When Jason Wedesky's clients mentioned how much they liked his ads for his Shorewood salon, Actaea Works, Ltd., he had an idea. And before anyone could blink, Wedesky opened Dolls Eye Photography Studio with Actaea Communications Director, Jill Grisham.
Since Wedesky owns both businesses, Dolls Eye and Actaea work in tandem. The partnership makes it possible for photo studio clients to decide every detail of their portrait, including makeup, hairstyle, setting, props, even the frames once the pictures are developed.
Dolls Eye, at 338 N. Milwaukee St., employs two local photographers, Dan Bishop and David Milbauer. So far, the esteemed shutterbugs have shot an eclectic group, including an anchor person, local actors, a tasteful nude of a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy and a bunch of kids for Christmas card covers.
Although studio costs vary, and Wedesky hesitated to ballpark, Grisham assured, "We can accommodate any budget."
Dolls Eye is also a boutique offering a swanky selection of interesting stuff. For the holidays, most of the merchandise was moved from the Milwaukee Street studio to Actaea, 4001 N. Oakland Ave. (Think store within a salon.)
{INSERT_RELATED}Available items include a fascinating vitamin spray called Sprayology, Radio Yoda watches packaged in working radios, T-shirts reading "Don't worry I didn't like your boyfriend either," candles from The Elton John Collection and a rotating array of unique handbags and jewelry made by artists from New York, L.A. and Chicago.
"We sell cool, interesting and trendy pieces," says Wedesky. "You know, stuff nobody needs but really should have two of."
For more information, call (414) 271-DOLL.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.