Hairdresser Lauren Thompson and make up artist April Caruso just graduated from Parisian Beauty Academy in Hackensack, New Jersey, and while they are each thrilled to be working in great salons (Thompson at OC61 in NYC and Caruso at Caru in Hoboken, NJ), each wants to build a portfolio in hopes to start doing some freelance and magazine work.

One of the best ways to "build a book" is to enlist the talents of a model and photographer. As a team, the four participants (and sometimes a fashion stylist) hit the studio and get as many looks as possible in as little time as possible. Everyone works for free with the goal of ending up with some great images for a portfolio. This is called a TEST.

Thompson and Caruso lucked out. Although Roberto Ligresti, the famed beauty photographer (and Modern cover artist) is well beyond "testing", he agreed to work with the freshly licensed artists because they were working with one of his favorite models….Margot. (Full disclosure here….Margot is my daughter!)

Although this was their first time working together, there was immediate magic in the studio. In just over 2 hours Thompson and Caruso knocked out some fantastic looks. Both were naturals. Each arrived a bit early to set up and worked comfortably on set…respecting each others time and space.

Thompson used a large curling iron to create long, vertical curls while Caruso brushed, painted and sponged on assorted colors, playing up Margot's large lips and even adding a glistening lotion on her arms.

"This was quite an education," said Thompson who admits her dream is to someday see her work on the cover of Vogue. "I learned MANY things at this shoot, but in particular I learned five key things:

1. Stand behind the photographer to see from his angle…looking for holes or clumps that disrupt the image.

2. Have plenty of tools and products and also items like pins, elastics and simple things like headbands to change or complete a look.

3. Know how to tease! That is one thing I believe I perfected in beauty school. I've been using it at the salon and used it on set.

4. The hairstylist operates the fan or wind machine (which I also learned is sometimes a blow dryer!) if it's used for the finished look. That actually makes sense because it is the hair that is mostly affected.

5. Parisian Beauty Academy taught me to be professional…to be organized and be prepared. It came in handy on this shoot and I hope to be organized and prepared on future shoots!"

As team Thompson and Caruso packed up to leave, Caruso said: This was a great first shoot." We agree.


Lauren Thompson adds some finishing touches on set.


Make up artist Caruso knows to finish the make up look from head to toe. Here she applies MIRROR CURLS by Deva Concepts as a shimmer lotion to the arm.


Thompson and Caruso working behind the scenes for their first TEST SHOOT.

Model: Margot Becker
Photographer: Roberto Ligresti