Z-life Magazine Publication{winter 2012}

Photography: Laura Tillinghast
Photography Assistant: Rebecca Herem
Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Chang (me!)
Model: Hannah + Jana @ Stars Model Management

I've been meaning to try Zumba for a while, more so after these two assignments for Z-Life Magazine!  Coincidentally, I received these photos today, and I also received my Zumba Fitness Xbox game in the mail!!  Now that my husband and I FINALLY installed curtains, I won't have to feel self conscious about my neighbors looking in while I attempt to work out a sweat in my living room! ;)

I was very very excited to get an opportunity for a tear sheet that features "beauty" work and we got to do 2 different features (one for the serum, the other for the hair chalking technique!!!)  I was pleased to see that it was also the first story in the issue!!! yay! I look forward to work with this magazine again and of course, trying Zumba!  For the serum shot, my left hand is in the shot (lol! my first shoot as a 'hand model'! lol!!!) and Rebecca was holding the serum droplet!!  It was a lot harder than it looked but we were able to get the shot under Laura's expert guidance!!  Laura did an amazing job with...everything!!! Planning the shoots, casting the PERFECT models, and then - the beautiful product shots!!! Bravo bravo!! I can't feel more proud of the spread!!! Not shown here, but there was a product shot that featured a REAL LIVE SNAKE!!!  Click to see it! I think that is pretty rad!  :) :) :)

On the personal note....

I'm heading to LA next week for a job, and the job continues the following week here in the Bay - and  after the job completes, I head to NYC for a destination wedding!  I don't know...my goal of catching up with blogging doesn't seem to be a realistic one...! You may also notice that I seem to prefer to blog the commercial/print work that I do, versus the 37+ weddings I haven't gotten around to!!! I hope you don't think that I prefer one type of work over the other because of this!!! The truth is, blogging about my lovely brides and their handsome grooms requires more time commitment, and also I am still collecting the photos from spring/summer weddings. My beloved iMac is also reaching the end of its rope....! And I'm having trouble updating my gallery on my bridal page...which brings me to... my new bridal website that will launch Spring of 2013!  I will begin working with a webdesigner/developer this coming month!  It's very exciting but wow...I was thinking Nov/Dec will be a nice down time for me, but it didn't end up happening that way.  I hope I don't sound like one of those people who goes "I am just SO busy...SO busy" and it gets annoying.  You know the type!!!  :P  But I have to say my plate is quite full, and I feel very blessed to be busy (even though I do whine about it when it gets a little overwhelming!!), working in an industry that I love.  In the meantime, if you would like to see sneak peaks of bridal photos, please like & follow the Skyla Arts Facebook Page.  I also have a Commercial Facebook Page, Elizabeth Chang | Makeup & Hair, dedicated to sharing commercial/print/photoshoot work.  Lastly, I'm active on Instagram and post behind the scenes snapshots and of course...my cat Skyla, and occasionally the food I'm eating :)

Yesterday I did a bridal preview/consultation with a lovely bride-to-be, and she asked how many weddings I did/am doing this year, and I said: "I think it's 40 or 41" and she thought that was a lot!  Definitely a lot more than last year!  But I know of colleagues that do 60+, or 100+! I had a conversation with them about it...I ask them..."How do you manage??!!"  Next year I will feel so lucky & honored if 40 brides choose me for their big day! I'm just hoping that next year will be even better than this year!  And by that I don't mean I hope to get more than 40 brides! :P Truly truly...to my clients who hired me, if I haven't said it enough, THANK YOU! Yes yes...This is a belated Thanksgiving post! :P :P 

Until next time!!! *smiles*

I just wanted to post this bec

Alex | Lifestyle {photography by Sasha Gulish}

Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Chang
Photography: Sasha Gulish
Styling: Peggi Jeung
Model: Alex @ Stars Model Management

On a warm sunny day...All I wanna do is lay on the grass and lounge around.  Meet Alex - she has a really beautiful smile and a sweet personality! Her southern accent is adorable! ;)  Immediately upon starting her makeup, I was like: "Doesn't she look like Alexis Bledel?!" After the first few looks, I knew the plan was to do a picnic theme, so then...I kept pushing for the red lips - knowing how gorgeous it looks on Alexis and how it will pop from the lush green colors of the grass.  Unfortunately I had to leave the shoot early to make another appointment.  Sasha thought maybe they would switch into a more neutral lip for the picnic, so I handed them a wipe and a empty jar with a tiny bit of lipstick. 

When I got the photos back, I was ecstatic to find that they decided to keep the red lips towards the end and I loved the results. There were many other favorites from this shoot, but I selected 5 of my favorites! Out of the five, my favorite is the first one above! It's such a happy photo...and I love the polka dots against the grassy fields! One of my photography friends pointed out that I seem to be fond of back-lit images - YES it's true!! I like it when the subject looks like they are glowing! ^.~

Peanut, the cute dog featured, belongs to Peggi. As I was doing Alex's hair, Peanut was pacing around the apartment {a very cute studio apartment that Alex was renting out for the duration of her stay in SF} - and Peggi said: "Peanut! Come back! You are in the hair spray zone!"  lol...and Peanut obediently marched back to the safety of the other side of the studio. that was my favorite quote of the day.

I hope everyone is having a good day/good week so far!

From runway makeup & hair (A/W 2012) into wearable looks! {+Behind the Scenes with Matt Edge Photography!}

Hello ya'all! Time for an annual makeup & hair trend report.  It's been nearly a year since my last trend report! yikes!!  I try to be more diligent but honestly...I'm kind of a Fall/Winter gal to begin with (Born in September!) so naturally I enjoy the looks that extend from summer to the fall the most.  Enough babbling and onward with the post!

It was such a pleasure to work again with L.A. based fashion photographer Matt Edge and his beautiful and talented sidekick, Allison Edge! The shoot was styled by Allison with our minimal input (my Tory Burch sunglasses made an appearance!) I snapped all of these behind the scene images with my iPhone and then used photoshop curves to portray the colors I want! I've been really into Instagram but in the end, the photoshop curves give you more flexibility and fun (albeit more time consuming)

Meet Sara J. from Scout SF and Conrad from Stars SF! It was so cool when Matt & I agreed on our top choice of models! I always feel invigorated and inspired to work with professionals that share a passion for the art, and then we work together towards executing the vision!

Similar to last year, I've gone through some of the shows, and decided to pick-up and hone into a few of the looks I've selected to shape the type of look that I'm going for...The huge difference is...I put the looks together and presented it, with the help of my wonderful summer intern, Anna! The ones I've selected will be featured after the Behind the Scenes photos! Scroll down! :) 

I selected one to two elements per look to feature:

Look 1 had the pin-curl classic waves that frames the face. The makeup is similar to the Dior/Ralph Lauren look - I incorporated the flirty but still natural looking false lashes! 

Look 2 really focused on the messy french twist.  I thought about doing the side swept thing in the front, but decided in the end to sweep it back for a more natural volume! I wish I got a photo of the back, but for now you can see it below from a side view. I loved the Vespa scene!!!! Conrad commutes around the city in his Vespa, and it was a perfect (and unexpected) prop for the scene! They looked super cute together! 








Look 3, I emphasize the wing liner slightly, but I mostly wanted to focus on the red lips.  I was inspired to leave it half down - so ended up with this look! My goal was to make Sarah elegant and polished!

We'll see how the photos turn out in a few weeks! :) Scroll down to see the Fall looks summarized.


Makeup

• Clean semi-matte skin, full brows, lightly contoured eye shadow, a dust of peachy/pinky cheeks and a tiny bit of contouring for the cheeks, clean winged liner and naturally pinky-nude lip color {as seen in Ralph Lauren & Christian Dior - although I love that Dior added the false lashes, emphasizing the cat-eye shape} Lanvin & Anna Sui had a thicker and more dramatic winged liner, while it may be appropriate for parties, it may be harder to sport on the daily basis!
• Bright Pop of lipstick - orange-red - even though it is also a great color for spring and summer with brighter colors, when paired with classic colors like black/gold/brown/nudes {Featured here in Dennis Basso, but also seen in Zac Posen and Marc by Marc Jacobs}  A brighter lipstick like a soft fuschia, goes really well with darker colors like black/gray and blues and purples, making it a beautiful and versatile color for fall wardrobes.

Hair

• I am attracted to the classic shape of the pin-curl featured in Dior S/S Couture and Dennis Basso in Fall Ready-to-wear and how it frames the face.   Tuck it in for a faux bob, or let it down for a side pony.
• Speaking of ponytails, my favorite is the Anna Sui one with a retro flair that is perfectly sleek. The volume in the ponytail for Ralph Lauren is placed low - you can make it sleek, or wear it textured and messy. The 'key' feature of the pony is that it's a low pony by the occipital bone (above the nape).
• Lastly, I noted the french twists - my favorite would be the messy ones featured in Tory Burch. I was also very drawn to the different placements - in Donna Karen, the french twist is pushed all the way to one side, giving a dramatic asymmetry! But, comparatively I'm more drawn to the ones featured in Valentino - it looks very subtle and elegant in the front, but very dramatic from the side.  

*PHEW* that was a lot of photos to post! Hope you enjoyed it! ;) ;) You can find all the images on my Pinterest as well! ;) Follow me on Pinterest! ;D Until next time!

P.S. I will give brownie points to those that recognize a familiar face in the images above runway looks! The big clue is, she is from Stars Model Management in SF! ;) 

Diana - Beach Photoshoot!

Summer is here indeed!!

Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Chang
Photography: Sasha Gulish
Styling: Ali
Model: Diana @ Stars Model Management

As usual, I am posting out of chronological order! I figured the last post was wedding related, I shall mix it up with some fun in the sun! 

It wasn't actually that sunny that day out in Marin, but you wouldn't have known because Diana from Stars Model Management brought it with her! 

There were some other great ones, but these are the few that I loved for the blog/website! ;) Actually.....I had SUCH a hard time deciding what photos to use.  Even now as I'm looking at the photos that Sasha (the photographer) chose, the ones that Stars (Diana's agency) chose, and then look at the ones I chose, I'm like..Should I have picked a DIFFERENT one? Oh oh ...! I cannot go through this again! lol. Diana dances a lot in school, and it certainly shows! She moves so well in front of the camera, and just bangs out the poses - click after click it's a good shot.  I guess this has to be a good dilemma to have!!!!  Maybe next month I can post the other beach shoot I did...Actually, expect to see some great "fun in the sun" blogs (or you could take a peak at them on my website...? )

One of the challenges I had to face was doing the hair without the hot tools.  To create the stringy texture, I wanted the stickiness and stay-power, so I went with Aquage Working Spray in order to manipulate the hair without heat & work with her natural texture!

Always a pleasure to work with Team Sasha (which is Sasha and her studio manager, Kelsie) Enjoy some of the photos!

New Lifestyle! ;)

New Lifestyle work! I'm going to keep it brief because I need to go to sleep & wake up early!  This week is unusually crazy and I enjoyed every minute of it! :) I'm lucky that I love my job! This is my 3rd time working with Kris Jung @ Stars (Pure coincidence!) but I'm always happy to see her! She is so adorable! I had fun doing the messy bun look & putting the rollers in her hair! It was really lovely to meet Alyssa & Donyale! I loved loved these photos~!

Putting lotion on the model's exposed skin is one of the most important lessons I learnt when I showed my portfolio to veteran artists to ask for their critique. After putting a great lotion, skin is shinny & luminous, and also saves photographer retouching time.  It is so worth the effort!  Little did I know when I was a newbie, anything showing is apparently my responsibility (skin, nails...etc).

This is the first shoot I did with this AMAZING team - I can't wait to work with them again!!! Or share the other photos we did with you in the near future! I'm very proud of these! ;) Happy Monday!

Photography: Sasha Gulish Photography
Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Chang
Styling: Natalie
Models: Kris, Alyssa & Donyale from Stars Model Management

 

Did you watch season 1 of Scouted on E?

How did a month just slip away, just like that? *snaps finger* I think this may be the busiest January since I moved to the Bay - which is a good thing - but not so much for my little blog! Which is why this is like 3 posts in one post, blogging about *new* work for 2012 and previous work from 2011 that never made an appearance on my blog because I have a bad habit of not blogging chronologically.  I guess that could be a goal for 2012?  Ok! Onward!

Scouted season 1 had its finale last Monday on E!  The show documents scouts from smaller markets and small towns, and submitting them to a scouting company in NYC where the experts put the model to the test on a photo/video test shoot, and then showing the images & presenting the model to Scott Lipps/Owner of One Management. Scott then announces his decision to sign the model.  Each episode features 2 models, and their home town and their lives is also documented on the episode.  We here in the San Francisco Bay Area were very excited for the show because one of the highlighted scouts is Kristen Kotik from Stars Model Management!! It also highlights San Francisco, and as Kristen said: "It puts us on the map!!!" I think it's really great~ considering the recent events of Ford SF closing their office.  Many artists/photographers/models are moving to LA or NYC - it's a bit disheartening BUT I believe that sooner or later San Francisco will return to its former glorious position in the fashion/commercial industry!  How can it not...We have silicon valley - we are the leaders of technology and such a high concentration of creative people! That's my opinion anyways~ =P

If you've been following my blog, then you might know that I love working with Stars & their models!  The models have great hair, great skin, and a great attitude. Oh and they are punctual! :) I first had the pleasure to work with a Star model Mackenzie Drazan back in Jan of 2010 with photographer Laura Tillinghast, who told me all about Stars! But the next Star model would be Jan of 2011, exactly a year later, when I worked with Kris Jung! So Jan of 2012, I was invited by Calvin Ma to do a shoot with Amber Robertson from Utah, who was on the show and now part of the Stars roster!  It was a cool morning, but surprisingly sunny upstairs!  My classroom of 3 months, Cinta Aveda Institute, is one floor down from Stars, so I was very familiar with the building, but it was my first time on the roof top!!! I think Amber has that girl next door appeal/bombshell combo, and maybe she can go as far as a VS angel! She definitely has the looks for it! 

Here is a behind the scenes shot of me fluffing up her hair! I'm into fluffy hair textures these days haha

Photo: Calvin Ma

The one below is my favorite shot of the day!!  I really love the colors! And the two following were my picks! :) There's a few more but I thought I would just post my favorite ones! 

Photo: Calvin Ma

Photo: Calvin Ma

Photo: Calvin Ma

OK! This is PART II - Lindsey was also featured on Scouted.  The previews of that episode really did magnify her morality/ethical contract and portrayed her as a Christian but when you watch it, I think they are great guidelines for a model under 18 to follow - like, no negative influences such as drugs/alcohol, no sheer clothing.  Watching her on Scouted, I was like...what was I like when I was 18?  Thinking about it...Ya know..when I was 18 until my 20s, I was much more outspoken, sometimes a bit too outspoken for my own good because it got me in trouble, and actually didn't benefit me - so I went the complete opposite and became too quiet/reserved/withdrawn; over time, unsure of myself, losing confidence. My goal for 2012 is to really tap into my inner confidence again - find my inner-18 year old, who wasn't afraid to speak her mind!   In regard to the confidence thing, I think I'm making giant strides and it's still only January 24th! I remember last year I'd feel hesitant about walking into a room full of strangers to network with them and feel the need to bring someone along - don't get me wrong, it HELPS when there are familiar faces, but I think I'm getting used to it, and as I find small successes, I will slowly regain the lost confidence back! :D

These are two shots from the 60s inspired fashion story, shot by Calvin Ma & styled by Cindy Tran

Photo: Calvin Ma

Photo: Calvin Ma

Last but not least, CONGRATULATIONS to Alwyn for being signed to One Management in the finale of Scouted! I had a lot of fun with my new Ben Nye color palette that day.  Sometimes, you just feel like playing and doing something new! I was really pleased with the dewy skin, and dewy nose and cupid's bow here!

Photo: Rummy Makmur

OK! The end of a really long post!!! Happy year of the Dragon!!  I hope you enjoyed some of the photos! I'll be sure to blog soon! ;) 

60s Inspired Mod Makeup Tutorial & Photo Shoot!

I...am afraid to be in front of the camera but somehow I managed to do it!  Thanks to my friend and esteemed colleague Tim Prestoza from Low Tek Studios !  We worked together earlier this year (yes that secret video will be up, soon! woohoo!) on a big project, and this was another BIG project for us.  It is our first time doing a "real" tutorial (please discount my first ever Tutorial which is more like a photo tutorial than a video one).  I'm excited to share it!! :) Watch it in HD!

This is my 2nd time working with Kris - the first time was the beginning of 2011! it feels like so long ago - it was then that Kris told me I should totally do the makeup tutorials and we should do it together! 10 months later, it finally happened!  We were definitely on the same plane of creativity as I already had this look in mind and when I discussed it with Kris she said she wanted to do a 60s mod look and that she loves this type of makeup! :) It all came together!

Tim has been really encouraging - and he even made my arms look thinner! :) During the filming, Kris/Tim and I were having great conversations, talking about this and that and everything~ we had loads of fun! 

Here are the results of our shoot with Rummy Makmur:

Photography: Rummy Makmur (www.rummymakmur.com)
Makeup : Elizabeth Chang (Elizabeth Chang | Makeup & Hair)
Videography: Tim Prestoza (Lowtek)
Model: Kris Jung @ Stars Model Management

and last but not least, the behind the scenes video!

New Beauty + Fall 2011-2012 Makeup Trend Report [trends I'm into, that is]

Makeup & Hair: Elizabeth Chang
Photography: Rummy Makmur

Model: Lauren Loveless @ Stars Model Management SF

*pats myself on the back* For taking further steps at separating my Bridal from Commercial/Fashion work. I am also very proud of this image :) The makeup before and after post processing is barely noticeable! Big *high five* to Rummy Makmur - again, we pulled out ALL the stops! YAY!  Special thanks to AJ for sending us Lauren. We absolutely love her....!

On the day of the shoot, I had a few makeup looks in mind, but after seeing her face, I decided to go with a look fresh off the runway, 2011-12 A/W Gucci show in Milan - I summarize the look as the following:

- Flawless, beautiful "Porcelain" skin

- Perfect vampy lip

- Perfectly Symmetrical Brows

- A lot of mascara - clumpy and sexy

- Classically lightly defined eyes

I definitely had a strong feeling about these lips.. I can't believe it I did this lip 3 times the last MONTH. I had to just get it out of my system, and I am happy to say I probably won't be doing this lip until...whenever it's "in" again! lol!!!!!  That day we also did the D & G Fall look with a twist with the graduated faded lip, but I think that this image above is the strongest from the set.  :) 

And then funny funny thing is when I received my Bazaar Fall Fashion Issue, Coco Rocha rocked this makeup look in those Saks Fifth Avenue ads.  It's funny to me because last fall, I had absolutely NO CLUE what is trendy for fall.  I think my trend predicting antennas are growing a little stronger ;P  This was just one of the looks that I loved loved off of A/W 2011-2012. 

Also found in Bazaar this season - PERFECTLY SYMMETRICAL BROWS!!!! oh yes, and FULL too.

Sorry for the caps, but I wanted to say that if you meet 10 makeup artist, 50% will say: "Brows are sisters, not twins", and the other 50% will say: "Brows SHOULD be twins" - and I say: "Brows should be twins in the perfect Grecian tradition" - Symmetry IS beauty I say!! 

And guess what!?!?!? It's the RETURN OF THE PERFECT BROWS! My glory day has returned j/k j/k~  It's just that... I definitely belong to the 50% of the artist who cannot stand asymmetry in brows. Yes, naturally brows are most likely going to be sisters - Only very few people I've met had perfectly symmetrical brows, and when I see them I cannot stop staring at them and admire them with my mouth agape! No brow product or anything, just perfectly symmetrical. I like them longer and fuller - and tamed into perfection. 

If your brows are not perfectly symmetrical, there are ways to shape it to "appear" perfectly symmetrical.  For that, you really need to go to a TRUE brow artiste and not just any esthetician out there ;) 

ALL my clients and models I've worked with know that I am into symmetrical brows...lol....If you come to me with brows, I will most likely inquire if you go see someone for your brows, and if not, why not? What can I say...I just love beautiful brows.  Jordan @ Scout told me she loves how I do her brows~ :) 

What can I say, at least for this season, I WIN! *does a victory dance* 

There is no "I" in Team!

Makeup, Hair & Manicure: Elizabeth Chang

Photography: Rummy Makmur
Models: (left) Morgan @ Stars, (right) Jordan @ Scout
Post-Processing: London Retouch

I know...I was planning to do a whole blog post on this and that, but I've been a little bit occupied with work! That's a good thing right??!  Got bills to pay! :P I am uber proud about my recent projects.  This one above in particular - The last shoots I worked with, Morgan on the left, and Jordan on the right, I was not 100% proud of the images, so I requested an opportunity for a re-shoot, and during the re-shoot, I planned everything myself, including coordinating the models, making the schedules/call sheet, and Oh yeah, doing Hair/Makeup/Manicure for both models - all by myself.

Sometimes you just have to make things happen for yourself.  Every single person who participated at this shoot, we pulled out ALL the stops!!!  ALL of it.  The difficulty was HIGH, but despite the challenges, I am just thrilled we got 3 images out of that evening for our portfolio.  It's not perfect, it's not the most exciting thing you've seen in the world, but to me, that day I really pushed myself harder and was able to say that I reached my goal and not just "oh man I wish I could have done this..."  I am only as good as my team, and man - we were an AWESOME TEAM that evening! The models were prepared, and we were all excited to make some magic.  While we stuck on schedule (to the clock!!! woohoo!!! Go team), I also had the pleasure to share some personal stories with Jordan, and we all enjoyed listening to Morgan's 2 month adventure in Milan!  Her stories showed her courage and determination, living alone in Milan, was really inspiring to hear.  Persistence and Perseverance - what better qualities can you have if you really want to succeed in something?  

Special thanks to amazing Audre VanBroers, who introduced me to London Retouch, whom I hired to post-process the image for us! If you go onto the website, you can also see the other Beauty story I did with Audre VanBroers, another thing I am uber proud of!

Oh yes, did I mention - Tereza from London Retouch also decided to use our image as her banner image!!! SF represent!! Of course, thanks to Stars Model Management & Scout Model & Talent Agency to trusting me once more with their  beautiful and talented SF Beauty models I've had the pleasure to work with!

Lastly...I'll probably be blogging a lot more once October rolls around... but for now, I've been working on my "new" website: http://elizabethchangmakeup.com [It's just a face lift from my former fashion/commercial portfolio website]

You can click there to check out some of my new work that...I just haven't been able to blog about!

Recent Hair & Makeup Works - online!

I am way too behind on my blog...May through July is just one big blur of bridal, commercial, portfolio upgrades...!  So...instead of a text heavy post, let's have an image heavy one! These are screen shots of recent online features or works!  I am also very thrilled to see more of my hair and makeup work on Georgiou Studio's website!  Lots of excitement, I guess..a lot of early mornings, packing/unpacking kit, and going to bed to fall asleep between 10-11pm due to exhaustion!  Ok ok enough rabbling~! :) Will have a meatier blog soon! <3