her hopeful and independent spirit.

I just wanted to share these things because no matter what profession you are in, it is easy for it to start to feel monotonous and to forget what made you choose it in the first place. It is important to savor the moments that bring joy, appreciation, and enthusiasm in whatever you may be doing. It will give you a renewed sense of purpose and drive. It makes me proud of what I have been doing, and gives me the push to want to do better.

This made my day!!

2009-08-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to open my email early this morning and have a Thank You card from one of my brides, Liz. Brides are always appreciative, but this personalized card (with my bio info and everything!) really made me smile and remember, again, how great my job is. Getting to be a part of such an important and happy day in people's lives is exciting, fun, and rewarding when you get to see how beautiful they FELT on that day.

Thank You Liz!!

Promo Card

2009-07-30T00:40:00.000-07:00

The lovely and talented Patries made this promo card for me today. I always love going in and chatting with my Option ladies!! Such a fun, smart, and talented group of women to be able to be a part of. Thank you dears!!

My Summer Beauty Bargains

2009-07-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Now that we're into the hot summer months, I wanted to share my favorite drug-store essentials for looking and feeling great without breaking the bank. When the weather is warm and we're running around to barbecues, hikes, and street fairs, the last thing we want to think about is packing on a ton of makeup. We want things that save us time and money and don't require much maintenance.

1. Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo

This is my secret weapon in the summer and all year long. Psssssst removes excess oil and dirt from the hair and extends time in between washings. I know that I don't like washing my hair every day and when we're sweating and reapplying sunscreen all day, our tresses can start to look a little less than fresh a lot more quickly. A little spray of this and brush through, and your hair looks newly washed. Now that I have bangs, this is a life saver. My bangs get greasy so much faster than the rest of my hair, and I use this to revitalize them instantly. The best part is that it runs about $6 a can and can be bought at your local drugstore. I always get mine at Walgreens.

2. Face Secrets Blotting Papers

By now, we all know about blotting papers. Those thin little sheets that soak up any excess shine. A definite summer essential. I don't like powdered blotting papers because of the mess they leave. Constantly applying powder to absorb shine results in gunky build-up. These blotting papers from Face Secrets found at Sally Beauty are budget-friendly at $2.99 and such a good value. They are a bigger size than most, so you use less and you get 150 per pack. They also come in a convenient pouch that fits right in your purse or pocket.

3. Aquaphor Healing Ointment

My lips get dry all year round, but they especially need extra moisture during the summer. Aquaphor Healing Ointment keeps my lips soft and moisturized without leaving a greasy or waxy residue. It absorbs quickly and comes in small travel tubes for less than $2. If you don't see it in the travel size section of your drug store, it will be located by the lotions. This is a must that I keep in my purse, pocket, and makeup kit at all times. It is the first thing I apply to models when they sit in my chair. It also serves triple duty since it is great for any dry patches of skin, and can also work on a Q-tip to remove any mascara run off when you get out of the pool. Just be sure to also use a lip balm with SPF if you are out in the sun!

4. Revlon ColorStay Mineral LipGlaze

This is a soft, highly pigmented gloss that really lasts without that drying or sticky feeling of other long-wearing lip products. I swiped it on in Neverending Nude and I really liked that it gave enough color and shine without looking pasted on. Unlimited Nectar is more a shimmery peach color that looks great on its own, and also works layered over another color. For $8.99 it is a good deal, and remember to keep an eye out for sales on cosmetics at your local drugstore. Especially on newer products like this, you can usually find it for cheaper than its regular price.

5. Cover Girl Outlast Lipstains

If you want a lip color that is more matte than gloss, try these Lipstains. They are felt-tip pens that impart a liquid stain of color that instantly absorbs onto your lip. It feels like you're wearing nothing at all and looks like you've just finished eating a popsicle. The color lasts and you can layer your favorite gloss over the top. If you're not used to bright lips, try these out. A beautiful look for Summer is to leave the eye clean other than a couple of coats of mascara and pop on a bright lip. I love Wild Berry Wink for a bright berry pout, and Flirty Nude for more of subtle kiss of color. I picked up both when they were buy one get one free. Regularly they are $7.49-$7.99

6. Cover Girl Eye Enhancer's Trio

Another fun look for Summer is to try out a brighter, bolder color on your lids and keep your lips more tame. If you are trying out a new shade for the first time, I always suggest trying out the drugstore brand first. The bright blues in Cover Girl's Eye Enhancers Trio in Blazing Blues look beautiful on brown, green and hazel eyes. Since you may never wear the color again, you can feel better about trying it out if you're only spending $4.99 for three shades. Any easy way to break into bold hues is to try it out as your liner first. Use the darkest color blended into your lash line and soften the line. It will give you a feel of how the shade looks with your coloring and you won't feel like a clown. Then you can venture out to doing a soft wash of the lighter shade of blue across your lid. Have fun and play around. You will be surprised at how many bright colors will look great.

7. Banana Boat Sun Wear Faces Oil-Free daily sunscreen lotion with SPF 30

8. Mario Badescu Suncare

Of course, sunscreen is an essential for maintaining a beautiful face now, and 20 years from now. I'm always looking for high SPF face sunscreens that don't make me feel like I'm going to break out in five minutes. This summer I have been using Banana Boat's Sun Wear Faces Oil-Free daily sunscreen lotion with SPF 30. It is lightweight and absorbs quickly. I reapply it every couple of hours on a regular day. If I'm out in direct sun, I reapply it every 30-60 minutes or whenever I get out of the water. This one runs about $8. If you want to invest a little more into a wonderful sunscreen moisturizer, try out Mario Badescu's Suncare which is $22, but it provides both UVA and UVB protection and contains aloe vera gel and eucalyptus oil for their soothing properties. Mario Badescu products can be found at http://mariobadescu.com or locally at Dolce Vita in the Pearl District or Blush Beauty Bar on NW 23rd.

9. Paula Dorf Special Camouflage

This is my absolutely favorite must-have not only for summertime, but all year. I won't leave the house without it tucked in my purse, and it works on just about anyone who has very fair to a darker medium skin tone. I would only not recommend it for the darkest skin tones. It does so many different jobs and you could easily just use this one product and look refreshed and bright-eyed. The salmon color cancels out the dark blue and green tones that cause darkness around the eyes. Instead of using a lighter concealer which can end up looking gray, I mix a little of the yellow and the salmon together and place it right at the inside corner of the eye against the nose and just into the darkest area under the eye. It is a thick formula, so only use a tiny bit and blend it with the warmth of your finger. The yellow alone can be used to brighten and highlight. The two colors can also be blended to create the perfect shade for spot covering as well. At $23, this is definitely the highest tagged item on the list, but it will be your new favorite product and will really last since you don't need much. When we're saving money on all of our other products, this would be the one place to splurge. It can be purchased at http://www.pauladorf.com/p-52-special-camouflage.aspx or locally at Dolce Vita in the Pearl District.

Ok, so these are my must-have items to keep you fresh and flirty all Summer. Enjoy!

Oily Models

2009-06-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

The first part of my day yesterday was spent working on a shoot with Ryan James Hunt. We were working on a spread for Styleology magazine's "Red Book" issue which celebrates everything red and comes out in October. I had the pleasure of getting to work with Kira. I feel like we haven't done a shoot together in a long time. She did amazing hair on the three ladies, including her newly coined "flow hawk". My favorite "do" was her mohawk of 4 large netted balls of hair on Hannah. I think we all enjoyed the many references we were able to make to Hannah's Balls.

The models were Trevor Cross, Hannah Gale, and Amy Holt of Option Model Management as well as the lovely Andrina. They were such a fun group to work with and were definitely good sports hanging out in swimsuits all day despite intermittent rain and the ever-present onlookers. They all ended up looking like they were prepped for the deep fryer having so much canola oil on them. After sitting on the pavement, all of the models left grease stains on the ground!

We all had an early start getting to the prep area at Oaks Park at 8:30. Andrina and Ryan had much earlier starts having to drive from Eugene and Olympia respectively. Once we started shooting at Oaks Park, we were shuffled away and moved down to the parking lot at Sellwood Park. People driving by definitely looked a little confused, and a lot jealous, when they saw the three ladies draped all over Trevor wearing the lovely suits of Heidi Fish.

The rain eventually got to the point where we needed to take a break, so we moved camp again over to Vaughn in NW. After stopping at Jack in the Box for a quick snack and hair and makeup changes, the models posed on a small overpass going over 405. Lots of stares and honking ensued as Hannah waved to all of the passing cars in her nautical striped bikini and neon stilettos. After one more background change, we finally called it a wrap around 5.

This was the first shot taken of Trevor all greased up and ready to go. I can't wait to see the color shots of the girls. I'll post them as they come in.

Beauty Review: The Best Concealers

2009-06-17T23:19:00.001-07:00

I am sharing this review because my most used and favorite product during summertime is concealer. It seems so simple and everyday, but during the summer I hate adding a full face of makeup. I want to be able to do the bare minimum and run out the door. During the warmer months, our skin naturally has a healthy glow that needs less coverage than in our paler, colder months. Often, most women don't need to bother with a full face of foundation. Just dot on your favorite concealer where needed: under the eyes, on blemishes and maybe around the nose. So, at a time when concealer is the star of the show, I thought it only fitting to share a few that are tried and true. If you have any others to add to the list, please share.

Beauty Review: The Best Concealers

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Such lovely pipe fittings you have

2009-06-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

Here is the first image from a shoot I did with Erik Freeman and Jennifer Falcon. She makes those pipe fittings look pretty sexy. I bet those old men who hassled them at Home Depot feel pretty stupid now!! It was my first shoot with Erik and I had a great time working with Jennifer again. My kind of shoot; laid back and fun. Always love those, especially when the result is awesome pictures! Looking forward to seeing more.

25 Random Things about W's Beauty Editors: wmagazine.com

2009-06-17T10:06:00.001-07:00

I loved the random snippets of personal favorites, weird trends, and celebrity tricks. I hope you enjoy as well!

25 Random Things about W's Beauty Editors: wmagazine.com

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2009-06-10T11:13:00.001-07:00

Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.~Plato

Music Video for Olivia Broadfield's Don't Cry

2009-06-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

Please check out the music video for Don't Cry from Olivia Broadfield that I did makeup for!!!

http://tinyurl.com/ndrh3f

2009-03-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did a shoot with Photographer Eric Rose http://www.filmesque.com, fellow Makeup Artist, Claudine Ebel http://www.ebelartistry.com, and hair stylist, Kristen Behlings. We had three beautiful models and clothes, jewelry and hats from Alexandra's Boutique. It was a vintage-inspired shoot to showcase our makeup looks that will be featured at a Jane Iredale Cosmetics event on Monday.

Claudine and I had so much fun picking out the outfits an accessories with Alexandra in her amazing vintage boutique in North Portland. She has such a beautiful array of dresses, bridal gowns, furs, and shoes. The walls are flanked with brightly colored hats and dripping with necklaces. I could spend a whole week in there trying stuff on!

At the shoot, we played with the vintage looks and coming up with makeup looks that would be appealing to bridal clientele and look gorgeous in print. I used the latest cover of W magazine with Drew Barrymore as inspiration for the look I created for our bride, Caitlin. Candice has a beautifully curvy figure that fit perfectly in our more 50's style dresses. The amazing makeup in AMC's Mad Men inspired us to create a heavily lined eye with strong red lips. Hailey was our young model who looked amazing in the pink satin gown with the mink stole. The picture above is Hailey evoking Twiggy in a fantastic hat. Eric chose a picture of Sophia Loren as the inspiration for her dark eyes.

I had such a blast working with everyone to create these beautiful looks and more pictures will be up soon.

Leanne Marshall Shoot

2008-12-11T16:29:00.001-08:00

So, last Sunday I had the pleasure of working again with Leanne Marshall, the most recent winner of Bravo's Project Runway. It was a quick shoot of her new ready to wear line that will go into production soon. Leanne is only in Portland until the new year when she will relocate to New York City in order to build her line. In New York she will be spending some time with designing legend Diane Von Furstenburg who has agreed to be her mentor. So amazing!! It is so exciting to hear Leanne's stories from her experiences over the past year as well as her plans for the future.

The clothes were beautiful, as to be expected. Wonderfully tailored with structural details in gorgeous fabrics. Cora looked gorgeous in every design, and each one fit her perfectly. I did a clean face with soft colors and emphasized a fuschia lip that matched Leanne's fabrics and accent colors. The shoot went surprising quick for having seven looks. The photographer, Nate, was very efficient. I'm excited to see the finished product. Here is just a glimpse of some of the outfits and Leanne adjusting them on Cora. I can't wait to see what Leanne comes up with in New York!!

2008-11-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

Yes We Can!!! I am so excited to be able to say that Barack Obama is going to be our 44th President!! It has been such an intense campaign filled with strong passion on both sides. Last night was the first time in longer than I can recall that I was proud of our country. Regardless of who you were voting for, the country was actually united in wanting to create something great for our future and future generations. And I do believe that even those who voted the other way will be able to join behind this man who defied all the odds to ascend to the highest position in our nation.

I watched the election coverage with Megan at Ron Tom's last night and I have never seen it so crowded. People were standing on chairs and booths in order to view the huge projection screen. As the numbers started rolling in, the cheers were far outweighing the boos and the butterflies in my stomach grew as it became a real possibility that Obama would take the election. Shortly after 8 pm, the graphic popped up on the screen that Barack Obama was elected the 44th President and the entire place shook with cheers, clapping, crying overwhelmed tears. It was an intense feeling that I had never felt before, and I just knew that I was present for something so historic and amazing. Everyone fell to a hush to watch McCain's humble and gracious concession speech before erupting once again when he finished with his support for our new President. When President-elect Obama walked out to the podium in Grant Park, the entire place shook again and flashbulbs went off capturing the first images of our President. I don't think there was a dry eye as he gave his acceptance speech that examplified gratitude, humility, strength, emotion, hope and a realistic view of the challenges ahead of him.

I am grateful to be here to see this moment in history and I look forward to what is to come. Congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama and to all of us!!!!

Nice post work Shaun!!!

2008-10-23T11:25:00.001-07:00

Gorgeous work by Shaun turning miss Jenn into the always-recognizable Frida Kahlo. Love those brows!!! So much fun to do! Jenn, maybe you should reconsider your Halloween costume.

Lulu Stole The Show!

2008-10-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

I picked Jenn up yesterday for our shoot with Shaun and we decided Lulu, her adorable maltese, needed to come with us, along with 3 bottles of bubbly. Shaun selected her first outfit of a short navy dress with Jenn's awesome criss-cross shoe booties. I did a dark taupe eye with a nude lip and fluffed her curly hair a bit. Once Shaun started shooting, he had little Lulu step in for a few shots and she was such a model! I swear she was posing and smiling for the camera!

Jenn switched into shiny black leggings, grey t-shirt, and Carrie shoes for more of a rocker look complete with her oversized aviators. Hair was made much bigger! I love those shots! Lulu came back for another cameo. In the meantime, Shaun discovered that drinking champagne through red vines enhances the bouquet quite nicely.

The last look we shot yesterday was my personal favorite. I enhanced her naturally full, dark brows, popped on a bright red lip, and threw her hair up into a high bun. Slipped her into a vintage dress, and, voila! Frida Kahlo reincarnated! It was perfect and I can't wait to the final edits complete with some enhancements of flowers and Frida artwork. So fun! Shaun is supposed to be trying to beat Ben's record of getting the first edit out within 24 hours, so we shall see. Definitely a fun shoot with good peeps though. Happy hour at Silk afterward was awesome too!

First Edit from Yesterday

2008-10-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Ben got an edit out in less than 24 hours!! A new record. So, here is the first look at headshots of Erin. Fierce!! ;)

Naked Erin

2008-10-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

I did yet another shoot with Ben yesterday. Kent and Ben are collaborating on a concept of shooting the model naked (well, with nude underwear on) and illustrating the dresses on her in post. We shot with uber tall Erin who is such a sweetheart!!

We started with some very natural makeup on Erin to play up her gorgeous red hair for some head shots.

We bumped up her makeup with some soft, dark eyes and a nude lip for the action shots. Poor Erin had to jump and swing her hair up a hundred times in a row before moving to a reclining position trying to balance between a stool, a balance ball, and a crate.

At least she has the abs to support herself!!! All from a 15 minute video workout! So jealous. I can't wait to see the illustrations that Kent comes up with!

Busy Weekend

2008-10-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

I had a crazy busy weekend balancing work and social events once again. Friday night was supposed to be a mellow girls' night. Jen was an excellent host and had appetizers and drinks for us. Rather than going to bed early, I ended up having too much fun chatting with the girls. I woke up at 6:30 on Saturday to get to the hotel where my bridal party was getting ready. I had Heather act as my assistant since I had 8 girls to finish in 3 1/2 hours. Everything went smoothly for the most part. I actually went to junior high with the bride and all of the girls were really nice and fun.

After catching my brother's soccer game, I went to a fundraiser for a wonderful program called SEI which services at risk youth in North and Northeast Portland. I was so impressed with the facility and the program, which I had never heard of before. We had a nice time getting dressed up, learning about the organization, watching the students perform, and attending the auction.

I was a little sleepy on Sunday morning knowing I had to be on location at my dad's house for a shoot at 2:30. I met Ben, the photographer; Kent and Shelby, his right and left hand guys; and Rocky, Cupid and Rachelle, the models, at the house. Still trying to nail down a story line, we got them into makeup and and wardrobe. Since the boys were quick, I did their makeup first and Ben shot some individual stuff with them. The boys looked quite dapper. Rocky was wearing the Christopher Bevans tuxedo that he wore on the runway at PFW. Cupid had a black suit on, and Rachelle put on her "Sex and the City" heels with a black strapless dress.

Ben shot some nice stuff of them in front of a large graphic black and white painting in the dining room, then we shot out on the front porch before moving down to the driveway to shoot them in Gemo's car. In between shots, the guys checked football scores with my dad in the living room. Lastly, we switched things up a bit and took off some clothes to shoot in the kitchen. I'm hoping we got some pics that are a little more editorial. I think we did. My favorite shot of the day catches Shelby looking through the window at Rocky. Can you say creepy stalker?!!!!!

She Did It!!!!

2008-10-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! Leanne Marshall of Leanimal won this season of Project Runway last night!!! So exciting for our local designer! She is such a wonderful talent with a keen eye, unique vision and strong construction skills. More importantly, she has been such a generous, down to earth, and fun designer to work with. I am so honored to have been able to work with Leanne. She will be moving back to New York, so I hope I can get another chance to collaborate with her when I get over there. Many congratulations for a well-deserved win!!!

Portland Fashion Week Saturday Night

2008-10-14T10:00:00.001-07:00

I must say, after Friday night's festivities, we were all a little haggard by the time we had to start getting ready for Saturday's show. But push through we did. Unfortunately, as I was looking for a parking spot, I drove over the old train tracks wrong and destroyed my front tire. The show must go on, though, so I left my car on the side of the road to be dealt with the next day. Once I got a little Rockstar pumping through my veins, all was forgotten other than the ensuing fashion.

Mayor Tom Potter introduced the evening which kicked off with Safrona Classics. A very retro line complete with white bobbed wigs and patent platform boots. The thing I noticed was that the dresses didn't appear to have been steamed. Not sure if it was the fabric, or lack of time. Collier's line improved as it went with some polished men's looks. Unfortunately, I had to delete most of the pictures from his line because my card was full and I needed to delete some looks in order to save room for Chris' line. Seattle's Lizzie Parker showcased loose, flowing jersey silhouettes in white, raspberry. Think 'I Dream of Jeannie' pants paired with off-the-shoulder blouses. Lucia flaunted endless dresses in large floral prints. Nothing I was super excited about, but simple lines and could be a Spring staple for some.

The main event was Chris' line, Christopher Bevans. His adorable, 'mini me' daughter, Corina sat quietly next to us through the entire show decked out in her finest leopard print. She watched enthralled as her dad's luxe designs paraded in front of her. His leather jackets were phenomenal and I want the white one! Beautifully tailored suits, bright lounge wear, and bold graphic hoodies and sweaters led to the Bond, James Bond tuxedo. A tasteful mix of casual, formal, classic and modern. I would say, it was a huge success and the best line that showed. I still think Errol should have jumped on the runway with his kilt straight from Tokyo!!!

Everyone headed to the new Foxy at Fox Tower. Megan met up with us after an engagement party and revealed that we were both wearing the same skirt we had bought together in New York. Oops!! We had to wait for Rob to let us upstairs since we had neglected to bring our VIP tickets with us. Once upstairs, there was blaring music once again. So, to the cash bar I went to try to muster up some energy. We wanted to dance, but the music was not enticing us. We stayed for a while mingling and taking pictures before finally heading home around 2.

It was a successful fashion week, from my point of view. It was nice to not be working and be able to watch all the shows from the front row! I must say, I'm a little exhausted, but well worth it. Until next season!

Portland Fashion Week Friday Night

2008-10-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

So, I didn't make it to Thursday night. Friday night was a good mix of designs spanning Nike considered, May Tee, Dimitri, Alula from Seattle, and Sameunderneath. Dimitri opened the show with an urban men's line featuring graphic tees and accessories constructed of giant bullets which looked like they were a little heavy. The models' pants were hanging so low from the weight of their belts. Nike was 80's inspired, brightly colored sportswear. Alula switched things up with some flirty and feminine dresses in micro-floral prints and rich hues like raspberry, mustard, and turquoise. Next, May Tee focused on neutral tones splashed across modern, clean lines. The show closer, Sameunderneath began their show with a little drama introducing their vacation/destination inspired line. They finished the night with a giant, flowing tie-dyed dress with a fuschia belt which looked elegant on Erin. Overall, a good variety of designers and great music by "DJ Gemo".

After the shows we headed to East for a drink before venturing to Aura for the after-party. I don't think I've been in Aura since I was in college!! I was a little nervous for the stench of cologne and brightly colored miniskirts. We ended up having a really good time, however, with the help of massive quantities of champagne and watching a certain someone making out against the wall!!

2008-10-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Portland Fashion Week kicked off last night at its latest location at NW 14th and Pettygrove. The vendor tent is open to the public with booths, a live band, a bar and an upstairs VIP lounge. I can't say I was that impressed with the booths. Nothing extremely interesting was being presented. From there, we were ushered into the show tent about an hour behind schedule. The show was scheduled to start at 7:50 and we didn't get to our seats until 9. Mayor-elect Sam Adams provided an intro to this week's events and introduced key players. After an interesting dance performance, the fashion kicked off with a sportswear-inspired line by Icebreaker. I think my favorite part was the wiener dog that came out with an underwear-clad male model as the final look of the line.

Following Icebreaker was a series of collections from students at the Art Institute of Portland. The first collection was of dresses that were creatively constructed entirely out of paper. Very fantasy-inspired and, according to the models, the easiest to get in and out of! The next group of dresses had to be graduation gowns reinvented as the "little black dress". It was dubbed Project Re-Fab and a winning design was to be chosen by guest judges Adam Arnold, Marjorie Skinner, and Lisa Radon. Some designs were more mainstream and could be found in any department store while others were much more inventive and added other elements and colors and interesting lines.

Leona Lewis' 'Bleeding Love' brought some young hip hop dancers onto the runway to perform a routine that seemed somewhat out of place. I didn't really understand what the point was or how they fit in with the fashions being presented. If not for the impressive dancing of the one blonde girl in the bunch, it would have been a dull, and long, interruption. After the dancing, I had to run out for a bathroom break after which we couldn't make our way back to our seats that were front row. So, we crowded Gemo in his DJ booth and watched the final collections from there. I will say I was a bit more distracted by this point and didn't get any more pictures since my camera was still sitting on my chair next to the runway.

Following the show, we headed to Bay 13 for the after party. Nothing too exciting. It was so freakin loud, I couldn't hear myself think. And that's saying a lot because due to my lovely cold, my ears have been plugged for 3 days and I can't hear a thing. So, until next time, check out the rest of my pictures from the evening.

Hello!

2008-10-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first blog entry! I am so excited to be able to communicate with my clients, colleagues and friends directly about what I am up to and my latest projects. Please let me know if there is anything you would like to hear about, any questions, and, of course, comments are always welcome. I look forward to having some posts about upcoming Portland Fashion Week. Thank you for checking me out!!