…from a recent shoot at the boutique class Alexis Hotel in Seattle.

Kristen: Upholstered MUA: Freakishly Beautiful

Kristen: Emerald Teddy MUA: Freakishly Beautiful

Similar to most artists, my body of work is contained and presented in my portfolio – in this case on my main studio website.  I had a photography professor at the university I attended, Loyola University of Chicago, always remind me, “Your portfolio should always say more than your physical words.”  So, naturally I try to present my very best images and not take a shotgun affect by dumping everything on the website.

However, one of the side affects of showing my best work is that sometimes prospective clients can feel intimidated by the beauty of the women on the site.  They want to work with me, but they think, “this looks like fun, but I am not pretty, they only shoot good looking people.”  Sometimes I wish I could post the person’s “before” image prior to working with me to show that they came through my studio doors looking just as ordinary as the next person.  Helping to build confidence is part of what I do as I am shooting a person, but sometimes I have to do this even before they become the client!

When I am confronted with a person who is not feeling “pretty” enough, I try to explain to them that I put to use my skills in creating the most flattering, creative  and glamorous images possible – which is exactly why I am being hired.  Most people are not “A-model” material, but my job is to get their images to reflect this as much as possible.   I always use a makeup artist, pose subjects in the most flattering way and afterwards use Photoshop to “nip and tuck” some of the “challenging” areas.

C’mon ladies! Like my “about” page says – I am happy to shoot anyone and everyone – no matter what they look like.  I truly believe I can find at least one unique and alluring feature in every client I shoot; I have not failed yet.

Her name is Shyn and this MUA can style, primp, brush, pencil, mold, buff, dab, revitalize, accessorize and pretty much bring-back-from-the-dead any person you put in front of her -  she is AMAZING.  Shyn is also a very talented model, actress, up-and-coming photographer, dedicated and loving single-mom to a cute little boy, and ultimately warrior-goddess of the world.  I know.. I am using a lot of adjectives here.. but they are all approrpiate.  Heck, the woman even offered to spackle, paint and smooth out my studio’s walls for me (nothing to do with her gender, just amazed she would have any time).

I have only worked with her for about a year now, but in that time, we have had some memorable times working on my shoots (provided at the expense of some whacked-out models / clients).

Candid shot of Shyn with client:

Shyn, early morning - working her magic!

Let me get that...!!

I love this shot, I was trying to explain to the model to make some adjustments, so that she could ultimately perk up her breasts….well, after a few minutes of not getting it, Shyn decided to take it [them] into her own hands. The model was fine btw, the expression though was priceless.