Senior Visagistin
Mariam Samkharadze Senior & Coordinating Makeup Artist — Mayhem Studios NY Originally from the Republic of Georgia and now based in Brooklyn, New York, Mariam Samkharadze brings an international perspective, creativity, and extensive beauty and fashion experience to Mayhem Studios. Her professional background includes seven seasons of New York Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, designer collaborations, television, and work alongside professional photographers. As of September 2026, Mariam serves as Senior & Coordinating Makeup Artist for Mayhem Studios NY, helping coordinate makeup talent while developing looks for the studio’s fashion, editorial, beauty, alternative, and creative productions. Her combination of Georgian artistry and New York fashion experience fits perfectly with the Mayhem philosophy: Different backgrounds. Different visions. One creative Mayhem.
Fotograf – Northern Tier/Rochester
JESSE BACON Photographer — Mayhem Studios | Rochester & Western New York Based in the Rochester area, Jesse Bacon brings Mayhem Studios’ Out of Chaos Comes Art philosophy to every shoot—with a creative eye, calm energy, and a healthy respect for the unexpected. From weddings and portraits to commercial work, pets, events, and aerial photography, Jesse captures genuine moments and polished images without making the process feel like a hostage situation. He creates comfortable portrait sessions, compelling brand and product visuals, memorable event coverage, and pet photos that prove your animal can, in fact, look innocent. As an FAA-licensed drone pilot, Jesse also offers aerial photography for properties, businesses, landscapes, construction projects, events, and creative productions. Jesse often collaborates with his partner, Skylar Marks, a talented model, photographer, and creative artist. Together, they bring complementary perspectives to photography, production, and visual storytelling—whether they’re behind the camera, in front of it, or solving creative problems no one saw coming. Weddings. Portraits. Commercial work. Pets. Events. Drones. Creative chaos. Ready to make something memorable? Book Jesse Bacon through Mayhem Studios for photography in Rochester and Western New York. MAYHEM STUDIOS — OUT OF CHAOS COMES ART.
Fotoassistent
LILLY COSME – Teilzeit-Fotoassistentin – Mayhem Studios. Lilly Cosme ist neu in der professionellen Fotografie, aber voller Energie. Sie verstärkt das Team von Mayhem Studios als Teilzeit-Fotoassistentin und bringt Neugier, Intuition, Zuverlässigkeit und den echten Wunsch mit, das Handwerk von Grund auf zu lernen. Ob beim Organisieren der Ausrüstung, bei der Unterstützung vor Ort, beim Organisieren von Shootings oder beim Erkennen der Bedürfnisse des Fotografen, bevor dieser sie überhaupt ausspricht – Lilly verkörpert genau die Einstellung, die Mayhem schätzt: Pünktlichkeit, Aufmerksamkeit, Fleiß und die Bereitschaft, mit anzupacken. In ihrer Freizeit interessiert sich Lilly für Musik, Museen, Kunst und neue Erfahrungen. Sie ist außerdem professionelle Tierbetreuerin – nach ihrer Erfahrung mit Hunden, Katzen und gelegentlich auch fragwürdigem Tierverhalten dürfte ihr die Arbeit mit Fotografen und Models daher relativ leicht fallen. Lilly ist zuverlässig, enthusiastisch, lernbereit und engagiert. Neben ihrer Tätigkeit im Team von Mayhem Studios steht sie auch für freiberufliche Foto- und Produktionsassistenzaufträge außerhalb von Mayhem zur Verfügung. Sie ist neu in diesem Bereich – und genau das macht den Reiz aus. Bei Mayhem geht es nicht nur um etablierte Profis. Es geht auch darum, Potenzial zu erkennen, Talente zu fördern und motivierten Menschen die Chance zu geben, in etwas Neuem richtig gut zu werden. Jeder Profi hat mal klein angefangen. Lilly steht erst am Anfang. MAYHEM STUDIOS – AUS CHAOS ENTSTEHT KUNST.
Fotoassistent/Fotograf
CAROLINE POLKAVICH Photographer & Part-Time Photo Assistant — Mayhem Studios Tough, direct, creative, and proudly tomboy, Caroline Polkavich brings more than 10 years of photography and production experience to the Mayhem Studios team. A photographer in her own right, Caroline has a particular interest in documenting LGBTQ+ people, culture, identity, and issues through her work. Her photography reflects the same straightforward personality she brings to a set—authentic, observant, and never afraid to tackle subjects outside the mainstream. Caroline is also the person you want around when a supposedly “simple shoot” stops being simple. Difficult location? Complicated setup? Tight schedule? Unexpected problem? That’s when Caroline earns her keep. Her ability to stay focused, speak up, and help find a solution makes challenging shoots considerably more manageable. Her experience extends beyond still photography into television production, giving her an understanding of what happens both in front of and behind the camera. At Mayhem, Caroline works as a part-time Photo Assistant, filling in when needed or teaming up with fellow assistant Lilly Cosme on larger productions where an extra set of experienced hands can make all the difference. Caroline isn’t interested in sugarcoating things. She comes to work, gets involved, and helps get the shot. Ten-plus years of experience. Photographer. Production veteran. LGBTQ+ storyteller. Professional problem solver. Proud tomboy. In other words, exactly the kind of person who belongs at Mayhem. MAYHEM STUDIOS — OUT OF CHAOS COMES ART.
Buchungsagent/Personalvermittler
ELIZABETH BOWER Booking Agent & Talent Recruiter — Mayhem Studios NY Elizabeth Baum brings experience, personality, and a sharp eye for people to her role as Booking Agent and Talent Recruiter for Mayhem Studios New York. A transgender woman with years of experience working with different agencies and creative personalities, Elizabeth understands that talent doesn’t always arrive in the package the traditional fashion industry expects. Being one of the more seasoned members of the Mayhem team gives her something particularly valuable: experience, perspective, and the confidence to recognize potential that others might overlook. And Elizabeth doesn’t simply wait for talent to find Mayhem—she goes looking for it. From models and performers to photographers, makeup artists, stylists, and unconventional personalities, Elizabeth helps seek out new faces and creative people who could bring something different to the studio. She also assists with recruiting, introductions, bookings, and connecting the right people with Mayhem projects and opportunities. Her own journey gives Elizabeth a particular appreciation for LGBTQ+ and transgender talent, older talent, newcomers, and people who don’t necessarily fit traditional agency molds—while her recruiting work is open to talent of every background and style. At Mayhem, different isn’t something we try to hide. It’s usually what Elizabeth is out looking for. MAYHEM STUDIOS — OUT OF CHAOS COMES ART.
Designer/Stylist
NATALIIA SKULSKA Fashion Designer & Creative Collaborator — Mayhem Studios NY Originally from Ukraine and now based in Brooklyn, New York, Nataliia Skulska brings European influence, entrepreneurial drive, and an unmistakably individual sense of style to the creative world of Mayhem Studios. A talented fashion designer and founder of DaNa Fashions, Nataliia creates distinctive garments with a particular talent for corsetry, dresses, statement pieces, and designs that celebrate femininity while refusing to disappear into the crowd. Nataliia’s relationship with Mayhem goes beyond simply providing clothing for a photograph. She collaborates on concepts, styling, fashion shoots, model development, and original creative projects—bringing the designer’s perspective into the process from the beginning. Her background also extends beyond fashion. With previous professional experience in finance in Ukraine, Nataliia combines creativity with a practical understanding of business—although at Mayhem we occasionally have to remind everyone that spreadsheets and corsets generally require very different tools. As Mayhem Studios builds its new roster for Fall 2026 and beyond, Nataliia represents an important part of that philosophy: bringing together designers, photographers, models, makeup artists, and other independent creatives instead of treating them as separate worlds. Her Ukrainian roots, Brooklyn energy, and willingness to experiment make her a natural fit for a studio built around one simple idea: Don’t be ordinary just because ordinary is easier. Fashion Designer. Entrepreneur. Collaborator. Creative trouble maker.
Talentakquise
VICTORIA B. Talentakquise – Mayhem Studios NY. Victoria B., ursprünglich aus Chicago, tauschte die Windy City vor etwa 15 Jahren gegen New York und hat sich seitdem eine Karriere in der Unterhaltungsbranche aufgebaut. Tagsüber arbeitet sie als Unterhaltungsanwältin in New York; neben ihrem Berufsleben ist sie kürzlich zu Mayhem Studios gestoßen, um uns bei etwas unkonventionelleren Ansätzen zu unterstützen. In der Talentakquise nutzt Victoria ihre Erfahrung in der Unterhaltungsbranche, ihr professionelles Netzwerk und ihr Gespür für interessante Persönlichkeiten, um Models, Fotografen, Visagisten, Stylisten, Künstler und andere kreative Talente zu identifizieren und zu empfehlen, die gut zu Mayhem passen könnten. Und diese Empfehlungen sind wichtig. Während Mayhem Studios ein komplett neues Künstlerportfolio für 2026 und darüber hinaus aufbaut, ist Victoria ein fester Bestandteil des basisorientierten Wachstumsansatzes des Studios geworden: Gute Menschen finden andere gute – und manchmal wunderbar ungewöhnliche – Menschen. Anstatt sich ausschließlich auf traditionelle Casting- und Agenturkanäle zu verlassen, baut Mayhem auf Beziehungen, Empfehlungen, Kooperationen und der Entdeckung von Talenten an unerwarteten Orten. Victoria vereint ihre Chicagoer Wurzeln, ihre New Yorker Erfahrung, Branchenkenntnisse im Entertainmentbereich und ein starkes professionelles Netzwerk in dieser Mission. Während sie beruflich mit den rechtlichen Aspekten der Unterhaltungsbranche befasst ist, unterstützt sie uns bei Mayhem dabei, die kreativen Köpfe hinter den Projekten zu finden. Talent ist überall. Victoria hilft Mayhem, es zu entdecken.
Talentakquise/Männliches Model
ROBERT JOHANSSON Talent Acquisition & Male Model — Mayhem Studios NY Originally from Norway and now calling New York City home, Robert Johansson brings years of modeling experience, an international perspective, and a personality that’s difficult to keep confined to one side of the camera. Robert spent years working within the modeling industry in his native Scandinavia before moving to New York four years ago. Today he lives on the Lower East Side, continues to model, and has become both a friend of Mayhem Studios and an important part of its growing creative network. Outgoing, social, confident, and rarely afraid to start a conversation, Robert has a natural ability to connect with people. That makes him particularly valuable in his additional role with Talent Acquisition. He knows the industry from a model’s perspective and understands that sometimes the person with the most potential isn’t the person carrying the most impressive portfolio. As Mayhem builds its new roster for 2026 and beyond, Robert has helped introduce and refer new models and creative talent to the studio. His connections, industry experience, and willingness to spread the word about what Mayhem is building have made him an important part of the studio’s unconventional approach to recruiting. Robert still gets in front of the camera himself—so he isn’t simply telling prospective talent what a shoot is like. He’s still doing it. Part model, part recruiter, part international ambassador for creative chaos—and definitely someone who knows how to work a room. Robert doesn’t just find talent. He knows what it’s like to be the talent.