she's holding you in

This was the hottest day ever. It was about 37 degrees when we started shooting. Thankfully, the location was a park so the shade from the trees made the temperature a little more bearable... not that it helped the bugs! Nonetheless, it was a fantastic project. Vanessa is the coolest girl and I really enjoyed working with her. We met in a McDonald's for hair/makeup and I had just walked back from scouting the location and severely overheated and red in the face. I nearly walked right into Vanessa! Luckily, when it's nearly 40 degrees, no one really judges you for being warm. Vanessa is one of those models who just transforms in front of the camera! Sahar was kind enough to do hair and makeup, and did a wonderful job. She isn't as experienced with hair, but you would never know it. The looks were absolutely brilliant.

model// Vanessa Roy
hmua// Sahar Sharelo

JCI Mixer

I was extremely excited when Devon messaged me in April about shooting at one of the John Casablancas Institute mixers. Devon is attending JCI for fashion design and these mixers provide an opportunity for the school's fashion, make-up, and hair students to apply their skills to a photoshoot that can be used in their portfolios. Meeting and working with other creatives who share my passion is one thing that I love about my job.

I was blown away by the talent of these ladies. Shaneeza did things with the hair that I didn't even know could be done. Hair is by far the most confusing element for me on photoshoots. I just don't get it. I can't style my own hair either! Shaneeza tried to explain how to do a messy sock bun to Devon and me.. and she made it look so easy. I don't know about Devon, but I am still struggling to master it!

It was amazing to watch Bree airbrush the makeup on—- something that I have never seen done before. Airbrush machines are so fascinating. I wish I could do my makeup like that every morning. Devon's younger sister, Nicole modeled and was very natural in front of the camera. I had a blast working with everyone.

It was a very busy day and the weather was borderline problematic. Luckily, we avoided the worst of the rain. Devon had organized the shoot into three looks: Oriental, Victorian, and Avante-Garde.

model// Nicole Clark
mua// Bree Anna Lehto
hair// Shaneeza Ashif
stylist// Devon Clark

test shoot - daria

At the end of April and the conclusion of my Business Admin program, I left Victoria and moved back to my hometown to live with my boyfriend once more. This is getting to be a habit as it is precisely what I did in 2011 when I completed my first semester at the University of Victoria.

I’m not entirely sure how it happened, but I went two months without shooting. I had wanted to be shooting 2-4 times each month for the entirety of 2013… and so far, I am miles away from my goal. Nonetheless, I am shooting more than ever before and progressing with my photography, so I can’t complain too much.

My friend from high school, who is a Fashion Design Student at John Casablanca’s Institute in Vancouver, invited me to photograph at one of her school’s practice shoots earlier in the year. I will be blogging that shoot within the next two weeks. When the date for the event was set, my dry spell had just hit two months. I kicked my butt back into gear and set up this shoot in Vancouver with Daria. We shot in a beautiful park on a Saturday. I was so relieved to get back behind the camera.

model// Daria Ermolovich