blog

mike lewis photography

02/11/2012 13:11:00

kayla

01/23/2012 10:02:00

kayla was an absolute joy ... such a radiant and happy soul

beautiful photography by Robert Kirk Photographic

studioeternity.com

01/06/2012 18:25:00

It was an absolute pleasure meeting Aurora at Studio Eternity Photography. She is simply delightful and tremendously talented.

www.studioeternity.com

britters

12/22/2011 09:30:00

brittney and justin

oct. 1, 2011

Brittney and I met on the job a few years back. She is such a fun loving girl and and always so sweet and sincere. Anyone who knows, knew or will meet Brit, will know one thing for sure... how much she loves Justin. I always knew that one day, Justin would go from boyfriend to husband. Sure enough, that day did come.

I'm so proud to have been a part of Brit's big day. It gave me an opportunity to get to know her even more. She is surrounded by a loving family and gives what she gets... lot's of love, friendship and happiness. She is truly a beautiful person inside and out.

Congratulations Brittney and Justin on the start of something beautiful.

blessed

12/21/2011 10:21:00

I have been so blessed this year to have worked with some wonderful people. I truly appreciate being a part of a bride's special day. Here are some of the wonderful "thank you's" and reviews that I received this year.

"Ana did my makeup for my wedding a few weeks ago. She did such an amazing job. I would recommend her services to my friends and would use her again! She was super friendly too and always on time. I felt so beautiful on my big day and got told that several times throughout the day."

Michelle Wedding 09/16/2011

"Ana has been a friend of mine for some time now and when I got engaged, I knew without a doubt that I wanted her to do my makeup for the wedding. Not only because she is a close friend but because her talent is just beyond words. She did a makeup trial for me about a month before my wedding and she did such an amazing job. I knew that when the time came for her to do my makeup for the wedding that I would not be disappointed. My makeup came out PERFECT! I wouldn't have changed a single thing about it. I not only looked beautiful but I felt beautiful because of her. Ana is so passionate about her work and it really does show. She has a such a love for what she does and she really does care a lot about her brides. And that's so important. You will not be disappointed if you choose Ana to do your makeup for your special day, she is amazing and her work is amazing too."

BrittneyWedding 10/01/2011

"Ana is amazing!!!! She did my make-up for our wedding, and it was flawlessly beautiful! I still looked like myself, which was important to me, but she transformed me into the best version of myself. My eyes just popped in our photographs thanks to her artistry. On top of all that, she is just a fun, nice, relaxing person to have around when you are getting ready for your big event! I would definately recommend her!" SarahWedding 08/13/2011

"SHE IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every one of my girls looked like themselves just better! We all felt like a million dollars and everyone talked all night about how beautiful we looked (all to Ana!!!!!)" AdrienneWedding 03/19/2011

"Ana's make-up is Amazing! I knew that I had picked the right artist for my big day during our consultation and trial. She arrived right on schedule and with her entire kit in tow. We set up shop in my master bath and she got right to work. My skin tone is light and slightly olive, so it can be tricky to find the right concealer and foundation, but Ana has so many quality products and shades I was matched to perfection. My expectations were more than exceeded during our trial that I booked for my wedding right then and there. After seeing the results of the trial run, my mom, sister, and MOH decided to book with Ana for my wedding too! The big day came and of course she was right on time! Her time management skills are more than impressive, completing three faces and me, the bride, in under three hours! She's also extremely clean and thorough while cleaning her brushes (so important), before using them on a new face. My mother and sister looked so beautiful and I was thrilled that they loved their look. My MOH is quite a perfectionist and hard to please, but she said she would definitely have Ana do her make-up again. Of course I was ecstatic with my grey smokey eye and berry stained lips. Ana made me look flawless without looking cakey, and I felt like I had less make-up on than I do on a daily basis. My pictures looked amazing! My recommendation to brides would be first; book with Ana, and second; encourage your bridesmaids to save the time and let a professional do it! It makes a BIG difference in your pictures, and her prices are so reasonable it's more than worth it!" Jessica Wedding 05/01/2010

professional endorsements "Ana does amazing work- absolutely beautiful make up, flawless and is fun to work with too!" Jennifer Carillo Bella Rosa Photography

"Ana is fantastic to work with. Always prepared and professional. Her talent is AMAZING! Any bride would be lucky to have her on the "Big DAy" :) She is truly passionate of her skill." Brooke Cresap Hair by Brooke
Antonia Martinez Makeup Artist is listed as a preferred vendor with the following wedding professionals: Motte Historical Museum Bella Rosa Photography

embryolisse lotion micellaire

11/16/2011 08:22:00

Lotion Micellaire by Embryolisse

Lotion Micellaire is one of those products that I cannot live without in my kit. It is an outstanding makeup remover for eyes, lips and face. I love it because it removes eye makeup effortlessly without irritating my sensitive eyes. Micellaire is also a work horse; it removes even the most stubborn, long wear eye liner, mascaras and lip colors. One of my favorite features is that it is a no-rinse cleanser. I can effectively remove residual makeup or freshen the face, without having the product effect the overall look of the makeup I am about to apply. I love to start each application with a pass of Micellaire across the entire surface before moisturizing.

product review

11/15/2011 06:56:00

Revlon ColorStay Overtime Lipcolor

At drug store prices, it can be an affordable option to try this product for yourself. I decided to do the dirty work for you, literally. The product went on easily and stayed on my lips throughout the day. I felt hopeful that I had finally found a viable addition to my kit. After food and kisses, it was still there. The problem was that after a few hours the product became gummy and extremely uncomfortable. The appearance took on a thick and and cakey look. Removing the product was extremely difficult. I used a lip scrub made of coconut oil and sugar to breakdown the product. It took several applications of the scrub to remove the color. I would not buy this product for personal or professional use. Even though the color stayed on my lips, I felt there would still be the same amount of maintenance that a non-longwear formula would require. I would much rather re-apply a product that does not feel like a combination of crude oil and gum.

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen

I am going to be testing a few liquid liners to find the "one". This Revlon product is good, not great. The tip is firm and of medium size which was great for creating a multitude of line widths. I wish the pen was "wetter" so that it does not drag on the looser skin on the outer corners of my eyes. Lying the pen flat against the skin creates the best application. The tip is is very fine, which would be great for creating that fine "flick" at the outer corner. However, this feature is virtually useless since the pen is too dry and not receiving enough color at the tip. The color does stay well on the eye. The pigment is good, but could be richer. I would recommend this product for personal use and specifically for those looking to try a winged or liquid liner look for the first time. The dryer formula may be a plus for beginners.

Motte Historical Museum

11/07/2011 10:07:00

Good News! I'm so excited to be listed as a preferred professional at Motte Historical Museum. Last week, I met with Motte Historical Museum's wedding coordinator and CEO of Sylver Weddings, Stacy Everett. I had such a great time meeting with Stacy and discussing weddings over coffee and muffins (then later over taquitos!). She is truly a hardworking woman and wants only the best for her clients. The Museum itself used to be a marketplace. Today it is has a rustic vintage barn look and lots of vintage cars on display.

hair removal

10/31/2011 09:34:00

When it comes to speaking to woman about their skin care routine, I can think of no subject more sensitive than that of facial hair removal. Facial hair can be fine and fuzzy or dark and thick. Whatever the case, it can be embarrassing for women to deal with. Additionally, facial hair never photographs well and can make makeup application more difficult with results that will likely be less than flawless.

What are our options for hair removal? Waxing and threading are the most popular methods of epilation. Waxing can include the use of soft or hard wax and is the method that I personally prefer. A technician will apply the wax then pulls it of quickly. It is virtually painless and effective. Please do yourself a favor and find a qualified esthetician to do the job. A nail technician or cosmetologist is technically trained to perform waxing services, however an esthetician has specialized training and extensive knowledge of the skin. If you are to receive waxing services, please stay away from retinoids and sun exposure. Please make sure to speak to your esthetician or dermatologist about any medications that may be a contraindicated to waxing services. Lastly, proper sanitation measure dictates that double dipping a wax applicator is not an acceptable practice.

Threading is a technique that involves the use of a thread to catch the hairs between the twisted strands and pull them out as in tweezing. I have heard many people rave about threading because it is gentler on the skin, but I personally am not a fan. To me it is more painful than waxing and the potential for skin damage can be just as prevalent if the technician pinches the skin. I have also seen some technicians hold a portion of the string in their mouths which is not a sanitary practice.

Tweezing is the method I prefer for the delicate eye area. I use the tweezing method exclusively for shaping the brows. Tweezing allows me the precision and care necessary to achieve a perfect shape, free of accidents and damage to the delicate skin around the eyes.

Alright, now we come to shaving. I will be the first to admit that I have used this method when in a pinch. That means I am heading out the door and do not have time to wax and or deal with the redness associated with waxing. It works and the hair does not grow back thicker as some would tell you. Which brings me to the next topic....

"Hormonal" hairs. These are those thick, man-like hairs that some woman are plagued with. Often times these hairs will be found in the same areas that men grow thick hair like on the chin, neck and side burn area. Some woman have one lone thick hair that grows in the same spot (I'm not admitting anything). Others have a batch of thick little visitors. Whatever the case, regular epilation is required.

Peach fuzz is usually light in color and is undetectable in some lighting situations. Once the sun or a flash from a camera hits the face, it creates a hazy, soft appearance to the skin. Additionally, airbrush makeup grabs on to every hair just as it would the skin. Even though airbrush makeup is synonymous with a flawless finish, it too can appear fuzzy when the client has an abundance of peach fuzz.

Laser hair removal is another technique that can be an option for those that can afford the treatments. All I can offer on this subject is that you do your homework.

Adding regular epilation to your beauty regimen is something to consider, but to receive the best results from a professional makeup application, it is necessary. If you are getting your skin ready for that big event like a wedding or photo shoot, be sure to plan ahead. Do your homework to find the qualified professionals and leave enough time to receive services. I do not recommend clients try any new epilation technique during the week of a special event. Start services a few months beforehand to try it out, then you can decide when to receive that last service right before the event for best results.

Have an un-hairy Halloween because beauty should not be that scary ladies!

clean beauty

10/08/2011 06:10:00

Model Carlie Lane with Willow Model Management

Photographer Carlo Parducho

Location Farm 39 Studios in Huntington Beach, CA