Make up and hair artist Shannon Toy has been busy at work here in central Texas lately. She was even responsible for the make up and hair of two of our previous feature Pin Up's Kitten Kaboom and Keke Noir. This post is a reminder of the work required to conducts photo shoots of this nature. Photographers, models, make up and hair artists, costume designers, locations, coordinations - all come together to give you these pin ups. Shannon Toy is one such player to make the game happen. Here is her story, straight from the artists mouth:

"My name is Shannon Toy. Toy is my middle name which came from my now 99 year old grandmother.

    On March 13, 2008, my grandmother told me a story about when I was 5 years old in 1975. I was putting pin curls in my grandfathers hair while my sister was polishing his nails. She said he just sat there calm not moving as if we were grooming a dog. So I guess I've been interested in cosmetology since I was 5 years old.
    I took Cosmetology at William Howard Taft High School in San Antonio in 1988. I have a fraternal twin sister who has no fashion since what so ever. True story one night she has a jazz band gig and my father told me to take off the outfit I had on and give it to her. So I did and he said she doesn't know what to wear so help her get ready. He knew I could throw together another outfit in minutes.
    In 2007 I fell into a photo shoot with  Leiter Photography doing hair and makeup for a calendar shoot. There I met a fashion designer Amira, Gothica by Amira, and she suggested I go on Model Mayhem and make myself a profile. Before I worked in a few salons last one being Trio Salon where I had the opportunity to style hair for the Betsy Johnson fashion show. Two years ago in Dallas I had started a business Valley of the Dolls Photography with Wes Wolfe one of the first people I knew in Dallas 20 years ago.

    Now 3 years later 2010 I'm back in San Antonio, married with a lovely 7 month old daughter. I have been working with Bluebonnet Bombshells on a few shoots to show new work and garner new business.

    Recently I am working with Jim Lander's Photography doing theme shoots starting this next week. Tuesday is our first model shoot together for marketing our first theme, which is Playboy Bunny. These shoots will be $200 which includes hair, makeup, wardrobe, props, 2 5X7, 4 wallet size, they pick up to 3 images and those 3 digital images for website profile use. Turn around time is about 2 weeks.

Hair, Makeup and Wardrobe Styling by Shannon Toy. I am licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation #937847

Photos: my business card
Photographer Valley of the Dolls (Wes Wolfe), Models, Angela Ryan, Melissa Meaow, Britany (Rubyredlocks), Layne D'Angelo
                      Ben Brit , Model Christine Quinn
                      Ric Moore, Model Xavrieria (722)
                      Bluebonnet Bombshells, Models Kristen Cammack (8876), Miss VHaven , Kitten Kaboom

Business Card

Check out more of Shannon's work at her Model Mayhem profile.