One of my very favorite places to shop in Des Moines is at the East Village boutique Look @ You. If you've ever met me in person, chances are I was wearing a jacket from this store. And if you haven't checked it out yet, do yourself a favor and go! (This recommendation, by the way, is coming from a gal who detests shopping. That's how awesome this store is.)
Last weekend, I got together with Amber Keppler, owner of Look @ You, and a few more of my favorite local vendors for a collaborative shoot. We met at the store, chose several outfits, glammed up our model, and hit the street of the East Village for some fun shots that showcase not only the boutique's range of clothing options but also the capacity and flexibility of our hair and makeup stylists.
Our model for this shoot was the always glamorous Julie Wulfekuhle, whose frame and attitude were perfect for Look @ You's clothing. Julie is the brain and creative force behind Le Foyer, a lifestyle blog that also incorporates career, travel, shopping, and health advice. I met her when she contacted me about taking her headshots, and was impressed during our shoot when her nerves melted away into an incredibly relaxed, confident version of herself. I instantly knew that I wanted to photograph her again. When she came to me about updating her blog, the idea for this collaborative shoot was born.
Ivy Boyd is my go-to gal for clean, classic makeup for every face and skin type. I have the privilege to work with her on a regular basis for my creative portrait shoots. Ivy has the innate ability to make our clients feel comfortable, confident, and 100% themselves, even if they're wearing more makeup than they normally would. Her work on this shoot ranged from clean and light to evening elegance, No matter what look she's trying to achieve, Ivy pulls it off effortlessly.
Working at Elevencherry, Stacy Syroka is my favorite new hairstylist on the scene. She has quickly proven herself to be multitalented, demonstrating her talent in every facet of her job. Her sarcasm never fails to keep me giggling, and I have so much fun on every shoot we get to work together! Stacy's styles for this shoot varied from tousled, sexy curls to a mermaid-esque braid to a playful ponytail. Her skillful styling lent the perfect touch to Julie's multiple looks.
Finally, Miss Amber! She brought everything together with her boutique's phenomenal array of day-to-night looks. We had no shortage of options for Julie to wear on this shoot, and in fact we ended up with three extra looks that we didn't even have time for. Amber specializes in elegant clothing that is every bit as comfy as pajamas. I am so comfortable in everything that I buy from Look @ You, and I love it even more because I can wear the pieces all day and then go out after work in the same thing and feel absolutely fabulous.
This shoot reminds me of the importance of developing relationships (both business and personal) with other entrepreneurial spirits in our community. Projects like this are great for promoting all of our endeavors. And in situations like this, that old adage is true: A rising tide (or a fabulously styled shoot) lifts all boats!
