Helping a friend launch her new cosmetology business.
Man, it has been a long time.
It’s been a long time since I got to work with my amazing friend Amy Frady. It has also been a long time since I’ve done a studio session and have been itching to get back into one. So, when Amy recently reached out to me about teaming up to do a studio session to generate images for her new cosmetology business, I knew I was in for some fun times.
I know I’m known as the Location Guy. That is to say, I’m the guy everyone knows that loves to do sessions out on location for a whole host of reasons. However, that’s not to say that I don’t also love to work in a studio. It’s just that I prefer to have my own actual studio space. A space where I can set up my own gear once and leave it until the next session. Gear that I know how to use and trust. A space I can trust. I’ve been looking for such a space to rent to call my own for months now and the search continues.
But Amy needed her images right away. So I needed to find a space to work in right away. As we both live on the Peninsula side of the water, it made sense to find one near us. What I found was The Studio at City Center. The owners are wonderful and friendly. They are on top of things and very quick to respond to any requests or questions. The space itself is 2,000 square feet – easily one of the largest studio spaces to rent in the Hampton Roads.
So, I rented the space for three hours on the weekend and put the plan into motion. Lela Smith assisted me with the production. Amy brought three of her friends in to model with her. We did solo shots as well as various group shots.
I’m not going to lie – I was a little rusty as I haven’t used the studio side of my skills in more than a few years. At first I was running on muscle memory but the more I got into it, the more I remembered. Having Lela there was a huge help as I could stay at my position while she adjusted the lights, was a second set of eyes looking for wrinkles and tags in the outfits, et cetera.
Let me tell you, three hours can fly by in a blink of an eye in that situation. When it was all over, I had this amazing runner’s high. It proved that, while I need to work on a few things, I definitely need a studio to call my own. I’ll continue to rent one until that time.
I’m going to end this entry by letting Amy introduce herself to you.
My name is Amy.
I’ve been styling hair and doing makeup for weddings, showers, photoshoots, fitness competitions, and other events for as long as I can remember. In 2009, I became a licensed cosmetologist. I love it so much that I decided to launch Vanity By Amy, LLC.
I thoroughly enjoy assisting people in finding looks they love, that highlight their best features, and showing the world someone’s true essence!
You can see more of her work on her Facebook page and Instagram page. Keep an eye out for her site to launch soon.
Photography by Mark K 
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