Raven Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago I was approached to be a part of an exciting photo shoot. Krista Cronin owner and makeup artist of Krista's Beauty and Bliss, out of Ozark Missouri. She had an idea of doing her own take on the classic Edgar Allen Poe poem, The Raven, through a photo shoot. She had the very beautiful and talented Missouri model, Sarah Vega, on board. She was going to be doing the makeup, of course. And she lined up an extreme talented photographer, Matt Loveland, to shoot. She aske me to create some feather accent pieces and accessories for the shoot. She of course wanted wings but she left everything else up to my own design and imagination. I am always thrilled when I can create pieces using my own creativity. Thanks Krista for allowing me to use my talents for your photo shoot. 
I asked Krista if it would be possible to not only create pieces and provide props but to be a second shooter for the day. She graciously agreed. 
Matt shoots for a great local fashion magazine and his amazing photos were featured in a beauty article that Krista wrote for Deitra Magazine. You can read her article and check out Matt's photos HERE. 

So here is Krista's take on Lenore Becomes the Raven in photos by myself. 

Model: Sarah Vega 
Concept and Makeup: Krista Cronin of Krista's Beauty and Bliss 
Props and Accessories: aBeesCreations 
Photographer and Photo Editor: AJ Blanton

Please enjoy!

Ma'at Egyptian Goddess Photo Shoot

My Fight For Humanity Photo Series continues with the Eygptian Goddess, Ma'at.
Ma'at represents balance for the human race. 
The day was a beautiful fall day in Branson Missouri.
The model, Sara White Pederson.
The makeup and hair: Kyle Mills
The dress made by Casey July of The July Studio 
Concept, Wings, Accessories by ABeesCreations 
Scales by artist Toni Globis 
Photographers on the day: 
Teresa Baker
Friendly Fire Fotography and 
myself. 

I love how this series is turning out. What do you think?

Haunted House Photo Clinic ... So it begins.

A few weeks ago I approached a few paranormally haunted locations in Missouri to possibly host my first Haunted Photo Clinic.
My idea; 
Book the location exclusively for 8 hours for the day clinic and then the whole location for the entire night. 

Build a team of designers, stylists, MUAH artists. 

Create at least 6-8 preset concepts that the team will work on to create the most stunning, sometimes creepy, visual effect. 

Open the event up for a small fee, to cover cost of the location rental, to models and photographers who want to have a unique experience. 

So after meeting with several locations I decided to go with a Victorian home B&B that was built in 1850. The house is located in a very rural tiny small town in central Missouri. It has never been booked for any photo shoot. I am so excited about this location. It is unique and charming. I met with the owners and have it booked for November! I have 9 photographer spots that are offered, and 8 model spots. As well as the MUAH artist who have requested to also model.  As I have the house for the whole night I am also offering LIMITED overnight stays to early registered guests. 
We will also have Exclusive concepts for the overnight guests. 
SO AMAZING!
We will have thousands of dollars of clothes, props, masks, accessories and hair and makeup to be used for the day. At least 75% of the items are going to be new and NEVER shot before!

I have my team for this event. 
Cocept artists: Myself, Casey July, and Dakota Friend
Designer and stylist: Myself
Fashion Designer: Casey July
MUAH: Kyle Oliver Mills and Lexy Morrison

We are currently working on several concepts, making clothes, props and accessories, going over makeup and hair ideas for this event. 

We are going to have several styles of concepts to be covered on the day.
Film Noir
Classic Haunted Beauty
Creepy Bloody
Dark Fantasy
Twisted Fairytales
Gothic High Fashion 
and more. 

We will also be going to historical  bridges that are only 5 miles away from the location. OMGoodness the possibilities are so awesome. You will be amazed by what we have planned. Planning them is so much fun. 

I will post photos when the clinic is over. I will be snapping BTS photos at the event as well. YAY!!!!

If you would like to be a part of this event please let me know. Model spots are filling up quickly!
You can request information from my facebook page. www.facebook.com/ABeesCreations
or comment below with an email address and I will send you the information. 

Until then please check out some of our inspirations:

The Year of the Starlet

As many of you know I love creating Starlet Art. Pieces inspired by the classic Hollywood actresses of yesteryear. I sell the fine art prints in my Etsy shop. Some of my pieces are in museums and private collections all over the world. I have sent prints to over 12 countries and over 25 states. 
So with all the work I have done in the last few years with photographers and concepts, I decided that 2016 will be the Year of the Starlet! I will be producing a whole series based on some of my favorites.
I will have 12 classic Hollywood actresses that will inspire shoots. The talented Dakota Friend of Friendly Fire Fotography has agreed to be the official photographer for this production series. I have lined up a couple amazing MUAH artists to work on the project. I have my first model chosen and have casting calls for the next few that will be posted on my facebook page soon.

So be prepared to see some new and exciting posts in 2016!

Until then please enjoy a sample of some of my Starlet Art Prints. All of 2012-2015 series will be retired in 2016 so if you are interested in owning one of these prints you can message me, or buy directly from my etsy shop. THANKS

Heaven vs. Hell ... Fight For Humanity

 So it began with Pandora.

My photo series Fight For Humanity will mix religion, mythology, legends, and cultures from around the world to tell the story of the human race fighting  for its humanity and the salvation of the individual human soul. The idea is based on conversations I had with my mom my whole life but really became a vision of a whole photo series when my mom passed away from CHF on June 14, 2014. A few days before she passed we had our last deep soul searching conversation. This series is for her. 

Friday another one of my visions came to life. 

According to some religion scholars and texts when the creator gave humans souls and the right of free will, some angels became jealous. There was a great war in heaven where the angels fought. Ending in the casting down of the rebelious angels. I wanted to tell this story in my way. 

Here it is!

First I had to build my team.

My models: 

Connie Chung was my dark angel. She is a beautiful and talented model in the Springfield area. With her dark hair, and exotic looks she was perfect for my Hell angel.

Jessica Green was my light angel. She is getting back into modeling after being a model in her childhood. With her pale beauty she was perfect for my Heavenly angel. 

Thanks Jessica for stepping in after the first model had to cancel. After working with you and Connie I must say, I can not even imagine anyone else as my Heaven.

Models also did their own hair! SO TALENTED!

Make-Up Artist:

I recently met Krista Cronin. She is such a talented makeup artist who actually creates her own makeup. I told her about my idea and she loved it and wanted to be a part of it. She brought my ideas to life. Thank you.

Photographer:

Okay so I may be bias but I had to use one of the most talented photographers I know for this shoot. Dakota Friend of Friendly Fire Fotography was the only choice for this vision.

I created the costumes, props, and accessories for this shoot.

We went to Nathanael Greene Park and the Japanese Stroll Garden for our location.

We had everything we needed.

Let the shooting begin!

My Dark Angel

Concept, Wardrobe, Props: AJ Blanton
Models: Dark Angel Connie Chung, Light Angel Jessica Green
Makeup: Krista Cronin
Photographer: Dakota Friend

Concept, Wardrobe, Props: AJ Blanton
Models: Dark Angel Connie Chung, Light Angel Jessica Green
Makeup: Krista Cronin
Photographer: Dakota Friend

Concept, Wardrobe, Props: AJ Blanton
Models: Dark Angel Connie Chung, Light Angel Jessica Green
Makeup: Krista Cronin
Photographer: Dakota Friend

My Light Angel

Concept, Wardrobe, Props: AJ Blanton
Models: Dark Angel Connie Chung, Light Angel Jessica Green
Makeup: Krista Cronin
Photographer: Dakota Friend

Concept, Wardrobe, Props: AJ Blanton
Models: Dark Angel Connie Chung, Light Angel Jessica Green
Makeup: Krista Cronin
Photographer: Dakota Friend

Concept, Wardrobe, Props: AJ Blanton
Models: Dark Angel Connie Chung, Light Angel Jessica Green
Makeup: Krista Cronin
Photographer: Dakota Friend



Coexistence

The battle 

Thanks everyone who made this possible. Again my favorite photos will not be released until my calendar is printed in June 2016.

Pandora ... Fight For Humanity

If you remember I am developing a whole photo series, Fight For Humanity. You can read more about how this series came about here.

Monday, I saw my vision come to life. I am so excited to see the photos from it. I will be adding photos in this post as soon as I get them.

I assembled the team, thank goodness I have Fantastic friends who despite their EXTREMELY busy schedules, to be a part of my shoot.

When I decided to do Pandora, my first thought was my friend Toni Globis. Toni was my Pandora! I asked her and she not only agreed to be Pandora but to use her amazing talents to create a necklace for the shoot. 

Next I needed wardrobe... I mean Pandora needed clothes, or at least in my series she does. 

So I asked Casey July of The July Studio if she would like to design and create something for the shoot. Like always she came through for me. 

Hair and Makeup I decided to ask the young and veru talented MUAH artist Kyle Olive Mills. She is such a talented artist.

Now the photographers: I love Bil Deck of Square Peg Photography and he agreed to shoot it, and set up the location and set. 

Brian Martin who is an up and coming photographer rounded out our team!

Thanks to everyone who helped my vision become a reality!

Here are some behind the scenes photos of the day. 

Model Toni Globis, Wardrobe Mistress Casy July and MUAH artist Kyle Oliver Mills

Model Toni Globis taking a BTS selfie. Kyle did an excellent job on her hair and makeup. Headpiece made by me. 

Casey July adjusting the belt.

Lets check out how the material flows. 

As promised here are some photos from the photographers.

Model and Necklace Toni Globis,  Concept/Props/Headpiece by AJ Blanton, Wardrobe Casey July, MUAH Kyle Oliver Mills, Set design Bil Deck, Photographer Brian Martin

Model and Necklace Toni Globis,  Concept/Props/Headpiece by AJ Blanton, Wardrobe Casey July, MUAH Kyle Oliver Mills, Set design Bil Deck, Photographer Brian Martin

MAXCon

When I was vending at OZCon in June, I met some wonderful people who were putting on a new con, MAXCon in Farmington Missouri.

I was asked to not only be a vendor there but to be a judge at the Cosplay contest. I was so excited to become a part of a brand new con. 

My husband Tom and one of Dakota's best friends Kali traveled with me to help with my booth while I was judging the contest. 

THANKS TOM AND KALI!

I had a blast! 

Here is my booth. 

I got to introduce some of my new cosplays as well as work the convention. I didnt want a cosplay that was too difficult to work in.

Saturday morning, Gypsy Jean made her appearance.

Shirt made by Casey July of The July Studio

Saturday afternoon, Punk Wednesday Addams made her appearance. She also was one of the judges during the cosplay contest. 

On Sunday, Totoro made its appearance.

I had so much fun not talking and giving out golden acorns to anyone who knew who I was. :)

Cant wait until next year.

If you want to be there here is a link to the website for MAXCon. 

Hope to see you there.