Early Autumn Adventures

I attended Mike Shelah’s LinkedIn training seminar last night to sharpen my networking skills and bumped into colleagues Sarah Antonieta, Network Under 40’s Baltimore director, and Katie Sampayo, nutrition expert. They were loving their deep berry lipsticks – called “Filmore Street” – which we’d picked out at last week’s grand opening party for A Style Studio.

I spent a good chunk of last week preparing the backstage glam team for Greenspring Station’s Fall Fête, which benefited the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

It was nice to loop in my new friend, makeup artist Kimya Dawn at our “Check Yourself” touch-up table, sponsored by Beyu Cosmetics. She would gloss up guests at the party, while we finished working with models backstage before the evening’s fashion show.

I spent a good chunk of last week preparing the backstage glam team for Greenspring Station’s Fall Fête, which benefited the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where I had the unique challenge of working with Fox45’s Chardelle Moore…

…and Jennifer Gilbert, who were among the event’s celebrity models. In morphing their makeup from on-camera to “on the runway,” we used pink and banana highlighter to perk them up, added a HD powder with some warmth to it, extended brows, liner, and finished their look brighter gloss over their usual matte shades for TV.

Backstage at a fashion show is always hustle-and-bustle before the room’s lights go down and music cranks up. Some seasoned professionals like Heidi Klotzman are able to dive in and finish their own makeup, once we artists get “the base” down for them. Here, you see Ida Slaughter, microblading expert, finishing off bridal model Kristen Rigsby, while Heidi takes smoky matters into her own hands.

The touch-up table was such a hit, everyone got into the fun after the show.

The touch-up table was such a hit, everyone got into the fun after the show. Fashionisto Joseph Galeano wasn’t about to give away his free Beyu gloss – a sheer nude pink that flatters everyone…

…but he did help out Stephanie Saiontz of Saiontz & Kirk with a touch-up before she went off to enjoy the warm summer evening on Tark’s patio.

Not wasting any time the next morning, I was onto an outdoor Annapolis wedding where the bride chose beachy nudes and longwear stick foundation by Bobbi Brown, plus a few lash clusters.

After that, it was back to my other favorite waterfront and Baltimore’s Bond St. Pier for matchmaker Ericka James’ new website shoot with photographer James Bradley Law, as he expands his business to Baltimore.

I snapped this quick shot on my phone, thinking her bronze-y cheekbones could give Lupita Nyongo’o a run for her money. We used e.l.f. cream foundation in Dark/Deep to balance her different tones, NYX’s new highlight and contour palette, Loreal’s Sandstone gloss and chestnut pencil, with e.l.f. mascara and Maybelline Color Tattoo eye shadow…all found on my morning jog to Wegman’s.

Then, it was off to the country and the Hunt Valley Agricultural Center for the “Cameras Against Cancer” photography event. I sat back and got to enjoy watching 25 year makeup pro’s – Gregory Dean and his assistant/partner, Sergio – transform everyday people and cancer survivors using a mix of Arbonne and Clarins – products he favors because they have more gentle ingredients.