National Magazines

One would think that being a makeup artist in Cleveland wouldn’t get your name in national magazines.  Well that is wrong.  Once I was able to build my portfolio and make contacts, I have been able to do makeup and hairstyling for magazine editorials.  Readers Digest, Woman’s Day, Ladies Home Journal, Money, Cosmopolitan, and First Magazine are the ones in my portfolio to date.  It is such a thrill for me to stare at the article before my kids and I cash out at the grocery store.  I proudly tell my girls about the model as we wait in line.  I have this feeling come over me that I am truly doing the work I was meant to do.

My work is featured in February’s issue of Ladies Home Journal (page 132).  I was asked by the magazine to be the stylist for a photo shoot in Kent, Ohio.  The title of the article is, “Drop Pounds by Doing Good.” Heather Micozzi was the client who I was hired to style. Heather walked off 120 pounds and raised $7,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  When I arrived, I didn’t know much about why she was chosen or the subject of the article.  Some stories in the past have been about women going through cancer or being in remission.  I tend to wait until the photographer gives me a back-story, so I don’t act over excited about the shoot.

Since Heather and I were at one location to get ready while the photographer was at the actual site of the shoot, I had to just ask.  Heather was upbeat and excited about this shoot.  On set we had a few laughs too because the weather was cold and windy.  The roll paper kept ripping and dogs in the park not on a leash were peeing on our set.  After two outfit changes the photographer, Claudia Susan, captured the picture seen.  Heather thanked us for a fun time at the end of the shoot and also showed us photos of her before the weight loss.  She expressed to us how much better she feels and how happy she is about her appearance.

In the March issue of FIRST magazine (page 46) has a photo of Tanya de Alemida.  Eric Mull was the photographer.  He and I went to her home in Elyria, Ohio a week before Christmas.  Tanya had Iodine Deficiency, which slowed her thyroid.  She was positive and excited about her photo shoot.  Family members kept calling her cell while I was getting her into makeup to hear details about the shoot.  Tanya sat giggling to us and remarking about all the fuss over this photo instead of talking about her illness and the toll it took on her for so long.  Fortunately, Tanya is well now and able to tell her story.  She hoped her experience would help someone else.  

I love when people open up to a stylist while preparing for their photo session.  Witnessing their excitement while I am there puts a smile on my face.  It isn’t always easy to go through health scares or face challenging domestic issues.  It requires courage to tell the story. Once one gets through the darkness, it is great to watch them get some limelight to make life look bright again.  It makes my work even more rewarding.

Heather

Tanya

Fashion Week

In February, clothing designers, makeup artists, and hairstylists gather in New York City to showcase the newest looks for fall and winter.  This event runs for eight days around the city.  Have I been there?  NO, not yet.  I tend to blog about beauty tips and photo shoots with celebrities, but in this entry I am going to be a bit more personal.  For 2012, my #2 goal was to be present at this year’s fashion week.  I started my campaign by getting the word out on my Facebook and Linked In pages late last year.  It was my hope that my friends would refer me to a contact in NYC.  No such luck on that.

Over MLK weekend, I wanted to visit a friend in New Jersey and head into the city to find out more about fashion week.  For Cleveland, it has been a mild winter.  Knowing that, I decided to roll the dice and book an airline ticket to fly out of here regardless of my HUGE fear of flying when it’s a must to de-ice.  Of course, that Friday it snowed A LOT.  I managed to brave the icy sixty-five minute drive to the airport only to get to the gate to see the flight was delayed.  As I munched on a not so healthy doughnut I caught my breath and thought, “It will be OK.”

I had a small list of contacts I wanted to see in NYC.  My intention was to check in with small boutique owners and makeup studios, provide them with a resume, present my portfolio, and find someone to work with in February.  Well that did not happen.  My friend’s mom fell ill.  Consequently, the friend had to take her mother to the ER.  I volunteered to watch her son.  My day of knocking on doors was actually spent playing games on the Wii.

I did speak to one artist in Montclair.  She said it would be best to contact a makeup agency in New York City.  However, living in Ohio presents a big problem.  Most of those agencies, no matter how good you are, just dismiss non New York residents.  Considering fashion week work is pro bono, it is funny there are still no openings.  Although Cleveland has a small fashion week, I want the real deal.  I want, what every serious make artist wants, I want Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

I am going to keep wracking my brain about this.  I am going to contact a few agencies in NYC despite the odds.  Maybe I will get a chance to head there in the fall.  I do believe in fate/destiny, so this just isn’t quite the time.  There is a reason I haven’t found my contact yet.  I do know one thing.  When it does happen, I will be very excited.  I might even have to throw myself a party when I get home to celebrate.  Right now, project #2 will remain unchecked and slightly delayed.