Fashion Show, Photoshoots and Sand Between my Toes

Story, photos by Cassie Hepler

The months have been flying by lately and that renewed vigor has returned to me with a vengeance! I love that feeling of accomplishment and creativity all combined into one. While the website is still under construction and the relaunch party pushed back until the fall, it leaves me plenty of time to fill my schedule with other events – such as the Emily Sky fashion show. The show went off without a hitch and the wine was flowing. The sponsors of the show made an amazing care package to one lucky lady who was battling and beat breast cancer. She was tickled Emily Sky pink with the prize package valued at over $1,500. There was a bohemian chic feel to the designs and dresses that rocked the runway, featuring a large geode necklace seen in most fashion magazines.

The weekend continued with scoring some documentary style photos of NYC children for Swe Magazine, based in Sweden. Hopefully I will be shooting more for them some more in the near future! The entire weekend was inspiring and motivational in general. When you surround yourself with positive people, only good things can happen!

Modeling has been flowing very well lately. I have been branching out and trying styles I have never tried before and with much continued success. Last week I found myself sopping wet for some fashion shots in a Center City Philadelphia fountain on a hot, sunny day. Pics to come! Charity work continues with Project Sunshine when I can, making kids smile through some rainy days with craft projects and goofy jokes. Fart and poop humor goes far in the little kid crowd!

Been all over the city at Arrow Swim Club’s opening pool party right after my NYC trip as well as supporting my Patron representative friend at Table 31, an surprise and endearing engagement party at Yakitori Boy and who can forget the Punk Rock Flea Market? I made out pretty well and have almost cleared out the basement. People love naming their own prices and I like getting rid of junk so it’s a perfect fit. Lately I have been dreaming of a house with trees and wild animals, somewhere out of the concrete jungle… who knows what the future may bring?

Doing head shots for my friend turned into a fashion shoot, girl talk over wine and a nice dinner out. Ive always wanted to glam her up so here are some of my favorites.

Bourbon Blue celebrated their annual deck party kick-off complete with free appetizers and sangria. I had a wonderful time with old friends and made some new friends that night. The new Pirates of the Caribbean movie came out that weekend so I had to check it out and am in love with the vampire style mermaids. Certainly not the Disney version in that film. Penelope Cruz was a nice touch in a predominately male leading actor film as well. And I must give a shout out to two great local Philadelphia bands, Pawnshop Roses, and my girl Tina’s band, Love Panther. I continue to support local artists and Grape Room, you should too!

Modeling for an old friend who shoots fashion week each year inspired me to make it there next year, all week! This year I had a modeling job that weekend but next year, it’s on like Donkey Kong! A few last minute gigs popped up, one for a professional photography class and the other for a commercial for V-SN TV followed by a photo shoot.

Next up is The Squidling Brothers freak show. The deal with this event is usually through Facebook or fliers given out on First Fridays. You show up, pay a $10 cover and walk into someone’s backyard jungle straight out of Alice in Wonderland. It is 6-8 yards joined together to make a mini carnival, complete with vodka and oyster shots, a small bar taking donations, a stage, a small art gallery (not including the art covering the walls everywhere you look), random stairs and possums dropping out of the sky (for real, a baby one just *plop* dropped down behind an Indian head statue). This is surely an event not to be missed. I have included some of the best shots from the night, which include the fire eater and the lovely trapeze artist.

Last but not least, I headed off to Long Beach Island for a much-needed break from the city. I met so many amazing, intelligent, successful and sweet ladies and gentlemen that week that is promptly restored my faith in the code of loyalty and trust. Some of us came as strangers and left as thick as thieves. I feel blessed and happy to have met so many wonderful people. Here is my favorite shot from the week of just a few of the lovely ladies.

Onward with more projects, modeling and a solo acting gig this weekend with a showing at the theater where The Blob was filmed! Keep an eye out for next month’s happenings and events:) Until then, a shout out to my Dad for Father’s Day. Daddusman say: You can’t fly with the eagles when you’re hanging with the turkeys. Word!