A Fun Night At The Fair

The CNE has started in Toronto, and as much as I love roller coasters and games, getting to do a little makeup at the fair is even better! I don't know how some models do it, with crowds of people watching and commenting, but this gorgeous lady not only kept her composure but was having so much fun while Kim was capturing these amazing moments.

Photography: Kim Akrigg
Model: Adrien with Peggi Lepage
Wardrobe by: Anastasiya Kayevda
Makeup: Shawnna Downing

Pretty Curly

A couple days ago we did a test shoot with this young beauty, Camille, who's with Ford Models. Absolutely love that amazing curly hair of hers!

I liked the idea of the makeup taking on a soft, angelic form. I really wanted to have an impact without using a ton of product. So my focus was highlight her gorgeous skin, contour her eyes, lighten her brows along with her eyelashes as well. With a ruby inspired lip on top.

Here she is! 

Photography: Kim Akrigg
Model: Camille with Ford Models Canada
Makeup: Shawnna Downing

Cement & Graffiti

Both Kim & I have been talking about wanting to do a shoot with graffiti. There are some amazing street artists out there for sure. Since moving to Toronto I've definitely noticed more and more street art, love it. Kim spotted this awesome tunnel covered with graffiti just outside a subway station here in Toronto. So today was the day, and we worked it out!

 One half of our awesome team today here below, Kim Akrigg & our lovely model, Marta with Peggi Lepage & Ford Models.

Lately I've been taking a few more risks with my makeup, and have been itching to do a dark brow for some time now. I thought Marta could totally work it out so I dove right in. After drawing on some hard black brows on this lovely lady I wanted to throw in a colourful cheek focus. 

                                                 
     Excited to see & show you the final results from an awesome day with an awesome group of gals.

Playtime On A Wednesday

The weather in Toronto was a little all over the place, from pouring rain to the hot sun. But that didn't stop this Wednesday from being pretty awesome. With another Vancouver lady in town! We got to see and work with the fabulous Kayanna, with Elite. 

 On top of which got to meet/work with Amarsana Gendunova, an amazing stylist working here in Toronto. This girl definitely brought it to the table. The styling was beyond amazing. Cannot wait for you all to see. She put an amazing 7 looks together for this wicked editorial shoot.

Everyone really rocked this shoot out. I was so in love with everything as I watched Kim Akrigg work it out with Kayanna in front of the cam. Stoked to see it all said and done.  

Rise & Shine It's Tuesday!

I'm not a huge fan of sleeping in, most of the time, I tend to feel like I'm missing out on something. Today I was definitely more of an early riser than usual with makeup call time at 7am. But I was definitely lovin life hard, and not just because I got to do makeup. ;)

Crystal (with Next) from Vancouver is in Toronto!! She's only here for another week! So I was pretty stoked that we got to work together while she's in town. This girl is not only beautiful inside & out, but just such a blast to be around.  Makeup check, hair check, zipcar booked. We headed off to Guildwood Park to shoot editorial style! 

Look out for this girl, she's definitely killin it. Loved every moment today. Looking forward to seeing this series for sure! 

Marta Sunday

It was quite the blustery day in Toronto on Sunday, the wind and rain were givin er! But that did not stop of us from doing this gothic inspired shoot. Contour, contour, contour. Highlight, highlight, highlight.

Photography: Kim Alrigg
Model: Marta with Peggi Lepage/Spot 6
Makeup: Shawnna Downing

Sugar Beachin.

I'm a total beach girl in the summer. Unfortunately Vancouver didn't have much of one while I was there, but I did get to spend Saturday morning on Sugar Beach here in Toronto. Doing makeup and watching Kim Akrigg doing her thing, what more could I ask for? If your in Toronto check this place out. Especially if your into picnics. It's quite perfect and super cute. Covered in white sand & pink umbrellas. 

Photography: Kim Akrigg

Model: Jillian with Peggi Lepage

Makeup/Hair: Shawnna Downing

Mouna Beauty

 I rarely get to do beauty shoots, and being a makeup artist when the opportunity arises I definitely jump on it! Was absolutely thrilled to work with, Toronto's very own,  Mouna. 

By the way, who doesn't love Zink Magazine?! These looks were inspired by an October 2009 spread that was shot by Billy Kidd.

Photography by; Kim Akrigg

Model: Mouna with Peggi Lepage

Makeup: Shawnna Downing

Cemeteries Bring The Pretty.

Last Thursday we ventured to an amazingly gorgeous cemetery here in Toronto. I'm not gonna lie, I mostly work with the ladies. However I absolutely love getting the opportunity to work with such incredible guys. Loved having the chance to work with Travis, with Elite Models, he is so beautiful inside and out, seriously rocked it out.

I love skin. For this look I was all about contouring and highlighting. One my absolute favorite things to do.

Photography: Kim Akrigg
Model: Travis for Elite
Grooming: Shawnna Downing

Fall is a comin'

Had such a blast doing this shoot with such talented young ladies Kim Akrigg and Tia from Ford Models.

For makeup I was definitely inspired by the famous cat eye. One of the biggest makeup trends is making it's way back this fall. Once I saw what Kim had decided on for styling I was definitely drawn to use brown hues mixed with metallics to put my own spin on this falls trend.

The location itself was like stepping into Rome, so beautiful. That mixed with Tia being such a stunning girl and Kim's beautiful photography I absolutely love how it all came together.

Photography: Kim Akrigg
Model: Tia with Ford Models
Makeup: Shawnna Downing

A little Vancouver in Toronto

I am really falling for Toronto. Hard. While it certainly doesn't hurt that so many Vancouver folks are in town! Last week Kimberley Akrigg & I had a blast working with Tia with Ford Models and Travis with Elite! All of us having moved to Toronto from Vancouver!  

Go team!! Here's some photos from behind the scenes! :)

Coming up the finished product! 

Let's Do This.

The only way to start is just to jump. I'm a freelance makeup artist who has just recently made the move from Vancouver to Toronto.  To sum up my life until now; I'm originally from Nova Scotia, moved to Edmonton to start along the path of University. As it turned out, nursing just wasn't meant for me. Next up came Vancouver where I would attend Blanche Macdonald on a whim and my life as a makeup artist begun. Over the last couple years my makeup and I have been constantly growing & evolving.  I always knew that at some point I would need to leave Vancouver to try and make it in this amazing world of fashion and makeup. Though it seemed hard at first to jump ever since landing in Toronto, this amazing city, has exceeded any expectations that came from both others and myself. The Toronto journey officially started on August 1st, and as I keep on keepin on I hope you enjoy what I have to say as well as what I do.  There will be lots of thoughts and makeup to come, so hope you stay tuned. Here we go.