Succubus. Vampire. Demon. Creatures of the Night. Years ago I did a a collaborative series fueled by my love of horror films and halloween. It would exercise my passion for fashion and hair, produce two sequel, involve lots of talented artists, published three times and created an amazing experience. Looking back in retrospect we created a timeless body of work that is worth a revisit….The Succubus Chronicles

Succubus Origins image by Joey Goldsmith

dream team: discussing our vision captured image by Gary Barragan

Succubus Origins photo by Joey Goldsmith

The initial collection was conjured together with award winning make up artist, Isidro Valencia and with published photographer, Joey Goldsmith. The three of us discussed our love for all things macabre and dark and wanted to create a serious collection inspired by the folklore of the “succubus”. I was responsible with both hair and styling along with creative direction with both Joey and Isidro. We secured three models and got permission to shoot at the historical Culbertson Mansion in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

selfie with photographer, Joey and videographer, Blake

We spent an entire day at the eerie Culbertson mansion with its beautiful construction and full of historical antiques. I was not allowed to use hairspray whatever on the premises as it would collect in the air and unto the vintage heirlooms. That was a fun challenge. I was also in charge of styling and purchased expensive garments from Goodwill of which I paired jewelry and accessories.

Joey did an amazing job of telling a story with the three models we had. He scouted various areas of the mansion prior to setting up lights and for staging every area we utilized. Jacey Calloway was our lead who created the allure and beauty a succubus needs in order to drain the life and energy from her victims. Chris Diaz and Erica Goldsmith play the unsuspecting couple that venture into the home of the succubus. As the night progress so do Jacey’s power and both Erica and Chris become creatures of the night.

styling Elora’s mane. Image by Gary Barragan

s-3NyELzD7gs8d9GXPYdnY3FjrUSIx3wFWjncudEfQQ,RkZFwhNx8gWCqU9AiGMtuxO5vhx0cLcjX5LFOQBBgR0.jpeg — Succubus Origins image by Joey Goldsmith

Isidro created a very clean palette that encompassed the sultriness the models needed but turned it up a notch when the Succubus turned into her dark form. Heavy kohl rimmed eyes and defined brows with lots of contour and red lips. For hair I made a lot of custom extensions but wanted lots of texture with curls and lots of volume. Kind of the old world meets the new world for a timeless feel.

bts of my working area: tools and vision board to bring the vision to life

We had custom nails designed by nail designer Maritza Cabalerro and had bts imaged photographed by Gary Barragan. The collection, “Succubus” debuted in Australia’s Like a Lion magazine fall issue.

Teaser for the upcoming Succubus-Incubus fashion editorial. Goldsmith photography Matthew tyldesley Redken artist Valencia make-up Liberty Designs Dark Heart Creative

Succubus Incubus photo by Joey Goldsmith

amazing working design bts by Genna Yussman Greene worn by Jacey

A sequel was brought up a year later and we wanted to go bigger and harder with this one. So many ideas came to mind but we knew the fashions would play a larger role for this and so we asked designer Genna Yussman Greene to create a collection for a follow up to our Succubus. She created a very slick and sexy collection in dark hues of red, violet and black featuring various textures, slim fitting and strategically showed off skin.

SUCCUBUS BTS VIDEO BY DARK HEART CREATIVE

working design bts by Genna Yussman Greene worn by Erica and Elora

We talked about using Jacey as our lead and inviting both Erica and Chris back but needed to up the ante and added two new models, Elora Antunez and John Wells. We split the shooting in two days. Day one was at ThoughtFly Studios and focused more on the artistry of hair and make up and was strictly beauty images. Day 2 was on location in full fashion editorial mode. This way we created two collections with two completely different vibes using the same models.

Genna’s original designs based on our vision per our meetings

This time we got permission to use the lovely home of Janice Carter Levitch who had home in the highlands: Old gorgeous home covered with lots of shrubbery, stones and trees. There were lots of areas outside that provided a beautiful landscaped to create the darker world of the Succubus.

wardrobe touch up and model posing inspiration with Genna

capturing both stills and video of Jacey and John with Blake and Joey. Image by Gary Barragan

We again invited photographer, Gary Barragan back again to shoot bts images and brought in videographer, Blake McGrew who filmed promotional teasers and a small documentary. Maritza Cabellero was gracious again to create new set of nails for all the models to wear.

John and Erica on set with Joey. Image by Gary Barragan

working design bts by Genna Yussman Greene worn by Jacey

We spent an entire day (14 hours) staging, prepping models and photographing all models. We were tired but knew we had made magic. Isidro pushed the makeup much more: much darker and harder and I turned up the hair full fashion runway volume with classic waves and vampy curls.

Joey capturing Elora behind the lens. Image by Gary Barragan

our creatures of the night, Elora, Jacey & Chris

The collection, “Succubus / Incubus” debuted an impressive spread as well as grace the cover of Imperial Magazine’s fall issue and our beauty collection, “Succubus: Creatures of the Night” was a Bangstyle exclusive collection.

I am beyond proud of these collections, the amount of work that went into them and the artists that combined their gifts and talents to create these timeless collections.

so much fun on set. image by Gary Barragan

Succubus: Children Of The Night photo by Joey Goldsmith

CREDITS

Photography/Creative Direction | Joey Goldsmith @joeygoldsmithphoto

Hair/Creative Direction | Matthew Tyldesley @hairbymatt

Make Up/Creative Direction | Isidro Valencia @valencia0612

Wardrobe | Genna Yussman Greene @gennayussman

MODELS

Jacey Calloway @hownowmeowcatt

Erica Goldsmith @ericagoldsmithactress

Chris Diaz @chrisryandiaz

Elora Antunez @mermaidqueen25

John Scott Wells @john_scott_well

BTS Photography | Gary Barragan @photobygaryb

Videography | Blake McGrew | Dark Heart Creative @darkheartcreative

Make Up Assistant | Anna Catalina Perez @anacperezhmua

Wardrobe Assistants | Kali Shmuckie | Jamie Boston Guest

Special Thanks to Culbertson Mansion, Like A Lion Magazine, Imperial Magazine, Bangstyle and Janice Carter Levitch, Eric Baker and ThoughtFly Studios.

Jacey behind the lens with Joey. Image by Gary Barragan

the make up master working on his canvas

with my Bestie, Isidro. Image by Gary Barragan

memorabalia: digital tearsheet from Like A Lion

memorabilia: featured collection from Bangstyle

About a year ago I contacted photographer, Gary Barragan to photograph my texture collection. I wanted to focus on romantic, classic hairstyling with a vintage feel and modern flair. I love hairdressing and wanted this collection to really showcase my hairdressing skills.

complete collection photographed by Gary Barragan

I would of course enlist my favorite make up artist, Isidro Valencia and Wardrobe designer/stylist, Genna Yussman Greene.

I of course spent a couple weeks practicing the hairstyles on mannequins. Braiding, Setting hair, creating volume, backcombing, securing ponytails and curls. I ended up booking a total of 5 models so I had my work cut out for me. Time was very imperative and as such a long day for make up and for finishing hair. Luckily I wanted minimal for wardrobe and Genna did a great job putting together the necklaces.

We spent an entire day doing the collection. It took about 12 hours and the my table was filled with every brush, curling iron, hairspray. Hair extensions, clips, elastics and pins of all sorts to tackle every head of hair that entered the room.

At this point in my career, I understand that sometimes I may have a certain expectation for executing a hairstyle I practiced but sometimes they just don't work on the model chosen. This is really when one has to think smart, stay positive and move on. You really have to think about how the hair will compliment the model and balance her features. Thats the nature of the photoshoot...you make it work. The discoveries are quite impressive.

Isidro did an excellent job with make u. Very moody, strong defined brows, eyes and a deep lip color.

For creating this look on Kristina, her hair was micro crimped all over using Sam Villa's texture iron and Redken's Iron Shape 11. Hair was then separated on top and the back hair was backcombed and secured into a roll with hair pins. The top section was backcombed and formed into the top row connecting the first roll. Worked into shape with Fashion Works 12 and finished with Control Addict 28.

to create Shantay's hair. The from was separated from ear to ear. The back hair was wrapped around (rick-rack techique) hair pins and ironed. The from was blown straight with a Denman brush, hairdryer and Redken's Argan Oil 6 and Align 12. Next the front was marcelled iron into a set. Once cooled, the hair as formed into shape and the back was released and teased out. Finished with Control Addict 28 and Shine Flash 03 for high shine.

on model Alexis, I did a scalp braid on one side and set the opposite side with a 3/4" marcel iron and Iron Shape 11. Once the hair was cooled I brushed/combed out the hair and set it with Control Addict 28.

For Katy, I separated the top into a top ponytail then braided the hair with Movability 05. Aftwards I knotted the braid and secured with hair pins. The lower half of her hair was converged into a side ponytails and loosely braided with Move Ability 05. The look was completed with Control Addict 28 and Shine Flash 03.