Dreamy {photos} and a look Behind the Scenes

I have so many favorites from this shoot. But I can't stop loving this beautiful black and white. Its so dreamy... Check out our behind the scenes video on capturing this image and more!

Pageant Couture {launch}

 My goal this winter was to get my indoor studio fired up with lights. Its been a work in progress since November. As of late,I have been so fortunate to have had numerous opportunities to take photos this winter of amazing people in the studio!

As a former Mrs. Virginia-America and a former Mrs. Virginia-International myself,  pageantry has been a part of my life since 2003. I have been a contestant, author, coach, mentor,  Director (including winning Director of the Year), and hair and makeup artist. I love pageantry.  So it is with a full heart that I launch Pageant Couture! I had an AMAZING opportunity to photograph two beautiful ladies, titleholders....Ashley Greenfield, Miss Fredericksburg (former Miss Teen Virginia United States and Miss Teen Unites States) and  Jamie Hughes, Miss Virginia United States, (former Miss Teen Virginia International)  this past Sunday to help me launch! I am so thrilled that they took time out of their busy college lives and appearance schedule to travel over 2-3 hours to Richmond to see me!
The photos are infused with my twists of  Natural and Studio lighting, my studio specialty, and I am excited about what the future holds for this!
If you or someone you know is interested, please visit the new Pageant Couture Catalog featuring prices and information.

{Dancer} Beauty Part II

It all started with a RED Dress and a blue antique couch. When I got the blue couch for my studio I could not stop thinking about how I wanted to photograph a girl in a red dress on the blue couch. I put together the entire wardrobe for Claire around a red dress I found and a TUTU I borrowed! Threw in some Christmas present grey ribbon and I had a unique outfit for under $5 bucks(yes, the dress was on sale)!!

Claire is a dancer at Headliners Dance Studio and although I did get shots in one of her Dance outfits, I wanted to have a little extra fun first! We designed her makeup around a clean, beautiful natural style using a few different MAC products that I bought last week.

Starting with Bare Study Paint Pot as a base and adding a bit of
Eyeshadow: Wedge
Gel liner: Dip Down over her lash line, keeping it nice and thin with a bit of Black mixed in to pop her blue eyes!
 Black Mascara, and a bit of wedge pulled under her lashes on the bottom
 Blush: Tenderling,- we did mix in a bit of bright pink to pop her cheeks more!
 Lips: I just bought Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie and then added a bit of light pink right in the center.

Then it was time to get into the dress and the tutu and added hair flowers!!!Claire was willing participant for this!! I loved putting this outfit together!

HERE WE GO!

And then, of course we did a bit of "dance" in one of her outfits!

{Dancer} Beauty in the Studio

This week I have two dancers inside the Beauty Studio for Beauty Couture Portraits!!  I am excited since this is an opportunity to give them something different than anything they have ever had! Usually its a stand and pose quickie (almost like the school photos) that they get of their beautiful costumes. This is so much more fun, with hair and makeup and a treasure of a photo to have like none other!

On fridays blog post, I will be going through the process from beginning to end with our chosen MAC colors that I got last week with our other dancer! I am pretty excited! I may try to also do a litle instagram behind the scenes, so watch for that #beautyportraits. So here are a few shots of our first beautiful dancer this week!

Chat & Snap 2013

Before Christmas, local photographer, Kristie Bradley, and I had a late lunch meeting for the first time at Chick-fil-A. This was around the time of the Peppermint Shake-my favorite and she bought me one! -She did not even know me, nor had met me, so needless to say... we hit it off! Both of us wanted to attend the popular Atlanta Senior Shoot Out, put on by one of our favorite blogs....Seniorologie, January 19 and 20th. Neither of us could secure the time off and we both sat disappointed. Until, we talked about simply getting together the same weekend, and making something similar happen for ourselves here! (why not?) Chat & Snap Winter 2013 with 4 area High School Seniors each from a different school was born! We planned the shoot in our spare time, enlisted hair and makeup help from Jennifer Saunders and Katherine Bernardini. This way, we could chat about business and goals for 2013 in the AM and shoot in the PM. We invited Cate Gravatt, another local photographer to join us. Kicking off the day at 9:30 we chatted almost without taking a breathing break, ok-(bite breaks for Ukrpos blueberry scones and coffee-for me- was taken) until 11am, when the ladies arrived. Check out some of our behind the scenes at our Studio FBJ Instagram page! After a pizza lunch for all, away we went, on a sunny Saturday to a local Park in Richmond where Valentines and Winter fun themes shined through our shoot!

{Holy Moly} a Paradise Oasis

One word: MAC
When my friend said she wanted to go to the MAC store at Tysons Corner for her Birthday, I just simply asked when the car was leaving!
Visiting MAC is an oasis of fun and MAKEUP! I once heard an old friend say (in reference to Harley Davidson) if I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand.
After our MAC attack, we had lunch and spread our stuff all over the table at the restaurant! The male waiter smiled and the female hostess, said "makeup day"? -oh yea. At one point in our giddiness the words "Holy Moly" came out as an expression of joy! I have not heard THAT used it a while and i just thought it was so funny,... we were so out of control with our colors, prep and primers, eye stuff and blushers!

Sooo I am pretty excited to try some of my new stuff! Although, at some point I believe I have had most of these below and run out. (i have so much makeup in the studio!) So here is the deal. I have a beauty shoot coming up with a beautiful young dancer! I am going to use these some of my colors below and tell you just how i did it! Won't that be fun?
So: here is the run down of some of the items i got today that I will use in the shoot:

Eyes:
Paint Pot: Bare Study
Eyeshadow: Vanilla and Wedge

Gel liner: Dip Down
Blot Powder: Medium
Blush: Tenderling
can YOU imagine how this is going to look..... :) Holy Moly!

Beauty Sessions {continue} I heart these!!

"I have always admired the beautiful pictures of the celebrities in the magazines as I am waiting in line at the grocery store. Then I would imagine how it would feel to be on a fancy photo shoot. Well, I have to say that I no longer have to imagine that one. My daughter took her senior pictures (which I absolutely love!) with Joy so I decided to book a beauty session for myself. I truly felt like a movie star sitting in the make up chair getting my hair and make up done. Joy made this experience so much fun! She helped me to pick out my outfits and what jewelry to wear. I was so excited to see the pictures and once I did I was convinced Joy was a magician! The pictures came out so beautiful! I showed my husband and he said that his heart skipped a beat when he looked at them. Thank you so much, Joy Welch Pfister"-Jessica H.

  Before/After

 

Senior Style Guide features STUDIO FBJ!

Could I be more excited to have one of our sessions with  Krysta B. featured on Senior Style Guide- UM NO!
 Check out our "Vintage Holiday" Session featured on the Senior Style Guide!

A {moment} in time

Has anyone ever told you something that, you know, at the time, you will never forget? Yesterday, I dropped off my therapy bag to my old job. I have been putting this off for a while, just in case, I needed to quickly return, (my safety net). It was a bit torn in places, the gadgets in it well used. Papers to shred pulled out and memories reflected on as names flashed in front of my face of patients, who in turn touched my life, over the past 13 years as a Physical Therapist.  It's all very surreal-still. To not have any place to go, everyday, other than my own home office, and my own brick and mortar studio everyday! It's scary, and thrilling,...and wonderful. 

 I dropped my "therapy" bag off to my boss, the last tether to my old job of the past 3 years. I started recapping my past year to her, how much my business had grown and my plans for this coming year. She smiled as I spoke, happy for me, and so kind in her sincerity. As I blabbed on, I told her how I "just got lucky", and I would return if my luck ran out... laughing. She looked at me through her smiling eyes and said something to me that I won't forget. It was simple really, but then most good things are. "Joy, it was not luck that got you to where you are, it was hard work." I have watched you work so hard and you made this happen." I was struck a little quiet, as i reflected on her words for a split second.

As I drove home, I could not stop thinking about her words. Yes, I had worked hard. Yes, I have been saving for 2 whole years from every job I had to create a small nest egg for the "slow" times and bills. Yes, I had worked to pay off my credit card debt over the past 3 years. Yes, I study makeup and photography, EVERYDAY, reading everything I can get my hands on. YES, I am working and have worked so hard to make my dreams of having my own business come true. I never gave up. Thank you Pamela, I needed to hear that, and from none other than someone as wise, caring, and hardworking as you are.

 

and because every post is better with a photo.....

{PIX} of the week

Yes, it is time for PIX of the week! I have not forgotten!! :) I wanted to share this beautiful photo of Atlee High School Senior, Ashley! She and her mother were in a few weeks ago and this photo just caught me as a PIX of the week!! I thought her whole session was amazing really!

Richmond Bride Makeup and Hair A-Lister!

It is  exciting news as I was announced Richmond Bride Magazine-Readers Choice- Top Aisle A-Lister for 2012 for hair AND makeup!! I have been doing makeup and hair for 4 years for Brides and Bridal Parties. In 2011, I won Best Makeup Artist Richmond!! So the big honors continue in 2012/13!

Photographer: Lauryn Galloway

Joy Pfister of Faces by Joy Selected For "Top-Tier Wedding Professionals"

Joy Pfister of Faces by Joy of Mechanicsville, VA has been honored with a recognition by Richmond Bride in its selection of "Top-Tier Wedding Professionals."
Mechanicsville, VA (PR NewsWire) January 5, 2013-- Announcing a special recognition appearing in the January, 2013 issue of Richmond Bride, Joy Pfister of Faces by Joy was selected for the following honor:

"Top-Tier Wedding Professionals in the Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist catagories"

Joy Pfister of Faces by Joy commented on the recognition: "This is quite an honor for us. The fact that Richmond Bride included Faces by Joy in its selection of "Top-Tier Wedding Professionals," signals that our constant efforts towards business excellence are paying off. We are proud to be included in this recognition."
Following the publication of and selection for Richmond Bride's Top-Tier Wedding Professionals list, American Registry seconded the honor and added Joy Pfister of Faces by Joy to the "Registry of Business Excellence™". An exclusive recognition plaque  has been designed to commemorate this honor.

Friday-Beautiful Friday!

It seems to be getting harder and harder to get up in the morning! Oh 2013. Coming back from Winter break has been a little challenging!! But I have been staying very busy. Of course I am having such fun playing in the studio! Yesterday I had a my friend join me in the studio! She was interested in one of my brand new Beauty Shoots. We had a great time! I invite you to email me for yours as well! Valentines day is coming.....

 I have decided since its so much fun........

before/After