I reached out to Chicago photographer Isi Akahome in February 2018 to collaborate because I needed some “Clean Beauty” shots for my portfolio and he presented the picture above to creatively interpret. Little did I know how much I would be impacted by a simple assignment, the product of which would lead to a home makeover and a career expansion. More on that later…
Our interpretation
Model Sydney Cross • Photographer Isi Akahome • Stylist/Makeup Artist Dawn Bliss • Hair Stylist Kristin Kaide
I had one week to prepare so the first person I contacted was a local Stylist/Designer friend of mine to provide some fabulous accessories and to help me figure out how we were going to adhere all of these brooches to the model’s low cut. When she backed out, I went into panic mode because I never styled a shoot before…or so I told myself. Of course I have! I always weigh in on the the clothing & accessories at photo shoots, even contributing items from my closet, and on my client’s options for their events, in both cases to create cohesion for the best possible outcome because that’s what excites me the most!
After I calmed down, I went into my arsenal of jewelry and pulled out everything that sparkled. I had a few favorite pieces from Henri Bendel—an Ascher cut faux diamond tennis necklace, a multi-tiered charm necklace, and stunning art deco-inspired chandelier earrings plus a bevy of Swarovski tennis bracelets ala Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and a collection of Alexis Bittar lucite bangles. These are the good quality pieces that I knew would add distinction. All I needed was to add more chokers for the sake of volume and I knew just where to find them!
My personal jewelry mixed with new finds for the shoot
Awaiting me at Akira, a Chicago staple where fast fashion & club attire reign, were sets of 3 necklaces for under $10 each that were EXACTLY what I was looking for—adjustable chokers and necklaces of various designs, width, and bling. On a roll, I ran to Michael’s Arts & Crafts for stickers and once again found some great options, which ended up all over the new model’s face. That’s right—new model because the original one, with short locks whose hair I didn’t have to style, backed out!
So now I was left scrambling to find a hair stylist in the 11th hour who happened to be available on short notice and felt like “collaborating,” aka working for free, on our passion project. As “luck” would have it, there was a MUA & Hair Stylist Meetup the night before our shoot that I attended and serendipitously ran into a hair stylist I admired and, with fingers crossed, asked what she was doing the next day. My angel Kristin Kaide rescheduled the photo shoot she was working on to come help me and it turns out she and the stunning new model Sydney Cross worked together many times before and their moms were good friends! Everything was working out as it was meant to.
SalonEVO Magazine article featuring Hair Stylist Kristin Kaide www.kristinkaide.com
For the shoot, I used all of my own jewelry and clothing, including faux leather bustier and a chainmail halter for another look. I oiled her skin and kept the makeup simple—focusing on creating a flawless-looking glowing complexion, groomed brows, degrees of highlight and hints of color.
2nd Look: Sidney Cross wearing my chainmail bib & pearl earrings with change of lip color
I had a plan for the accessories because I tried them on myself but sort of winged the stickers on the face. I cut and placed the filigree designs in a pattern that look like vines of lace growing around one side of her face & contrasted that with individually placed square stickers over the opposite eyebrow for a balance of hard and soft. Kristin coiffed Sydney’s hair into the most regal mohawk and strategically attached a few of my brooches, transforming our Supermodel into a Queen for the Ages!
With a click of the camera, she moved and by moved I mean she flowed, commanded, captivated, and devoured. Watching Sydney, a cooperative component of our tribe’s synergy and a creative talent in her own right, breathing fresh life into the reincarnation of another tribe’s vision through our lens was A TRIP!!!!
I’m not sure if it was because she was wearing all of my jewelry in a way that I would organically wear it <or> because we have identical upper body bone structure <or> because she was moving in a way that I feel inside when really I can’t do a straight cartwheel, but unknowingly, Sydney was portraying me at 100%.
When she moved, I moved. She was the puppeteer of my imagination. It was as if I could predict her motion, much in the way you feel when you’re watching a performance that consumes you. You become the performer in your mind because you’re in it! You feel it! That was my experience with this shoot.
When she lowered her head, crossed her arms, and exclaimed “Wakanda Forever” we all laughed! The movie Black Panther had been released on February 16, 2018, 11 days prior to our shoot. I hadn’t seen it yet so I didn’t realize the timely parallels between what we were creating and what was prevalent in the cultural zeitgeist, both portraying black characters as sovereignty. Imagine my elation when Black Panther fearless warrior Danai Gurira graced the 2018 Oscars Red Carpet shortly thereafter with a shaved head accented by an etched design and wearing a diamond choker. It was as if they were from the same tribe dressed for different occasions. Yet another sign of synchronicity.
Black Panther actress Dania Gurira at the 2018 Oscars Red Carpet
Following the shoot, Isi edited his favorite image to black and white and I had a visceral reaction! It was like looking at The Queen that lives within—the proverbial “Inner Being” in all of Her glory emanating strength, femininity, power, and glamour. She’s a study in contrast, direct with her gaze, at once nurturing yet challenging, and sublimely regal. I simply knew I had to print Her out on canvas and place Her slightly above my eye line causing me to subconsciously “keep my chin up” while looking into the mirror of my soul.
The Flow guided me to create this image so I decided this image would keep help me in the flow. I consulted it often as a source of inspiration as to what I can accomplish when I release resistance, ride the wave and trust myself and I still do to this day.
When I observed that only a few items on display in my condo were bringing me joy and represented me in the present while the rest held old, stagnant and negative energy, I got rid of EVERYTHING except for it and the items that made the cut (anything I assigned a numeric value of 7-10 in terms of emitting the most positive energy). I then analyzed what the items represented to me, why they made me feel good, what about them I liked physically, and what they had in common and I redecorated my condo to reflect those items, with this image being my favorite of all for what it represents to me and how it came to be.
This lesson inspired the styling component of my business The DBB STYLE GLOWUP. I want to help women shed what no longer serves and design a New Look around the remaining items that do. Your Queen is and has always has been inside. Let her out! She wants to Slay!
If you are feeling like you need to dry brush your image, shake it up, and create some movement that will undoubtedly spill over into other areas of your life because that’s how energy works, I can help you. Tap the link below to explore makeover services and get a free consultation. You Are Worthy! https://www.dawnblissbeauty.com/dbb-style-glowup-service-menu-1