Larissa's Artistry

End of Summer

2010-09-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

This is a shoot that I did for a client. It was about a 3 and a half hour shoot including a makeup application. We chose to do a few different outdoor locations. Every shoot I have done has been unique and equally rewarding. I am never strict with time, as while I'm shooting, the creative aspect always catches me and I am moved to continually challenge myself to grow and create new and better captivating images. Photography is such an exciting and evolving art. New technologies continually allow for more creative imagination to come through in a photograph. I am constantly learning new techniques in Photoshop to improve my capability of creating new style.

I used a warm brown color palette on the eyes. I reserved the deepest shade to contour the eye which I did with a medium sized dome brush. I also applied a set of false lashes. I finished with a peach toned lip gloss.

It was super hot and sunny the day we shot this. It was well into the 90's and though she was more than a bit warm in her faux leather jacket, leggings, and boots, she comes off looking cool in these pictures!

A Family at Play

2010-09-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

This is a late afternoon shoot that another friend of mine had asked me to do of her and her family. They were taken by the lakefront in downtown Milwaukee, WI. I love candid shots and with this shoot I was really able to expand on it. It was another fairly short shoot for me, lasting approximately 45 minutes.

This was a 13 person shoot. There was so much activity and laugher among the family which really came though on camera. It was such a pleasure to capture! Below is my friend and her husband who are newly weds, getting married in Chicago this past Spring.

A Mother's Love

2010-09-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is a photoshoot a friend of mine had asked me to do of her and her family while I was in Milwaukee, WI visiting. It was my first photoshoot involving children. It was also fabulous to work with a group as there is so much more to capture! Both my friend and her family were wonderful and it was a pleasure to capture moments of them together. It was a relatively short shoot for me, lasting approximately 45 minutes. It was also an evening shoot starting around 6pm. With this experience, I come away with a better understanding of shooting groups and children, including knowledge for a rhythm I plan to establish with future photoshoots!

This session was done along the shore of lake Michigan. Wisconsin has made an amazing effort in recent years to clean up the water pollution and make the lakefront a more enjoyable place for families to spend time together. After the photoshoot, my friend and her family continued to play on the playground while enjoying a sunset together.

A Capture of Love

2010-08-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

This summer I had an extended stay in Milwaukee, WI. Between warm weather, time with my husband, the dog park with my miniature poodle, coffee shops, and visits from good friends and family, I have been slow to post new pictures! During my stay I had the privilege to spend time with a very close friend of mine. We met in college and worked together as makeup artists. Since then, we have watched each other grow and deepen as time has matured and refined who we are. It was such a pleasure to catch up and be able to capture her here with the man she adores. I only did the photography for this amazing and charming couple as my dear friend is a fellow makeup artist. It was easy to capture meaningful moments of them both.

Both have a love of music and art which plays a huge role in their lives. Whether they are at a concert, out dancing, or simply on the couch with a guitar, music and art continually surrounds them.

They live tucked away in a romantic and spacious home in a small quaint town. The rustic and country quality of their two story garage captured parts of their personalities perfectly.

Summer Heat

2010-07-28T16:43:00.001-07:00

This is a shoot I did in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I split the shoot into two locations choosing the lakefront first and then moving into the city.

I tried to create contrast by pairing the bright-colored dress and soft look of the model against a rough, dark-textured brick background. I felt that adding this contrast would create a complementary fusion which would allow one to notice and appreciate both elements simultaneously, thus making for me a more compelling photograph.

Makeup Collaboration

2010-06-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

I recently did a makeup collaboration with Lennon Photography in Detroit, Michigan. I was in assigned to makeup and hair. The shoot is part of a larger series that will be showcased in a magazine set to come out in August. Here are a few shots I quickly snapped while the shoot was underway.

Below are a few examples of the final product!

Amusing Summer Color

2010-06-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

This shoot was a bit complicated which made it my most entertaining photo shoot yet! This was my first PM shoot. I usually schedule myself mid-morning sessions around 11am. I had scheduled this session at 5:30pm. Since I had planned on my studio lighting having natural lighting was not necessary. Once the makeup and lashes were applied it was all madness!

My softboxes had a meltdown which I mean quite literally! A third of the way into the shoot, the fuse for the flash blew on one of my two softboxes. This left me with one good softbox and one with only continuous lighting left to work with. Shortly after, the fuse on the second softbox blew.

At this point it was past 8pm and there was very little natural light left. So while I managed with the daylight I had left, my husband ran to Radio Shack for new fuses.

Things only continued to slippery slope when the sales clerk told him they had every fuse EXCEPT the one we needed! As a last resort, he bought in vain a set of fuses that matched closest the fuses we needed. Upon his return and in denial, we replaced the fuses and I attempted to continue shooting. To no avail, as I was fixing my models hair, I began to smell a strange odor. I discovered it was coming from my very troubled softbox. In the mist of trying to remove the cover of the softbox it started smoking heavily!!! The smoke began to flood the area and I ran frantically to the outlets to unplug both lights. Although the behind the scenes of this shoot was all madness, the photos describe a very different setting. They turned out beautifully!

Photo Session Close-Up

2010-05-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

How I made it happen:

Great Lighting. I used softboxs along with a large reflector to capture and direct the lighting onto the face. I also use a macro lens to really capture cosmetic/facial detail.

Makeup. I applied a matte black base eyeshadow on the bottom and lid of the eye.

I applied concealer on the eye and added more than usual as to counteract the dark shadow I lined the bottom of the eye with.

I then added a bright neon green shadow to the black base eyeshadow and applied a reasonable coat of black mascara before applying a set of false lashes. I shaped and filled in her eyebrows using a brow pencil. I combed out the eyebrow hair with a disposable mascara wand and set it with a bit of hairspray. Lastly, with the help of photoshop, I did a bit of skin cleanup and color corrected the images and viola!

Miss Teen Saginaw/Flint 2010 Beauty Pageant

2010-05-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was invited by Nationals Incorporated to be a judge at the Miss Teen Saginaw/ Flint Pageant. The girls range from 16-19 years old. The entire pageant process was a two day event. The first day was comprised of personal interviews with each of the contestants. Each girl was allotted approximately 5 minutes to let us know what she was about. It was so hard to stay within that time frame because all the girls had interesting things to say!

The 2nd day was the actual pageant. Casual wear came first, which the girls used as a means to showcase their interests and hobbies. Next was formal wear which was followed up with an individual question to each of the girls. The whole process was interesting and exciting! It was great to see how each girl chose to express her unique personality and how pageants truly can encourage self confidence. Interestingly enough, last night as this pageant was still underway, Miss Michigan was also on her way to winning the Miss USA title!

Announcing the New 2010 Miss Teen Saginaw/Flint

After the crowning, I along with the other judges went back stage to congratulate, take pictures, and present prizes to the girls.

Announcing Top 10

Other Winners/Contestants:

Nationals Incorporated also gives the judges the opportunity to provide material from our own particular business so I put together a presentation board to showcase my artistry and what I can provide.
(In the picture on the left I am in the middle with part of the judges panel.) All the materials were placed in the front entryway of the theater. All the judges were very gracious and a pleasure to work with. Everyone brought something unique which made this event so great.

My Presentation Board

The Ladies of May

2010-05-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

Before every session I naturally plan how I want the phootshoot to turn. I do this by creating a storyboard where I tack up pictures, fabric, textures, etc. to form a flow/rhythm. I wanted a soft pink lip which to me invites a playful innocence. I then introduced a harder smoky eye for an effect of dark mystery. When combined it makes for a very alluring look. My muse was Kim Kardashian.

I love thick cuffs and bangles midway up the arm. It invokes an exotic element that I love.

The Ladies of May

2010-05-11T18:40:00.001-07:00

I chose to work with a warm palette. I used a rich bronze hue for the crease and paired it with a creamy pearl tone for the lid. I swept black gel liner across the lashline and I applied a set of false lashes for a bit of beauty hyperbole.

I took a blowdryer to my model, set it on the cool setting, and blew up her hair! I wanted drama on the face to really captivate.

I added silver hoop earings for a contemporary more urban quality.

Photoshoot April 2010

2010-04-25T13:44:00.001-07:00

Here, I went for a much harder and edgy makeup look. I smoked out her eyes and gave her a nude lip. I wanted an intimidating yet accessible look so I also applied a nude blush as adding too much color to the cheek would flush her out and look a bit more girly.

I added a pair of lace cut off gloves which weaved a fierce yet sultry element into this look.

With this look in contrast, I went for a softer more romantic theme. I used a bright coral eyeshadow all over the eyelid and paired it with a midnight blue shadow in the crease. This combination brings the focus and attention to her eyes.

Photoshoot April 2010

2010-04-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

I wanted to create a floral look.

I choose a cool and bright color palette to complement her skin tone.
I added a punch of color on her lips to balance out the color on her eyelids. I applied matte finished products to her skin and color to give an aura of sophistication.

I added a white lined scarf to her left shoulder to add a bit of interest and texture to the photo.

Blushing Pinks

2010-03-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

To add more interest to the eye, I added a light shimmer shade in the middle of the eye towards the lash line and blended up. This highlight allows one to see the color contrast of the darker shade creating more depth.

In this photo above, you can clearly see the cheek bone. I chose a blush that is very brightly pigmented which I then used very little of. This allows you to maximize your product while at the same time minimizing the need to layer a large amount of blush to achieve the desired definition and contour.

Highlight these areas of the face: upper forehead, the ridge of the nose, the top line of the cheek bones, and the chin.

Romantic Mauves

2010-03-02T15:40:00.000-08:00

Using a powder instead of a pencil to fill in the brow creates a softer and more natural look.

Mixing in a brightening moisturizer or serum to your liquid foundation is an easy way to create a radiant look to your skin.

I used a white eye pencil to line the waterline of the eye to make the eye appear larger, brighter, and more refined.

In the Wintry Countryside

2010-01-30T19:27:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken from a photoshoot I did with Genoveva Wayment Photography.

To achieve this look, I first applied a long wear liquid foundation which I set loosely with a foundation powder using a large powder brush. I then began to blend in a rosy/peachy/golden pressed shimmer trio to the apples of my cheek which I worked outwardly toward my temples following the cheek bone. To add more contour, I applied a coral shade of blush only to the apples of the cheek.

For the eyes I remained monochromatic using only shades of purple. I began with a medium shade which I applied onto the entire lid. I then blended in a deeper shade for contour starting on the outer edge of the crease and blending my way in. I reserved the lightest shade for highlight which I applied to the brow bone and the area surrounding the tear duct.

Finally, I applied a black gel liner only on the top of the lid to open and lift the eye.