THE FIRST CANON 5D WEDDING

This was meant to be.

Sometime back in January, I answered an overseas call from the U.S. It was an inquiry for wedding hair and makeup rates for an upcoming wedding in Aquatico resort in Batangas. Despite her American twang, I was quite sure that the caller was Filipino. Email addresses were exchanged and soon after, Irene (the bride) booked me for the said wedding. 3 weeks go by and I get a text message from one of the mangoRED boys claiming to be part of an upcoming all-star “dream-team” wedding alongside Jason Magbanua & Threelogy in Batangas. The message seemed cryptic but after much sleuthing, I managed to put the pieces together. The wedding party arrived in Manila and preparations were in full swing. I didn’t even have to prod to confirm that the Dino Lara was their photographer of choice. Not only Dino, Jason, mangoRed and Threelogy were going to be part of this, throw in Bob Nicolas and the Mayad Studios Team as well. This was going to be “kick-ass” as Mr. Lara would tell David (the groom) later on.

Madge and I were in disbelief as we sat in the car en route to the venue and were making like a bunch of giddy teen-aged girls. In between high-fives, we couldn’t believe how everything was coming together and most importantly, we didn’t expect to be part of something this big. Goes to show that we are simply where we are supposed to be and extremely blessed to be given the opportunity to work with the wedding industry’s greats. I kept telling Madge how I lucked out on this one, and I found out that Irene got my name from a good friend in Malaysia who in turn got my name from Ruffa Gutierrez. This is a case where random is not as random as it seems. We’re all connected in some way, reducing the world to less degrees of separation.

This feat could not have been pulled off without our day coordinator, Chinkie Uy-Agregado. Hats off to her for winging this, to think she had NO prior knowledge or involvement in the wedding itself. This may not happen again so thanks to Irene & David for hiring us.

We are more than glad and grateful to be of service.

Xeng & Madge

An all 5D Wedding Video Shoot and Same Day Edit: Irene and David from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

Photo & Video:

Dino Lara

Bob Nicolas

Jason Magbanua

mangoRED

Mayad Studios

Threelogy

WEDDING EXPO PHILIPPINES

AN EXCLUSIVE PROMO AWAITS THOSE WHO WILL BE BOOKING US AT THE FAIR: OUR BRIDAL PACKAGE OF P28,000 WILL BE YOURS AT ONLY P25,000! COME SEE US IN PERSON TO FIND OUT WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.

SEE YOU ALL THIS WEEKEND!!!

WHO: wedding suppliers from all over the Philippines

WHAT: the grandest, most prestigious, most comprehensive, and longest running wedding fair in the country

WHEN: March 7 - 8, 2009

WHERE: PICC Forum, CCP Complex

AN EXCLUSIVE PROMO AWAITS THOSE WHO WILL BE BOOKING US AT THE FAIR: OUR BRIDAL PACKAGE OF P28,000 WILL BE YOURS AT ONLY P25,000! COME SEE US IN PERSON TO FIND OUT WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.

SARAH MEIER & BANJ ALBANO

BANJO ALBANO + SARAH MEIER

makeup by: XENG ZULUETA and MADGE LEJANO

hair by: ANGEL SALIAN

photo by: mangoRED

video by: THREELOGY

styling: GEOFF GONZALES

couture: VELUZ REYES, NICO for VELUZ, MILE LAVAREZ, CHEETAH RIVERA

location: MOGWAI c/o DIREK ERIK MATTI, SPUTNIK c/o LYLE SACRIS, KARMA c/o DAVID & MAI KAUFMAN

SUNSILK SUMMER FRESH TV COMMERCIAL

• Directed by: Sid Maderazo
• Production: 88 Storey
• Client: Unilever
• Starring: Marian Rivera
• Hair Artist: Lowell Buenaventura
• Make-up Artists: Steven Doloso / Lala Flores / Xeng Zulueta
• Assisted by: Angel Salian & Madella de Leon of The Make-up Studio

For the latest Sunsilk TV commercial, I did the makeup for 21 girls as support and extras for Marian Rivera. It was a 2-day shoot in Zambales and very tiring. The girls all had to be bronze, sun-kissed and beach ready. From the team, I took Angel (hair) and Madella (make-up) with me to experience what shooting a TV commercial is like. I believe this is the most number of girls I’ve had to do make-up for in my entire career and my two assistants were a little bit shocked with all the preparations and waiting in between takes. I wasn’t exactly thrilled when my iPod touch went missing from my bag but had fun nonetheless. The girls were all a pleasure to work with and the production staff all very accommodating. (The shampoo is really nice too!).

Click on the link below to see the actual commercial!

SUNSILK SUMMER FRESH TVC

Xeng

RHIAN RAMOS

Aside from weddings, we also get to do other commercial work such as Magazine covers, features, ad campaigns, fashion editorials and TV commercials. This is the part where we get to cross over to the “other side” and collaborate with the fashion and advertising world heavyweights. Above is the latest issue of Stella Magazine with TV celeb Rhian Ramos. After being shown hair and makeup pegs, I walked over to the clothing rack and took a quick scan of the accessories laid out on the table. Doing so gives me a good idea of what the magazine is trying to convey for this month’s mood but most importantly, my brain goes into a quick scan for a reference material. Tucked in one corner of my subconscious is an imaginary rolodex, I suddenly remember a movie entitled “The Lover”.  For some odd reason, the Rhian they want her to be is reminding me very much of a young Jane March. The clothes are breezy and lolita-esque with splashes of summer and youth. The look we are going for today should say the same without grabbing too much from the clothes and most importantly, from the girl. Rhian, the chameleon, pulls off the shoot with ease…she always does.

Here’s a movie poster from my movie reference…

XENG

Jane March

THE CAT’S OUT OF THE BAG!

So we’re guessing you’ve figured out the new partnership of The Make-up Studio. In other words, the secret’s out. For the sake of those who have not figured it out, well here’s the formal announcement, right here - right now. We’ve been quiet all these months because we don’t like counting the chickens before they are hatched. Since October, we’ve been quietly working behind the scenes and making the partnership undergo a few litmus tests and most importantly, waiting for our first published article to come out. An announcement is not substantial without a press release to back it up. It’s not just another press release, it’s a 6-page feature in one of the best-selling wedding magazines in the Philippines. It begins with a bridal beauty editorial and finishes off with an interview that pretty much summarizes what this partnership is all about.  They said it could not be done, that it’s not possible, and to that we say: WATCH US!

The MADGE LEJANO - XENG ZULUETA tandem makes complete sense. It was no coincidence that we wore black and white for our first feature shoot. Think of us as a yin/yang of sorts where the former is known for the traditional, classic and clean no-makeup-look and the latter is known for the edgier, transformed, high-fashion and avant-garde look. Where we meet and come together is not something one should ignore, being the most in demand makeup artists in our fields, wedding and fashion, it’s no coincidence either that we both studied makeup in London. Strange how the paths of two totally different artists are now finally crossing and all we can say is: WHY DIDN’T WE DO THIS SOONER?!

We could not ask for a more awesome birthday gift (yes, we share the same birthday month too!), we’ll stop blabbing and let your eyes do the work. Our most heartfelt thank you goes out to Trish Chua-Juico and Michelle Katigbak-Alejandro. Read on for our first feature in the January 2009 issue of METRO WEDDINGS, it is history in the making.

PLEASE GRAB A COPY…..

Madge & Xeng

BEAUTY IS A   M.U.S.T.!!!!! (Make.Up.Studio.Team)

NEW RATES

NEW RATES OF THE MAKEUP STUDIO TEAM EFFECTIVE ON FEBRUARY 16, 2009

BOOK ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 15, 2009 TO GET THE OLD RATE.

THE MAKEUP STUDIO TEAM WILL JOIN THE WEDDINGS & DEBUTS 2009 FAIR
February 13, 14 and 15 at the SM Megatrade Halls 2 & 3.

You can book at the fair to get the old rate of the  team, and get a chance to win P25,000 cash gift fo the on the spot bookings. Plus another chance to win one of three P10,000 cash gifts for bookings made on the Bridal Fair’s first day, Friday February 13, 2009.

SEE YOU THERE!!!

WHAT I DID IN LONDON

Taking pictures of Big ben

and up close

london eye at night…

and of course turista shots or lets say feeling londoner=) thanks to lani!

ooopppsss, if i go on this blog will be filled with a thousand pictures…

so, here’s what i really did…

the sign i see going to school and going back to my place =)

the way going to my school… lovely!

my school its an old church, inside its like a labyrinth i get lost going to the loo (banyo)

inside my classroom, taking pictures if Susana Mota my teacher is not around hehehe..

new toys to play around? naahhhh its a tools for beauty…

WHAT I DID IN LONDON????

moving forward… bringing MAKEUP AND COSMETICS INNOVATIONS
and bringing TECHNOLOGY TO BEAUTY…

EYYY I HOPE YOU GUYS WOULD WATCH OUT FOR MY NEW PARTNER IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON! VERY VERY SOON!

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???

CREATING VISIONS TO BEHOLD — this is our new mantra, our target ideal.

Expect a completely overhauled website from the team you have trusted.

From topics about beautification to actual make–overs. Real brides and grooms. All about transcendent beauty — beauty with a glow, beauty from within. We make it materialize on the most important day of your life.

Styling with an edge. We make your fantasies come to life. Something rare and distinctive; current and original. We spot as well as set trends.

B I G  N E W S!!!  PREPARE FOR A NEW TEAM TO TAKE THE WEDDING INDUSTRY BY STORM!  — a partnership made in heaven, A TANDEM THAT NO ONE THOUGHT COULD BE FORMED. It happens only here at The Makeup Studio.