Tag Archives: personal style

Heather’s June Wedding at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, MA

Heather is a high school math teacher who was easily one of my most laid-back, easygoing clients of all time. Not a regular makeup wearer, she wanted to look good for photos but keep things very natural looking and not “makeuppy.” A touch of smoky eyeliner, mascara, and soft rosy lips & cheeks were all that was needed in terms of color; the rest was just subtle skin work that would be virtually undetectable to the naked eye.

Here is a before & after from our trial session where you can see the VERY subtle, but effective, difference the airbrush makeup made to her already beautiful face:

(I love sharing photos like this because so many of my brides are afraid of looking made up, and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to! It’s all about invoking the style that you’re comfortable with so that you feel like yourself on your big day, but are still camera-ready.)

Here are some wedding day photos that Heather was kind enough to share (I love the classic beauty of her dress combined with the pop of color of her shoes!)

Venue: The Log Cabin
Photography: Karen Winger
Hair: Lisa Cummings

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Priscilla’s Hip Farm Wedding in Wardsboro, VT

I got to meet Priscilla and Dan last winter when I was in NYC for Fashion Week – she contacted me asking if we could meet for a drink, so of course I said yes! I got to learn more about this self-described pair of “Brooklyn hipsters” and their plans for a chic, laid-back wedding on a friend’s farm in Vermont.

When the day finally arrived, hairstylist Jen and I crossed the border into a beautiful rural setting. There, I did makeup for Priscilla and her sister. Priscilla opted for a very natural makeup look (mostly bare eyes and softly defined skin) – with the exception of a vivid pop of red on the lips! (To achieve long-lasting, kiss-proof red lips, I used Sephora’s cream lip stain in Always Red, which lasted beautifully throughout the day.)

Priscilla’s sister helps her don the dress

Note the perfectly matched lips & tips!

Jimmy Choos with heel caps (so she can stride confidently across the grass)

The first look…

“This guy! I love this guy!”

Love the feather fascinator!

Time for their first game of married badminton!

Check out the awesomely cute cake topper!!!

Photography: Rebecca Hansen, First Mate Photography
Hair: Jenursa
Catering: Sharon Myers
Music: Goodtime String Band

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Featured in Caribbean Posh Magazine

Bright orange lipstick flatters Latina skin

Photo: Sean Peragine

Pleasantly surprised to see the results of an email media query that actually took place nearly a year ago! Two photos of my work are shown as well. Here’s the paragraph I am quoted in:

Skip the Usual Tubes: Don’t like the feel of heavy lipstick or goopy gloss? Go for a soft stain, which will wash your lips with a hint of color without excess shine. “Tangerine is one of my favorite color trends in recent years,” says Liz Washer, whose makeup expertise has appeared in Essence. “It just looks so juicy and fresh, and there’s a shade for every skin tone. But if you’re not quite up for a bright orange or tangerine, try poppy or coral. You can also soften a bright lip look by patting lipstick on your lips with your ring finger, achieving a softer stain effect, or use a semi sheer gloss in the same color family.”

Full article: Brightening up Winter with Tangerine Lips

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Karen’s backyard punk rock wedding

I’m so glad I had room on an already-booked day to squeeze in Karen’s wedding! (Wedding #2 wasn’t until the afternoon, and it was in a neighboring town, so I was pleased to be able to accommodate both brides.) Karen knew her personal style very well: she definitely loves stronger makeup looks, so we experimented with a Hollywood eye with red lips as well as a Rock n’ Roll-style blackout smoky eye with false lashes – she ultimately chose the latter, and it was the perfect look for this bad-ass babe. And thanks to water-resistant airbrush foundation (and my gel-liner-plus-powder-shadow layering technique for eye makeup), it survived a hot, slightly stormy summer wedding day!

smoky eyed bride admiring self in mirror

bride admiring her dress in the mirror

bride kissing groom

 

punk rock groom licking bride's face

The groom demonstrates that airbrush makeup is water- and transfer-resistant!

punk rock bride and groom dancing at reception

bride feeding cake to the groom at a backyard reception

 

bride and groom wearing Chucks

Love it! (I can confirm that she started out in high heels.)

punk rock bride partying with her maids

Girls gone wild!

Photography: Ian Pouliot, Nemesis Photo

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Jenny & Leigh-Anne’s purple wedding

Here’s a glimpse of Jenny, one of my 2011 brides! I arrived at the Ivy Creek B&B in Hadley on October 8th to do makeup for her and her sister, with hairstylist Jen along for the ride. We had so much fun – Jenny has a fun, bubbly personality and loads of creativity – and she was very excited about the prospect of pro beautification for her big day. (Leigh-Anne, in classic butch fashion, politely declined makeup – gotta respect the natural look!)

And then, after the ceremony, Jenny came to my apartment for a brand new eye makeup look for her reception – going from natural neutrals to smoky purples! I love a bride with a sense of adventure about makeup. Here are some captures from the day:

butch-femme wedding lesbian brides purple dress birdcage veil

airbrush bridal hair and makeup beafire and after

Before & after…

bridal makeover eyes open and closed

bride in a purple dress

Bride in a purple dress and maid of honor in a grey dress

And here is Jenny’s reception makeup – it only took a few minutes to do and she was off to the party!

Photography: Yosra El-Essawy and family/artist candids

Hair: Jenursa

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Boudoir Photoshoot with Michelle Girard Photo

Ooh la la, it’s time for some sauciness. As you might have guessed, we did both shoots on the same day – a lighting and wardrobe change made all the difference!

asian boudoir white camisole orange red lips smoky eyes

asian boudoir charcoal camisole off shoulder orange red lips smoky eyes

black & white asian boudoir smiling model

asian boudoir bright red orange lips smoky eyes

asian boudoir bright red orange lips smoky eyes

black & white asian boudoir

asian boudoir bright red orange lips smoky eyes

black & white asian boudoir

black & white asian boudoir

asian boudoir charcoal cami off shoulder bright lips

asian model blowing a kiss bright orange lipstick

boudoir photo glancing seductively over shoulder at open door

boudoir photo afroam model with pink lipstick

boudoir with african american model wearing black and white lingerie

boudoir with african american model wearing black and white lingerie

boudoir photo afroam model with pink lips feather bustier

afroam model wearing feather bustier and tulle skirt

boudoir with african american model

boudoir model looking powerful

black & white boudoir photo with afroam model

black & white boudoir photo with afroam model

black & white boudoir afroam model smoky eyes

black & white boudoir photo afroam model with smoky eyes

black & white boudoir afroam model smoky eyes

Photography: Michelle Girard

Models: Dani & Kim

Hair: Jenursa

Makeup: Me!

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Jenn’s St. Patrick’s Day wedding

Jenn’s wedding took place on St. Patrick’s Day 2012, and while the holiday theme didn’t dominate, there were definitely some fabulous little touches here and there (check out Jenn’s shamrock manicure, beautiful soft green wedding cake, and handfasting cord below!) I did makeup for her and her two teenage daughters – a natural look for the youngest, and a rock n’ roll/Hollywood look for the 18-year old to complement her piercings.

I especially love all the laughter shown in the photos. Congratulations, Jenn!

Handmade soap favors (I got one too!)

 

Jenn's daughters are on the outside - don't they look great?

"Check her out!"

Photography: Lisa Joy Merrill

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Sneak peek from a whimsical boudoir shoot

It wasn’t for a wedding present. It wasn’t for a significant other. This session was all about HER! Boudoir shoots are a chance to break loose and have fun on your own terms, and I had so much fun doing makeup for this one. Enjoy a few saucy sneak peeks!

boudoir shoot natural makeup fur coat afro-american

boudoir shoot natural makeup orange corset afro-american

boudoir shoot natural makeup fur coat afro-american

roller derby shoot afro-american

roller derby shoot afro-american

Photography: Lynne Graves

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Monica’s smoky purple bespectacled bridal beauty

Sorry, I just love the word “bespectacled.” And I’m a glasses-wearer, too (nearsighted like whoa), so whenever one of my brides wears her frames down the aisle, I invariably break out the alliteration: “Beautiful bespectacled bride!” Maybe I’m developing a new niche?

Anyway, don’t mind me – check out Monica’s rockin’ look! She told me that dark and smoky was her style, and that she loves the color purple, so I had fun creating a look that suited her. (It looked like smoky eyeliner that coordinated with her hip frames, but every time she blinked you’d also see a flash of color – fun!) Luckily, Monica has big gorgeous eyes that don’t get overwhelmed by dark eye makeup and false lashes, so I knew she could pull it off.

First, my arsenal:

bridal makeup airbrush kit

One of Monica’s bridesmaids admiring her new reflection (it was so touching to see her get all emotional!)

Afro-Am bridesmaid admiring her makeup reflection

Monica posing with one of her bridesmaids (whose makeup I also did):

Bride posing with pregnant bridesmaid

Can I get an “aww”?

Bride wearing glasses posing with flower girl

Posing with the groom and one of her friends (who just happens to be an aspiring hairstylist and makeup artist, and who I had a great time talking to during prep! I was very gratified that he was so impressed with my work.)

Bride posing with groom and friend

In this photo, you can see the touch-up kit that I give my brides – it’s the sassy little satin drawstring number in her left hand:

I love pictures of laughing brides:

Showin’ off the goods:

Bride showing her ring to a wedding guest

This picture cracked me up too much to leave it out (and yes, these are posted with the bride’s permission!)

Bride having a cigarette break after the ceremony

More laughing awesomeness:

Bride laughing out loud during a toast

On the dance floor…

Bride dancing with a relative at her wedding

Bride dancing with her groom

The (smoky) eyes have it:

Bride with smoky eye makeup and glasses dancing with groom

Cheers! (Love the goblets!)

Bride and groom toasting with goblets

Photos by Rembrandt Photography

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Katie’s seaside wedding (Rockport, MA)

I can’t believe I haven’t shared this wedding before now! Katie’s wedding took place in May 2011 in Rockport, at the scenic Emerson Inn by the Sea. Katie found me on Offbeat Bride and promptly came out for a trial with both myself and my frequent partner-in-style, Jenursa, giving us an excuse to take the show on the road and stay overnight at an adorable little motor lodge just across the bay. Waking up to the sound of waves was a real pleasure… I love when I get to travel for work (even just across the state) and as a land-locked gal in the Western Hemisphere of Massachusetts, I’ll take any excuse to go breathe some salt air!

Katie has very elegant tastes and wanted her eyes to be the stars of the show – she also wore beautiful flowers in her hair. Her wedding palette of rich royal purples called for slightly smoky, plummy earthtones that complimented the wedding colors without matching them. And I just LOVED what Jen did to her hair!

Wedding makeup artist and hairstylist working togetherbride getting smoky contoured eyeshadow appliedBride and groom at the Emerson Inn Rockport

groom kissing bride on the foreheadwedding party and flower girl in royal purple dresses matching flowersElegant bride with ministerbride with relative at outdoor wedding ceremony purple bouquet

Bride and groom with son at their ceremonyBride with full train by the seashore Rockport MABride with violet hair flower and natural elegant makeup

Bride and groom listening to toasts at their receptionBride and groom cutting cake decorated with branches and purple flowersBride and groom dancing and smiling at the Emerson Inn

Photos by Kelly Griffith, Closed Circle Photography

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