Two weeks ago, I had the incredible pleasure of being photographed by the super talented (and so much fun) photographer Stephen Ciuccoli. Stephen's studio is in Connecticut, so Stylewhipped's Men's Director Joseph Ungoco and I made the drive up for the day. Stephen photographs everything from headshots to fashion week shows to major advertising campaigns, and everything in-between. His welcoming manner and very cool taste in music (!) makes every shoot with him a memorable one.
I am notorious for having something in my eye. It is a running joke with my entire family and most of my friends (hey, I wear enough eye make-up to make a drag queen proud and I have contacts!). So when the amazing, in-demand make-up artist Reiva Cruze (who was on-hand for the big event) suggested fake eyelashes, I instantly went into crisis mode. (I loooooove fake eyelashes, they just don't like me!) But with her insanely steady hand, individual, went-on-for-yards eyelashes were applied. And, um, I kept them on for days. Reiva also introduced me to how fantastic matte navy eyeshadow looks on me. (Cue scene of me running to the make-up counter immediately after the shoot...)
Once I was photo-ready, shooting with Stephen was the most entertaining, easiest time I've ever had in front of a still camera. He made me feel like a supermodel, approved of the fact that I really felt it necessary to wear a ballgown (you know, it was a Tuesday...), and instinctively knew which was my "best side" before he even took one shot. And once we were done shooting my "regular" headshots, we brought in my one little prop...a braided leather whip that Joseph had brought with us (get it? Style-WHIP-ped...!). The photo that ended up being my very favorite (and is now my headshot on here) is one of me with the whip, coyly coiled in my hand. Joseph even jumped in with me, and we had too much fun creating silly -- yet still fabulous, of course -- images with us and that whip.
Check out all the final favorites below. And next time you need a photographer, call Stephen. And next time you need your skin to look thatgood, call Reiva.
~ Alison.
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