Reel work

My first commercial was for McDonald's Teryaki McChicken. I couldn't believe it! I was the only hair/make-up on set, so all characters featured (and some not) I worked on.

Challenge: Tak, the polite delivery guy (just as sweet in person) had to transition from tidy worker in Japan through moped ride, crowds, plane, and bus to the final scene where he arrives flushed and tousled at the McDonald's counter. All this was shot out of sequence, so it was important to think about how "messed" he was at each scene.


Then I did a music video for Michael Buble's song "Just Haven't Met You Yet". I didn't work directly with stars Michael and Luisana, but I was the key hairstylist for the extras.... roughly 150 in all! I admit, there were many deep background people we never even touched, just a look and a nod. But we did work on all the featured people, including the amazing dancers who were upfront and centre in many scenes.

Best part: Michael Buble lives up to the brand, he was charming, entertaining and down-to-earth, blending in with the extras and crew, smiling and chatting with everyone. Feel-good song, feel-good experience.

Ready, set, go...

Over the years Fred and I have built a lot of sets, creating little worlds to shoot our stories in. Mostly he builds them, I dress them, and we both dream them up. Here are a couple of examples of sets we did in the old studio, I'm sure we'll have just as much fun transforming our new space.

Ceremonial Colour

Hair, make-up, styling - me
Photography - Fred
Model - Natalie Jean

Yep, I'm a big tease.

From the vaults, some as old as 2004... been a tease for a long time!









Hair and make-up on all by me
Photos:
Orchid - Juan Lopez
All other - Fred Fraser

Playing with crayons

Ok, not really, but playing with colour! A few never-before-posted (by me) images of the lovely and fun Cecilia... just love her cheeky-winky look. :)

hair/make-up/styling - me
photos - Fred
model - Cecilia

2 hours of driving, 2 hours of waiting, 15 minutes of grooming...

Have you seen this commercial? Well, I was Donald Sutherland's personal hair stylist for it. And the truth is I packed up my full kit (shampoo, shaving gear, irons) and drove out to the Ladner location where Tamar (make-up artist) and I set up our kits in the trailer in preparation to do the "works" on the star. After a couple of hours we got the call... to pack up and jump in the shuttle with our gear asap as DS had decided to stay at the shooting location. We quickly set up at the local barber's shop (who had kindly volunteered the space) and waited a bit longer. We were instructed to do whatever Donald Sutherland asked.

Finally I had my hands on his hair - I brushed, I shaped, I sprayed once, and he was gone. I tried to get in one last mist of hairspray but he declined. As you can see in the commercial, if you look closely, the wind blew and mussed his hair, but whenever I stepped in to straighten things, he always politely declined the touch-up.

So, here it is, my key hairstyling on a movie star, and his hair is messy. C'est la vie. But he did thank me after his scene was done, so I think on the whole it was a success. :)

Lately...

...I've been doing hairstyling for Olympians and their families. Specifically the US Olympic team and their moms and sisters and aunts, etc. who are all so thrilled to be pampered that it's a feel-good place to be. As an added bonus, it's located in a relaxing day-spa type room filled with other Judy's, some I've never met before and some who are already dear friends. It's like one big pajama party. But with sore feet. I admit I'm not used to standing in one spot for 5 hours at a stretch as the various clients come and go from my chair. But I am enjoying hearing stories of the family behind the athletes, as well as the athletes themselves.

I'd show you photos of the space and the work we're doing, but out of respect for the families' privacy and comfort we're not taking pix. I guess it's truly a retreat for them and a place to get away from cameras.

Anyway, happy Valentine's everyone... going to put my feet up!

Light is the trickiest of all

There are favourite haunts and certain times of year, and when they collide you get the most interesting intersection of lights and darks. Here are some images I took by False Creek as the last light came through the highrises on a summer evening.

Ah. Summer.

Beautiful Natalie

Here are some beauty "out takes" from a recent Vancouver Fashion Ezine editorial we did. Natalie has such an amazing face, I'm so happy we took time for close-ups! And below is a look that didn't make it into the e-zine, but is possibly my favourite image of the large format set.


Hair & make-up - me
Photos - Fred Fraser
Styling - Charlotte Stokes
Model - Natalie @ John Casablanca

The theatre is not a chat room.

Ok, last night we (finally) went to see Avatar. This is not a review of the movie, but a critique of the audience. I just don't understand people talking throughout a film. They even have those helpful messages "phones off, no texting, please be quiet" and every time we go to a movie the people near us chat happily all the way through. We even come early and sit at the very back far from people, but the last three movies we saw had people sit near us and talk away as though they were in their own living room watching tv.

One time we went and a couple sat down beside us, and the man translated the ENTIRE movie to his date.

Hint: If you can hear what your date/friend/spouse is saying without having to lean over to catch it, chances are everyone around you can hear it too.

OK, rant over. :)

My Vancouver

A number of years back I wandered about Vancouver with my trusty old camera, back when film was film and men were men. Well, men continue to be men, but film... anyway, as I was saying, I spent a gorgeous spring day wandering about on my own shooting a roll of film. I just found the old scans and I've decided to show you MY Vancouver.


I confess, they're a bit heavy-handed with the contrast and saturation treatment, but somehow I still kinda like 'em. They feel a bit vintage poster-ish.

Resourceful thoughts

I've just added three links to this blog for sites that are excellent networking and resource destinations. Behance is an international community of art directors, graphic designers, photographers, stylists, etc. Just have a look through the easy-to-navigate galleries, and if you're also a visual artist of some kind, join up... industry people are lurking on this site. Another site that is geared more specifically to fashion (photography, fashion styling, make-up and hairstyling) is Clic La Mode. Although they're UK-based, their members are international, and the articles and blogs cross borders on industry-related issues. And finally, for make-up/hairstyling artists, check out the massive (and searchable) professional info at EmElle's forum. Happy reading!

I die!

Trashy glamour at it's very best!


I loved doing the hairstyling on this over-the-top rich girls' hotel shoot with Kin (photos), Negar (make-up) and Deanna (styling). With platform stilettos to DIE for and more bling than you can imagine, this was a totally fun shoot, and unlike anything else I have in my book. Thanks for inviting me guys. :) Models Jenna and Janice from Liz Bell.

Goddess

I frequently do hair, make-up and styling on images that never show up in my fashion portfolio, so I'm happy to finally have a venue for sharing them. Last summer I worked on three different art series with Robert Kenney that celebrate the Goddess in her various forms. Two of the sets haven't been published yet, but the image below belongs to one of the series which is published - alongside other sets that I was not involved in, but of course are beautiful and well worth seeing! I feel fortunate to have worked with him and the connection we've had over this project. The images are all shot on a large format film camera, on location, which I'm sure you photographers out there can appreciate that takes a good deal of skill and patience. Our nymph was the lovely Cecilia, who you'll see more of in this blog as she's been a favourite muse of Fred and I, and now of Robert.

Thread Bare

What a treat to do this creative with Darya (Dasha), a model who really brings something to the shoot. I'm a little in love with these images right now and hope you enjoy them too! My intent was to create a nude palette with the setting and make-up, and for the hair and fabric textures to be mirrored in each look.

photography by ze amazing Fred
hair, make-up, styling by me
model Dasha @ LizBell