Photography, Freelance, and Other Fun...

     First off, let me begin by saying I'm a very busy girl. I know that isn't a very good excuse for why I have been slacking on these blog posts, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it! As some of you already know, I work at Forever 21, almost full time. I do makeup on the side, and it is something I have been trying to improve on. Hopefully in the near future, I will be good enough to do it full time. For now, I do small photo shoots, freelance work, and soon I will be doing YouTube videos. The videos will consist of tutorials, reviews, hauls, and maybe some hairstyling and other beauty related things. All I am waiting for is a good camera and lighting. As for the freelance work, there isn't much of that in the town I live in. I get a few clients here and there, mostly for weddings.
     Basically, any opportunity to do makeup up, I'm there. The photo shoots are my favorite though. The photographer I have been working with, Eduardo Bucio, is immensely talented. He has an eye for art and he always gets the perfect shot. I'll be posting the best photos from our shoots here, and you can also go to his blog and see some of the other work he has done.
     I have also been working with a wardrobe stylist, Zuhal Wakili. She has graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and is now working on her career as a fashion journalist. Zuhal has an amazing work ethic and an awesome sense of style and sophistication. There will be more of her talents posted on this blog, so be sure to keep an eye out. You won't want to miss it.
     Slowly but surely, things are coming together. There will be more blog posts coming, I promise. I will definitely be posting some step by step instructions on some of the looks I have done, along with pictures. Keep checking back, you won't be disappointed!

Back In The Game

We are back in action everyone! Sorry for the long time away, but there has been a lot going on, and I just haven't had the time to post. But that is all changing now! "I" will be changing to "we". I've partnered up with an amazing stylist who is a graduate from FIDM, and is originally from the bay area. She's super talented in all things fashion, and she has an amazing eye for fabulousness. I'm very honored to be her partner now. Also, we will be doing videos soon, as well as blog posts. So if there is anything you guys would like to see, whether it has to do with product reviews, something you want to see in a tutorial, or a certain trend you would like to see in everyday fashion, feel free to contact us by email. We will be more than happy to answer your questions. We are also accepting business inquiries, so please don't hesitate to contact us by email. So stay tuned everyone, there is more to come to cater to your vain obsessions!

My Very First Photoshoot

     This opportunity came as a surprise to me. My co-worker Kohl models on the side and asked me if I could help him out with a photo shoot he was doing. I was more than happy to be involved. I was also very nervous. I've been doing makeup for a little over a year now, but none of it has been very professional. It has been mostly on myself, family, and friends. I live in a small town in northern California, so there aren't many opportunities to work with photographers who are in need of a makeup artist, And there are even less who are willing to do it just to help out with a portfolio.

     Kohl came into contact with this photographer through Model Mayhem, so I didn't have very high expectations. I got much more than what I did expect. The shoot was done in his apartment, but he had awesome lighting equipment and he was very professional and respectful. He wasn't expecting to have a makeup artist in set, but he was open to any new ideas. I really appreciated his willingness to work with me and his enthusiasm. Kohl did an awesome job. This photo shoot was his first one as well, and I was super impressed. He was also open to my ideas, and was very easy to work with. Kohl has an awesome personality, and makes any situation, that might be uncomfortable, a breeze. 

      As for the makeup itself, it went awesome. Since the shoot was primarily nudes, we used full coverage foundation to cover any imperfections. And when I say full coverage I mean full coverage. Kohl brought a foundation called Dermablend. That stuff is the thickest product I've ever worked with. I had to practically dig the product out of the container. But it worked wonders. Kohl had some dark spots and discoloration, and they disappeared under the foundation. I loved it. I contoured his eyes and his nose and filled in his eyebrows to give him a little definition. Later we switched it up and I did a very simple smokey eye on him with a tiny bit of lip gloss to give him a sensual sexy look. And.... that pretty much sums it up. Kohl did an awesome job, the photographer did an awesome job, and I will be brave enough to say I think I did a pretty awesome job too.

What Beauty Means To Me.

I believe beauty is about interpretation. It means something different to each and every person. There are cultures in which beauty is measured in how long your neck is. Or how small your feet are. For me, there is no measurement. As corny as it sounds, there is something beautiful in everyone. I think a person is most beautiful when they allow their true self to shine through all the bullshit. Its got nothing to do with how flawless your foundation is or if you lipstick compliments your skin tone. Although I love makeup and fashion, I try my hardest not to lose myself in it. I try to remember who I am, and where I come from. I believe those are the things that make me truly beautiful. Because when it comes down to the nitty gritty, who you are is what matters most. Its what gets you through life. But then again, that's just my opinion.

Please, allow me to introduce myself...

My name is Samantha. I am a person with a passion in art. I love it all. Although this blog will be primarily about beauty, there will be all sorts of things discussed on this blog. Music, films, dance, makeup, theatre, paintings, fashion, technology, and even useless information that won't benefit you in any way. Basically whatever I feel like blabbing about. But hopefully you will enjoy what I have to say, and won't be too bored. ;)