PHOTOGRAPHY

BLACK FEATHERED ANGEL

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     This week I had the opportunity to do a full shoot in which I got to style, do the make up and photograph some photos for Jennifer’s acting/modeling portfolio.

I wanted to share some of the photos here on the blog because I absolutely had a blast spending the day together and working on her shots!

     Although I work in cosmetics, as well as own my own Apartment Locating business in Houston, I also enjoy doing freelance makeup and small shoots here and there. It’s a passion.

I decided to go for a more retro look this time, and used the new line of lip colors by Estee Lauder, Pure Envy, to give her that bold, sculpted lip look. I had used a nude lip in previous shots, shown here.

     The black feathered dress I used is a special vintage find that I own and it waits patiently in my closet for events such as this!  I use this fact to illustrate my continual point, in that fashion doesn’t have to kill your finances.  I actually bought it years ago. I’d taken over as District Manager for a chain of fashion stores in Houston, and they had decided to close out their formal collection, so I purchased this at a total steal although at the time I’d had no place to where it to!

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I would almost be upset at how wonderful it looks on Jennifer, but she’s such an angel and so fabulous that it’s impossible to be upset with her for being 5’10 and gorgeous! And young. And smart.

     I’ve always been so interested in advertising and how exactly people a select few work their way up into ad positions with retailers.  I once worked for a US company that kept making odd choices in the catalog models and styles and sales began to suffer with each poor decision. 

     Once, they hired an actress from another country to be our model.  The problem was, they paid her a lot of money, but 98% of our demographic didn’t even know who she was so the large salary spent accomplished nothing.  I always felt it would be a better decision to find a fabulous unknown, and develop her and your company image simultaneously. If your product is great and your catalog is great, do you need a multi million dollar face? 


    

     Anyway, there will be other themed pictures from different parts of the shoot shared in the future here! What are your thoughts?

 

    

-SDS

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A BOUDOIR EVENT

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A BOUDOIR EVENT

Luxor Living and Style, Makeup Artist in The Woodlands, hair by Crystal Trevino, Texas senior photography, boudoir, Klein High, The Woodlands High, MUA, Houston Top Stylist, Top Blog, Luxor, fashion, glam, glammy, glamour shots

 

     Once upon a time, I was on a plane to Michigan with some coworkers. The

male coworker sitting next to me was thumbing through a Maxim magazine, looking at suggestive, sexy photos of Gina Lee Nolan.  He bumped my shoulder, so I would look over, and he said,” I bet you wish you looked like this,” shoving the magazine in my face, at which point I quipped…”I bet she wishes that she looked like this.”  

     I’ve been long aware of the power of visual stimulation on men.  Most men do not have any realization of what exactly goes into the creating of modern visual media, and how the images they are looking at, and that we all get crammed in our faces on a daily basis…are truly created from an original basic image, and then severely enhanced, a lot like cartoons when over done.

     It is for this reason, that I love taking a woman and creating her very own glamour shoot. Boudoir. Fashion. Whatever. I prefer to keep images as pure as possible.  You would want to show a friend your photo and NOT have them say, “Is this YOU?”  I like to keep it real.

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On this day, my friend Crystal had agreed to do a Valentine’s Glamour Shoot for whosoever desired to sign up.  Every single female I know wants to do it.  They want to be forever immortalized for their Valentine…but most are too scared.

A BOUDOIR EVENT Once upon a time, I was on a plane to Michigan with some coworkers. The male coworker sitting next to me was thumbing through a Maxim magazine, looking at suggestive, sexy photos of Gina Lee Nolan. He bumped my shoulder, so I would look over, and he said," I bet you wish you looked like this," shoving the magazine in my face, at which point I quipped..."I bet she wishes that she looked like this." I've been long aware of the power of visual stimulation on men. Most men do not have any realization of what exactly goes into the creating of modern visual media, and how the images they are looking at, and that we all get crammed in our faces on a daily basis...are truly created from an original basic image, and then severely enhanced, a lot like cartoons when over done. It is for this reason, that I love taking a woman and creating her very own glamour shoot. Boudoir. Fashion. Whatever. I prefer to keep images as pure as possible. You would want to show a friend your photo and NOT have them say, "Is this YOU?" I like to keep it real. On this day, my friend Crystal had agreed to do a Valentine's Glamour Shoot for whosoever desired to sign up. Every single female I know wants to do it. They want to be forever immortalized for their Valentine...but most are too scared. I didn't want to have to do hair, makeup and photography, so Crystal styled the hair and did the girl's makeup. The girls wanted to be glammed up for the Valentine in their lives, and I'm sharing just a few of the shots here. What I enjoy is showing the men in their lives, how immortal the woman in their life could be if only there was a daily glam squad available. It helps to dispel the myths that the media has created. People, we have an unrealistic expectation of women due to media which glorifies silicone, capped teeth, hair extensions and photo shop. It's a pretend world that doesn't exist. Real people do have armpit wrinkles, neck lines and crows feet when they smile. That being said, I do like to use angles, lighting and professional makeup application, to help people look great in their photos. I like to show women that they are powerful, worthy, beautiful and exceptional in their own way. I work in cosmetics, a world where I've seen more than one man drag his wife to the cosmetics counter, asking for her to be made to look "like the women in the ads." ( Yes that's rude as hell.) Men want the fantasy, so give it to them every once in a while, or give it to yourself.

I didn’t want to have to do hair, makeup and photography, so Crystal styled the hair and did the girl’s makeup.  

The girls wanted to be glammed up for the Valentine in their lives, and I’m sharing just a few of the shots here.  What I enjoy is showing the men in their lives, how immortal the woman in their life could be if only there was a daily glam squad available.  It helps to dispel the myths that the media has created.  People, we have an unrealistic expectation of women due to media which glorifies silicone, capped teeth, hair extensions and photo shop.  It’s a pretend world that doesn’t exist.

Real people do have armpit wrinkles, neck lines and crows feet when they smile.  That being said, I do like to use angles, lighting and professional makeup application, to help people look great in their photos.

I like to show women that they are powerful, worthy, beautiful  and exceptional in their own way.

     I work in cosmetics, a world where I’ve seen more than one man drag his wife to the cosmetics counter, asking for her to be made to look “like the women in the ads.” ( Yes that’s rude as hell.)  Men want the fantasy, so give it to them every once in a while, or give it to yourself.

-SDS

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LEVI STRAUSS and TOMMY HILFILGER for HIM

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Tommy Hilfilger sweater, Levi's Jeans, KS Tennis

 

     It is a very rare event when I get my husband to appear in a post here, but I bought him this Tommy Hilfiger sweater, Van Huesen button down shirt and a new pair of Levi’s 501 Button fly jeans for Christmas, so agreeing to a mini shoot was only right!

     The last time I was able to get him to do a shoot for me was a year ago, in the Classic Levi’s Day blog post.

Tommy Hilfilger sweater, Levi's Jeans, KS Tennis, Tennis in Spring, Texas

Sometimes, when we go somewhere, I have on heels and I am dressed up, but he is dressed for tennis.  I don’t shop for him enough, mainly because he is rather finicky, but I see now it benefits me to get him dressed on occasion!

We took the photos at one of the tennis facilities he works out of, and the landscape is beautiful for photos. It’s my secret place for when I do photography here and there.

     As for actually styling a man-shoot, it’s entirely different than shooting a female.  Their skin is different, the photos need to be more rugged…not delicate, or else ick!  I don’t think men sit up at night pouring over fashion sets, so I think in terms more of a woman trying to maintain her guy and what she might like to do for him.  I say this, however, my Pure Speculation blog post called  It’s a Fact, Bald Men Are HOT is quickly climbing the chart of popularity among my blog posts.   I tend to think I am getting a lot more male readers than previously suspected!

Tommy Hilfilger sweater, Levi's Jeans, KS Tennis

The sweater is so cool and also looks great with a simple turtle neck or t shirt underneath.  

    He desperately needed a jean update.  The fit on these Levi’s is fabulous and kinda hot and I love the new faded wash they just came out with.

Tommy Hilfilger sweater, Levi's Jeans, KS Tennis

While the pictures may appear peaceful and romantic, the shoot was anything but!  you know how you try to take your dog’s picture, and it’s restless?  It may be standing there still and stiff, but it’s stressed and not wanting a photo taken, occasionally looking away, and not posing how you would like?  This was that!  The good news is that at least he’s not vain at all, and I would be worried if he actually enjoyed getting his pictures done! 

     Ken enjoys vacation type, fun photos, but that’s about it! He doesn’t think it’s funny when I state that we are preserving and documenting his last ounces of youth.

Tommy Hilfilger sweater, Levi's Jeans, KS Tennis, Stephanie Sjoberg, Ken Sjoberg, Luxor Living and Style

I shouldn’t have given him this Christmas present early, but it would have tortured my soul to no end, waiting until Christmas to see if he liked it or not! He loved the set.  I wonder what improvements I can make next?

     Also, do we want more man style blog posts? No? Let me know what you think!

 

-SDS

-December 17, 2013

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MEET JENNIFER…THE NEXT AMERICAN SUPER MODEL

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THE NEXT AMERICAN SUPER MODEL


earrings from Cache, necklace from Chico’s, dress and jacket from Cache, shoes by Guess

       …at least I think she should be. When I first ran into her, she reminded me of that story that you hear about Cindy Crawford getting discovered by a photographer when she was working a summer job in a corn field in Illinois.  This girl had on shorts and a t-shirt, black cowboy boots, and no makeup. She was towering over me at 5 feet and 10 inches, had a beautiful, natural tan, and was the sweetest girl ever, when I went up to introduce myself.


  

    I immediately thought Cindy Crawford, and I knew I just had to do her makeup, hair, and style a photo shoot to compete with the best. (I’ll do a future blog post to show the make up colors and products I used to get the look.)

    The thing is, I’ve worked in retail fashion for years and it would always interest me to see the models companies would choose from year to year.  One year, Cache chose a famous Italian actress as their model. That would have been wonderful were it not for the fact that Cache is not based in Italy, so it accomplished nothing to pay the actress all that money. Additionally, she was an actress…and by no means a model. To me, when a company is choosing a model to be their “face” it would make sense to pick someone that appears likable yet is inspiring.  

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Jennifer is a fun, but smart college girl here in Texas.  She’s never modeled before and isn’t too big on makeup, she’s more of a sporty type and her hair is not colored, her nails are not acrylic… she’s just an all-American, natural girl.

I feel like my friend who found a two carat diamond in a crack on the sidewalk!  I love doing photography sessions and makeup so this was an incredible amount of fun…especially since she let me do whatever makeup I wanted and she wore what I asked!

 

I think that although initially Jennifer reminded me of Cindy Crawford, once the makeup was on and hair was done…Eva Mendez and Kathy Ireland came to mind in some of the shots.

  Not only is she super tall, fit and photogenic… she’s a sweet girl next door type and I’m hoping she gets contracted by a top agency over the course of the next year. 

I am a supporter of the good ol’ days…when everyone didn’t use hair extensions, surgical enhancements and way too much photo shop.  I feel like she would be a good role model for younger girls.

And now I will climb down off of my soap box! I am, though, really happy to get to share my style shoot with everyone, and I will keep you posted on Jennifer, and make up tricks and tips from the shoot will be posted later! 

  What do you think?

 

-August 14, 2013

-SDS

 
 -SDS
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TOP TWELVE SHOTS OF THE YEAR 2013

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     The year zipped by quickly.  What happened to the good old days that yousee in movies in which people had time to sit around outside on the patio, drink tea and gossip?  I need time like that.

     There were a lot of photos taken for the blog… probably thousands, but these are the ones I am choosing to highlight.  

 

Michael Kors, Movado, Jessica Simpson shoes, David Yurman, Prada Glasses, animal print top, white blonde hair, over 40, Old Town Spring, Luxor Living and Style,fashion blogger, lifestyle blogger, Luxor Magazine, Texas Top Bloggers

If you click on each photo, it takes you to the original blog post to see more. I choose photos of people, since that is one of my passions.   If there is a photo of me, my husband took it, which is a miracle/fluke, but it’s included because he does help and when we are not rushing, it’s fun for us.

  

 

 

I try to use other people at times, for the blog.  Although it my site, I try hard not to shove my grill front and center of every photo or post.  

     The blog is about beauty, fashion, relationships, travel, life and basically my vision of the universe and my passions.  It is not about me.

 

I chose to include my shoot with Jennifer, because I am so proud of the make up artistry, styling of the shoot, photography and editing.  Not only that, she’s so nice and we had fun, and will be working together again.

 

Photography helps to release a creative facet of myself, and to be able to style a shoot, and do all the cosmetics artistry and hair, is a plus.

     I love the photo of me and my husband above, because we were having a great night, going to dinner and a concert. I like how you can see us, but you can’t.  It’s more the idea of a couple that is portrayed.

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I am an animal print lady.  I love my cheap, new hat in this, and I love that we are at a place we like to go together.  This picture is the true me. Throwing on a hat, lipstick, glasses and ear bobbles, and BAM!  

Prada, glasses, Michael Kors, Marilyn Monroe, Luxor

 

This was interesting.  Blogging the same look daily isn’t any fun, so it’s nice to step out a little.  It turned out sort of Marilyn.

 

bald actor, New York men,

 

It was a blast shooting Vinnie in Laguna Beach.   What I learned was that it is entirely different photographing men than it is women.

    They want to look good, but you don’t want to take away from the manliness by over softening with filters.  He’s a very masculine type guy, and I wanted to enhance that. His little pet Sabatino helps to show his sensitive side, however!

 

The Perfectly Prada blog post was one of the first of the year.  This is the point I decided to just be myself, take pictures and create style how I want, and not try to meet typical expectations.

 

     Mr Sjoberg of KS TENNIS USA made a reluctant appearance for the blog, so I could further my photography  portfolio experience with the male species.

Full body shots are hard to shoot, when you’re an average person.  Sitting down usually doesn’t help matters either! However, it was a lovely Saturday night at church, it’s in focus, and did I mention I love animal print things? It’s sort of a reserved jungle kitty look.  Fun.

 

Part of the fun of running your own blog venture, is the opportunity to work with various brands.  

     This shot was part of a STUDIO GEAR COSMETICS post, and there will be more from them to come, but it’s so much more difficult than it looks to photograph makeup artistry, so I was glad they were pleased with the outcome.

     I have deals pending with other types of companies, and can not wait to see what happens and what is going on a year from now! Thanks so much for reader and follower support, and I wish everyone the best possible for 2014!

-SDS

-December 31, 2013

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TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE: TOP SHOTS

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     This year was rather odd.  The events forced me to recognize beauty in small, daily things.

     There is nothing more beautiful than the early morning smile of my Jazzy sitting in the flowers enjoying the morning sun.  Jazzy is a low maintenance, simple being and I wish everyone could know her. She was a fabulous investment!

This was a lovely yet simple, and everyday crane pondering what to do next with his afternoon.  He made my walk in the park more beautiful.  My only intent that afternoon was to quickly walk the dogs to ease my guilt for not spending enough time with them.

This was a fun attempt at my very own first fashion post on this site   featuring Levi’s jeans and we had a blast together on this day being silly!  This will be a forever memory.

The Woodlands, Texas is where I call home.  This is the Woodlands Waterway.  The shot is taken from a bridge on a walk after lunch.

     Peace and relaxation at home has been the focus of our spare time this year.  This shot was taken on Halloween night as we watched movies and waiting for the bell to ring with trick-o-treaters. Beauty in the simple times.

Black Beach in Hana, Maui took my breath away.   I think of going back often and it was hard to take a bad photo.

Seven pools in Hana, Maui.  Breathless. Imprinted onto my soul!

This is my absolute favorite Hana picture.  This one lane bridge was artistic, simple, extravagant, scary yet comforting…all at the same time.

Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Living and Style, Houston blogger, California Road Trip

This shot was taken during our California Road Trip.  We literally could stand there for hours and just breathe. What is life? Life, to me, is about sharing moments such as this.

     The scenery out the window of a romantic dinner facing Fisherman’s Wharf, on the last night of the California Road Trip.

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     My “Alcatraz and a Bird” shot from the first day of the California Road trip.  Alcatraz is so sad to me for a variety of reasons, but whatever the case, this photo stirs emotion. History, regrets, sadness, nostalgia…all things Alcatraz.  While I am sure that two zillion tourists have snapped 22 zillion photos of Alcatraz, this is mine.

     I adore this photo of my new tree with animal print ribbons and bows!  I love putting my personal spin on things, and Christmas  is no different!

     These were my personal top blog shots for 2012 and I can’t wait to see which photos I can take in 2013 and would love to share with you!

-December 28, 2012

-SDS

-SDS

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