Senior Makeup Artist
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.
Photographer -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.
Photo Assistant
LILLY COSME Part-Time Photo Assistant — Mayhem Studios New to the professional photography world but definitely not short on energy, Lilly Cosme joins Mayhem Studios as a part-time Photo Assistant with curiosity, intuition, reliability, and a genuine desire to learn the craft from the ground up. Whether she’s helping organize equipment, assisting on location, keeping a shoot moving, or figuring out what the photographer needs before he remembers to ask for it, Lilly brings exactly the kind of attitude Mayhem values: show up, pay attention, work hard, and don’t be afraid to jump in. Outside the studio, Lilly enjoys music, museums, art, and exploring new experiences. She is also a professional pet sitter—which means after dealing with dogs, cats, and occasionally questionable animal behavior, working with photographers and models should be relatively easy. Lilly is reliable, enthusiastic, ready to learn, and willing to work. While part of the Mayhem Studios team, she is also available independently for photography and production-assistant assignments outside of Mayhem. She’s new to the field—and that’s part of the point. Mayhem isn’t only about established professionals. It’s also about recognizing potential, developing talent, and giving motivated people the opportunity to become very good at something new. Every professional started somewhere. Lilly is just getting started. MAYHEM STUDIOS — OUT OF CHAOS COMES ART.
Photo Assistant / Photographer
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.
Booking Agent/Recruiter
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.
Talent Acquisition
VICTORIA B. Talent Acquisition — Mayhem Studios NY Originally from Chicago, Victoria B. traded the Windy City for New York about 15 years ago and has since built a career in the entertainment world. By day, she works as an entertainment lawyer in New York; outside of her regular professional life, she recently joined Mayhem Studios to help us do something a little less conventional. Working in Talent Acquisition, Victoria uses her entertainment-industry experience, professional network, and eye for interesting people to identify and refer models, photographers, makeup artists, stylists, performers, and other creative talent who might be a good fit for Mayhem. And those referrals matter. As Mayhem Studios builds an entirely new roster for 2026 and beyond, Victoria has become part of the studio’s grassroots approach to growth: good people finding other good—and occasionally wonderfully unusual—people. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional casting and agency channels, Mayhem is building through relationships, referrals, collaboration, and discovering talent in unexpected places. Victoria brings a combination of Chicago roots, New York experience, entertainment-industry knowledge, and a strong professional network to that mission. She may spend her regular working hours dealing with the legal side of entertainment, but at Mayhem she’s helping us find the people who make the creative side happen. Talent is everywhere. Victoria helps Mayhem find it.
Talent Acquisition/Male 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.