Cleveland Magazine Interesting People 2015

Once again, it was Cleveland Magazine’s issue of the Most Interesting People. This year instead of a group photo, we photographed three people in three separate shoots. We have a chef, a news anchor and a football player. The process of scheduling for three individual shots is a lot harder than just one big shoot.

First we photographed Ben Bebenroth: a farmer, chef and owner of Spice Kitchen + Bar and Spice of Life Catering Company. Ben came ready with his farm boots and chef coat in hand. Ben's  home sits on 13 acres of land in Cuyahoga Valley which also is a farm. Ben talks to Kim from Cleveland Magazine about his home, business and family as we got started.On camera Ben holds a few vegetables and knives as props and we have a few laughs. Within minutes the photo needed  has been captured.

Our second shoot was with news anchor Jennifer Jordan from FOX news. Jennifer came in looking beautiful already, just off an early broadcast. Kristen Miller the Art Director had arranged wardrobe for Jennifer but she also brought a few dresses in case they were needed. I helped Jennifer with her makeup and hair. Then there were three dresses to photograph her in and it would be determined later which one would be used. FOX news also sent out a news camera to spotlight her shoot on their program. Jennifer was excited about this shoot and I think she did great.

Our last shoot was with Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer. This was going to be done the day before "THE DECISION" was to be made on whom would start the game against  the Colts Johnny Manziel or Brian. Our shoot was going to be done at the Browns training facility in Berea.  Once we arrived and got checked in we were shown to a very small media room outside the lobby area. Eric Mull set up to do the photographing. 

 When Brian came in he looked sharp in his suit that the magazine requested him to wear. We did some introductions and as Brian was on set Eric said “I had a lot of friends offer to come with me so they could meet you"." People like you.” Brian snickered and relied “Well I am not too sure about today". I looked at Brian's eyes they seemed to be welled up a little. I felt as if he wasn’t taking this decision lightly.

The shoot  was about 15 minutes long and Cleveland Magazine was all in favor of Brian being on the cover no matter the decision. I had joked that there might be a re-shoot of Johnny on Friday. Kristen replied” It will be Hoyer”. The Browns did keep Hoyer for that game but would start Manziel the following week. In my eyes, I am Team Hoyer and he has earned the right to be on the cover because Brian is the hometown guy and this year he has been very interesting. 

MIP Cleveland 2013

         

    Cleveland Magazine has its 2013 Most Interesting People issue on newsstands now. This cover was shot at Eric Mull’s studio where I have been working at for the last eight years. Being on home turf has its advantages, especially for the GREAT natural light. The cover features five of Cleveland's Most Interesting People. Those faces include: Elisa Amigo News Anchor from FOX 8 Cleveland, Julie Foucher runner up in the 2012 Reebok Cross Fit Games, Russ Mitchell News Anchor for WKYC Channel 3, Vanni Wang a fashion designer, and Chef Rocco Whalen restaurant owner.



      I asked my talented cousin Stephanie Johnson to once again assist me on hair duties, so I could focus on makeup. As the art director Kristen Miller showed us the posing of the celebrities, Eric l fine tuned the back drop. Once everyone filed in, we directed them to a place to park and hang up their belongings. As I worked on Alicia, Rocco arrived with many pizzas from his restaurant in hand. After smelling the aroma, I was very disappointed that I have Celiac's Disease and can't eat pizza carry out anymore. Everyone was eager to get started and then lunch followed.



   In the past I met Rocco in our studio, although, he is actually from Mentor, OH where I also reside. I chatted with him about mutual friends as I applied his makeup. Russ Mitchell and I met back in the spring when he first moved to Cleveland. I was on set of WKYC/NBC’s show Good Company and he was a guest that day. He is a real leader in the news business and a true asset to the station. I had never met any of the women before, but found them to be a breath of fresh air.



   Vanni arrived in an AMAZING red dress, which she designed, and wore some very hot shoes for this cover shot. As I worked, Elisa and Russ chatted about recent news stories and Julie was a real sport to try on multiple dresses until one was chosen. As they all began getting into their wardrobes, Rocco’s bow tie started to get a lot of attention as did Vanni’s coat. We wanted to make sure everything is just right.



    I popped in and out of the photo to fix Julie’s hair a few times and then posed as if I was the sixth person in the photo. Eric caught on and I laughed telling Kristen, “I just wanted another cover girl moment for 2013.” The process of getting one to pose seems easy, but it took about an hour before the pizza could be eaten. Attached are some photos from the day. If you get a chance, pick up a copy of Cleveland Magazine and read in detail why these five people are some of Cleveland’s Most Interesting.

2013 MIP Cleveland Magazine

Me and Russ Mitchell 

Rocco with lunch

It's a Wrap!

So it is the end of 2012 already.  When I started writing this blog 23 months ago, I didn’t realize how much fun it would become for me.  I wanted it to be different than a blog full of beauty advice and tons of boring product photos.  Instead, I wanted to reveal the behind the scenes look at my life as a working makeup artist in a smaller market.  I hoped to help aspiring artists reach for their dreams.  This year I started out with a list I wanted to accomplish and, to be honest, my list turned out boring compared to what actually happened!

I was hired to be Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs’ makeup artist while she was hot off of the reality show Celebrity Apprentice.  I was part of Cleveland Fashion Week.   Then I was asked to be a feature career on The Career Zoo.com.  I had my own “Cover Girl” moment on the June cover of Cleveland Magazine.  I was also was part of a music video production in Hudson, Ohio.   Along the way, I was able to meet and apply makeup on many local celebrities, brides, and models to make their shoot or day picture perfect.

I am looking forward to this coming year.  I am currently looking for an assistant to work side by side with me on projects and have some other ideas in the works.  If you are thinking about becoming a makeup artist, I encourage you to do so.  It truly is a fun career.  Sometimes I even forget I am working!  I love addressing a client’s beauty challenges and then educating him or her about products that work best.  Seeing someone smile after I apply their makeup is very fulfilling.  I am proud of my little blog.  Finally, I do want to thank my friend and editor Christina Soltesz Peterson for her time in helping me with Sparkle and Shine. You’re the best!  For this year, it’s a wrap.  I can’t wait to see what next year brings for me and what I will share with you.

My June cover girl moment on Cleveland Magazine.

Me and Christina

Cleveland Fashion Week

thecareerzoo.com

My Cover Girl Moment

   A few weeks ago, I got a call from Kristen Miller the Art Director of Cleveland Magazine. She asked me if I would be interested in helping her out and being on the cover of the June edition, “Rating the Suburbs.” I said, “Of course, right away!” After speaking to Kristen for a few minutes, she told me that they wanted me to be photographed as a gardener. Inside I started to laugh and thought, Okay this means I am going to wear a hat for sure. No one will realize it is even me. Kristen sent over a list of clothes I needed to bring with me to the shoot.

   After a review of the items, I headed out to pick up some new shorts. I had a day to get my act together, so I quickly colored my hair and used my self-tanning towels to tan my chicken white legs. I hadn’t spoken a word to anyone being cautious that my interpretation of the cover may have been grander than Kristen’s version. A few years back, Jen Kessen posed a similar proposition. She asked me to be on the cover of the Summer Fun supplement of Cleveland Magazine. It was a very pretty shot by Eric Mull. I was there in the background, but a bit fuzzy, so really no one knew it was me.

   Once I got to Jason Miller’s studio, I was asked to put on my shorts and tee shirt. I looked in the mirror and asked Kristen if the shirt was too tight. She said, “No it will be fine. You are going to be so small, no one will notice it.” Jason started snapping pictures and said, “You will be about as tall as a thumb on the cover.” I had to laugh again and thought, Good thing I didn’t make a big deal about this. I also thought, Thank God I am not in a hat!” It was all right that I was the size of Thumbelina; I am still on a cover.


   A few days later, the editor Steve Gleydura did send out an email with questions. He asked my take on the city in which I live and love. He also wanted to let me know my name was being added to the piece. I have attached the beautiful full size photo Jason took of me, so I can prove that the small blonde woman with no roots really is me. When I first started my career, I wanted to be a stylist for just one cover of Cleveland Magazine. To date, I have done 12 covers. My turn as a “Cover Girl” may be small in size, but is huge in my heart. Thank you, Kristen and Steve, for this opportunity.

clevelandmagazine.com

http://miller.photoshelter.com

My Cover Girl moment

My pose. Photo credit Jason Miller

Inside the magazine, me in  front of my fake house

My other shot from 2007 (the girls are not mine) photo credit Eric Mull 

Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People

  In November I received a call from Cleveland Magazine’s art director Kristen

Miller. I was asked to be part of the cover shoot for the magazine’s January issue.

Of course I said, “I am on board.” The cover was spotlighting 5 of Cleveland's Most

Interesting People: artist Sarah Kabot, FOX 8’s Allie LaForce, Crop’s Chef Steve

Schimoler, Turnstyle Boutique’s owner Terrilynn Amos, and Joe Haden from the

Cleveland Browns.

  The morning was going to be on a tight time schedule, so I asked my cousin

and hairstylist Stephanie Johnson to assist with the hair. Even though on shoots I

typically do hair, I wanted to make sure I had proper time to give to each person

and would not have to rush them through. Stephanie was a pro, as always, and

everyone’s hair looked great. With four people in makeup, we awaited the arrival

of Joe Haden. Once he arrived, the girls from Kilgore Trout swung into action to get

his wardrobe ready as I performed my makeup magic for Joe. YES, sports stars can

wear makeup but not a lot- trust me. Joe needed just enough to add polish to the

photo about to be taken by Eric Mull.

 This cover was the first in the history of Cleveland Magazine, in which 5

people would take part. The look was to be edgy, like a Vanity Fair cover, and I love

the results. Everyone was in good spirits. In fact, Joe Haden posed for photos with

the staff after we were done. I encourage you to pick up the magazine and read all

of their stories. It is very interesting to read how much Clevelanders are marking

the map with their careers.

  About a week after this shoot, I was told James Franco’s (Spiderman, 127

Hours, and Eat Pray Love) grandma was coming in studio for a photo. Mitzi drove

herself to Eric’s studio and walked up with her cane and a book of photos of James.

I will tell you this, she is one proud grandmother. Mitzi told us how she went to the

Oscars with James last year. She recently visited him on set and was given a role in

the movie he was filming. She was in makeup for four hours!

  Her photo session was very quick, but she wanted to hang around to tell

more Hollywood stories. I just wished I had time to listen! Unfortunately, we

had two other shoots going on. I did give her a few business cards though. I have

learned in my years, it isn’t always what you know but whom. Maybe someday I can

get to the Oscars? Hint, hint Mitzi!

Cover Eric Mull/ Karen Siat/ Stephanie Johnson

Karen, Joe Haden and Stephanie

Photo: Eric Mull