Blog Archives

Magic

Model: Meg Bolin

Photography: Michael Lessner

Hair: Terry Savas

Location: Downtown Roseburg, TS Studio

Products Used: Unite Max Control,  Unite Expanda Dust and Unite Texturiza

I feel everyone needs a creative outlet.

For me,  it is creating magic with hair, fantasy and photography.  I had the pleasure of working with one of my best friends in the creative industry.  Michael and I have been working together for many many years.  The passion that we both feel for our work is a force to be reckoned with.  We create an art that sometimes only we get and sometimes I feel we can blow the world away.

This day was all about wiggery.  Yes I said wiggery.  It is the art of creating a look using fake hair.  All of the hair used in these photos are fake, wigs I made. Meg has a ton of hair!!  It would take me all day to get these looks with her hair and using wiggery it only took me 5 min.

I love getting to play and be creative.  But sometimes I get nervous…..  What if the hair doesn’t do what I have in mind.  (which happened)  You roll with it.  Sometimes you end up creating something even more amazing.

I was able to learn how lighting in a studio can make all the difference in the world.  Michael, you have been a fantastic teacher.  I thank you for teaching me your craft Michael.

Best,

Terry Savas

Part 2: Unbelievable Fun

Part 1 was from the side of me that is all about the PASSION of Education whereas Part 2 is all about the FUN I had with incredible people.

Day 1: Downtown Vegas

After a fun day at the pool… That I somehow missed…  It was time to start prepping my two beautiful models: Carsen Fromdahl and Maria Johnson. I have learned over the years that if you properly set a style you can do anything with it AND it will stay all night. In a rush of excitement, I quickly had both the girls ready to go and shoot in old Downtown Las Vegas.

  Carsen’s hair needed to be pinned it up until it was about time to shoot – as her hair does not like to hold curl… or so she thought! But Maria’s on the other hand – she has hair for days, and it will hold till the cows come home!!

 Night 1 was just a fun little impromptu photoshoot where photographers and models could meet.

And we were off… Walking around Downtown Las Vegas where there are some really fun murals – and just cool stuff to shoot in front of. As the photographers were shooting, I walked between models and fluffed their hair and put it back where it should be. It was a little windy that day. Remember, I put a lot of work into the prep using Unite Hair Care Products.

 We were on our way to go have some fun after shooting on the top of a parking garage when all of a sudden Louise Ungerman decides that “HEY, this elevator looks cool.” Boy did it! These ladies are the best and just go with the flow.

 We ended the first night with some good old fashioned fun – watching the light show and people watching. This is Vegas after all. With a night that ended finally around 1AM, I needed some sleep!!

Day 2: 3:30am – Model Prep

I woke at 3:30 to start getting the models ready by 4:15. We had to leave the hotel by 6:30 to meet up with all the other photographers, models, and glam squads. Then we were off to Nelson, Nevada.

 Nelson, Nevada is about the size of Roseburg High School’s campus. It is tiny but full of the most amazing things. They have every prop imaginable for movies, music videos or photoshoots. As we pulled up in a HUGE coach bus, everyone was so excited to get started. First came the set up – I had to have my glam space. I had the privilege of working with Kristen Upright. She is a fantastic make-up artist. We set up our little corner and got to work finishing all our models. As Kristen and I were finishing up Maria, Carsen, and Cam, there was another model there named Teegan who had very fine hair. She told me “my hair does NOT hold curl.” Challenge accepted! I again went through the routine of properly prepping her hair with the correct Unite Products. I curled her hair and voilá – waves for days that lasted into the night.

Model: Teegan, Photographer: Louise Ungerman, Hair: Terry Savas, MUA: Kristen Upright

As prep of the models came to a close, the photographers that were participating in the education event were learning new techniques to try for the day from two great photographers – John Pyle from Columbus, Georgia and Tori Gaddis from Ventura, CA.

The day flew by! I did several different looks on the models, including Cam. He even got a few different looks. I found myself just watching and listening to the education around me and just made sure all the models that I was working with stayed beautiful. I found that I really love doing this kind of work. It was so creative and free. I would love to work behind a camera more – it was an amazing feeling.

As the day went on, we went to a dry lake bed in the middle of nowhere! The sun was setting and it was a “hurry up and get the models out there” type of situation! Here are some of the images the photographers captured.

It was a fantastic day. I will never forget it! A huge thank you to Louise for asking me to come and create at this event! I met so many new people I hope I get to work with again. Here is to many more fantastic experiences!

Cheers.

P.S. At dinner, I told the models to put their phones down and enjoy the ones they were with instead. Whoever picked up their phone before dinner was over would get to PAY for my dinner!! They made it!

Model: Teegan Sierra

Photographers: John Pyle, Louise Ungerman and Gary Vanderberg

Hair: Terry Savas

MUA: Kristin Upright/Lauryl Estelle

Location: Nelson Ghost Town, Nevada

I always say EDUCATION IS KEY.  This goes for every job, hobby, art and all around creativity.  Your industry will pass you by if you don’t keep up with what is going on.  You always have to answer the all mighty question of “Whats New?”

So how do you always know “Whats New”?

To do this you must tirelessly attend hours of class demos or even better yet get hands on education.  Being creative and passionate is a fire that burns inside of you.  The desire to be the best you can be ignites ambitions you never knew could live inside you.

March 4th and 5th 2016 I had the privilege of being asked by Louise Ungerman to come to an educational event that she had put together for photographers from all over the United States.   She needed me to do hair for her models and maybe help out with a few other models.  She brought in John Pyle.  He is a nationally recognized, published, award winning photographer and national speaker.  He is one of the most sought after senior and teen portrait photographers in the industry by creating personalized sessions for each of his clients.   

It is amazing working with like minded people.  John came to this event with an energy and enthusiasm that drew you in.  I would listen to what he had to say to the group of photographers and I really could appreciate how much you could see his passion come through.  He was knowledgeable and took the time to not only tell them how something may work better but he showed them.  This is where I feel hands on experience is the best way to learn.  For me at least …

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love to educate and be educated.  To watch another art be taught with such keenness just captivated me.  I think photograph may be my new hobby!!  He sure did inspire me to want to check it out!

Cheers.

Terry

Beachy Hair

Model: Marina Smith

Photographer: Karen Brook

Hair: Terry Savas

MUA: Meagan Brown

Styled By: Dean Hall

Sunny days are on the way.  Beach waves are what we need.

By simply wrapping hair around a one inch curling iron, forward and backward you can achieve this look. Shake the waves and finish it up with Unite’s Texturiza Spray to separate the waves and add hold.

This was my very first Editorial Photo Shoot. I had the opportunity to work with Unite’s Creative Director Gary Baker to learn how to run a successful photoshoot. In this process I found that Editorial hair is a new passion of mine. It is very empowering to see your work come to life and make the look.  Working with professional clothing stylist and make up artists just toped off the look. But we can’t forget the photographer. They are the ones with the eye to capture what we all worked so hard to put together! I hope that I have many more to come!