K.Nicole SS2015 | Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

K.Nicole SS2015 Fashion Show at Pier 59 Studios

 Makeup was sponsored by Face Atelier 

The SS2015 look was created by this lady right here: 
DeShawn Hatcher.

First of all: 
DeShawn. Is. EVERYTHING.

I read her blog every month, her advice on the fashion industry is so golden and solid, she has really helped me throughout my budding career. I also follow DeShawn on Facebook, Instagram, pretty much everywhere. I've study her work for years, her creativity with color theory is absolutely incredible to me, she creates color combinations that I would never have thought to reproduce and there are a LOT of artists that mimic her style today. Deshawn is inspiring, one of the very few artists I really look up to... she's genius, genuine, talented and wise; I have the utmost respect for her!  I hope to be at least 5% more like her when I grow up. So when she announced she needed assistance for NY Fashion week I JUMPED to my email right away, messaged her, and kept my fingers crossed.

DeShawn replied back,
"Girl, I would love to have you on my team."


On September 11th, 2014, I was there:

- The team setting up -

- Lipsticks -

- Eyeshadows -

- MY KIT -

Before we started makeup, DeShawn gave us a brief demo of the makeup look:

- Nude, Glossy lids with a touch of bronze eye shadow in the crease and lower lid

- Clean brows, lightly groomed

- Glowing cheeks with dewy skin

- Lavender lipstick with illuminating, frosty FaceAtelier eyeshadow on top of lipstick

Hair was created by Key Artist Linh Nguyen, beach waves are IN for Spring/Summer 2015.

Here was my first model: 

It took me a while to understand what DeShawn was looking for with makeup, she was very specific about placement of eyeshadow and the direction of the blush as well as how much iridescent shimmer to use on the lips. Sometimes duplicating what the key artist wants is hard for other artists, especially if you are used to doing makeup a certain way; but this is why I adore fashion week; I learn new techniques and new ways of applying makeup from pro artists that I would normally never have the opportunity to work with. These are makeup lessons I could never learn on YouTube or on the Internet, these were life lessons that I would cherish forever. After about four times of me re-doing the models lips, adding more makeup to eyes, and toning it down in some areas, she said,
"Yes!"

(Photos by Vivien Killilea for Zimbio.com)

My second model:

My third Model (left):

My fourth model: Ania Charlot 

I've worked with her once before and her skin is a DREAM.

Nigel Barker for Art Van Furniture

Here's a look Behind the Scenes for Art Van Furniture's Fall 2014 Catalog with photographer and spokesman Nigel Barker. Thanks to my agents at Factor Artists for the amazing opportunity to work with him along side makeup artist Kristina Feyerherm.

These were the two winners from The Art Van Photogenic contest, they were so excited to be pampered and dolled up for the catalog shoot.

Here are the final photos released and published in the Fall Catalog of 

Art Van Furniture.

Nigel is a DREAM to work with. His skin is like butter! He is so very genuine and sweet on set. I really didn't need to do much with his face; I just used a little Graftobian concealer, Ben Nye powder to stop the sweat on his forehead, a touch of bronzer for the cheeks, The Body Shop Argan Oil lip balm and he was good to go.

We also worked with kids, men and women from Factor Women, Ford Models, and Stewart Talent.

McKey Sullivan

Photographer Jennifer Avello, Stylist Marta Cebrat, Assistant Stylist Clarissa V. Pierre and myself worked on ANTM Cycle 11 Winner McKey Sullivan. The story was created December 19th, 2011

McKey is amazing, she is really truly amazing, EVERY frame was usable; that was the first time I have ever witnessed this type of greatness in my life!!!

The photos were submitted to two magazines, but they are now published in the Ben Trovato Blog :-)

Here are a few Behind The Scenes images:

And here are the final images chosen:

Photography by Jennifer Avello
Styling by Marta Cebrat-Czernik
Hair & Makeup by Andrea C Samuels with The Rock Agency
Stylist Assistant – Clarissa V. Pierre
Model – Mckey Sullivan @ Factor Women

Cycle 15 ANTM Winner: Ann Ward!

So this is the NEW winner of ANTM.

Ann Ward.



I'm not hatin' and I'm not mad about it! Ann cleaned up pretty well. Have you seen her BEFORE pictures???
OMG.

Wow.

Whoa.



At first, I was thinking 'WHY DID TYRA CHOOSE HER?? She can't TALK OR WALK???!!"

*whispers* I seriously hope they give her walking lessons :-/

Even though Ann's body is lanky and 'unproportionate', I realized she represents how a lot of young girls are: insecure, unproportionate, unique, don't fit in with the 'normal' standards of beauty, but they could break the mold and re-define what true beauty is! I'm glad Tyra stepepd out of her box and chose someone unique.
This may shape and change the image of 'beauty'.


I'm proud of Ann!

America's Next Top Model

So once October came, a flood of other things started to happen. Let's begin!!

So I had the chance to work with America's Next Top Model winner of Cycle 8, Jaslene Gonzalez. She is a very cool chick! She took direction from the photographer very well and we are all so proud of the amazing images we produced.

Big Shout Out (I feel like I came straight out of a 1990's sitcom saying that) to all the people that participated in the shoot, took time away from work, from school, even from their husbands to make this shoot beyond fantastic!
These were shot in Chicago, IL on Thursday, October 14th, 2010.

Model: Jaslene Gonzalez of ELITE

Photographer: Nuru Kimondo

Hair Stylist: Ziff Anthony

Wardrobe Stylist: Marta Cebrat

Jewelry: Angelica of Found Objects

Makeup Artist: Andrea Samuels


Photographer: Jabari J. Hunt.
He drove me and all my equipment to the location. Thank you Jabari!