Throughout my career I have met a lot of peoples that in a way or another have contributed to my work, and even though all these wonderful people have been thanked more than once, with this page I want to let them know that I do not forget what building blocks they have been in my life. Today I want to thank all of them again, and if I have forgotten someone, please forgive me and write me about it!
Vincent Watson : Photographer. writer, and Web Master of this website. A wonderful friend, he has helped me with his talent in various ways. Vincent photographic work can be seen in the Bakery photo shoot gallery, but more of his beautiful photography can be found in his www.notenoughwords.com web page. I hope you’ll go and check it out!
Tom Corcoran: Photographer. Tom and I have known each other for a long time, and aside from been Maria Campo’s photographer, he is also a longstanding friend. Tom’s work is a bit all over this web site, this is why it is difficult to point it out. His photos can be found in the DIFFA 2002, WIZARD of OZ page, DIFFA 2003 and 2004 as for the Laundromat photo shoot. Some of his photos have been published in various magazines and his work is not limited to fashion. If you are interested in knowing more about his work, you can write him HERE
Sophia Hantzes: Photographer. Sophia is a wonderful woman and friend, a sport photographer; she has always been very involved in the DIFFA’S events and volunteered as the photographer in previous shows. Fashion isn’t her thing (she prefers sport), but her photography is still very beautiful and you can see it in the DIFFA’S pages. Once she told me that to her it is more about the action, the feelings the model transmits while on the runway that interests her which she tries to captures in her photos, and I think she does a very good job at that. See her work in photos DIFFA ’03: No. 005, 0018, 0020 and 0022. DIFFA ’04: 0004, 0008, 00014, 00019, 00026 and 00027.
Dan Marshal Photography: I’ve never met Dan in person, but he has been wonderful in letting me have the following photos; see his work in photos DIFFA ’03: No. 0010, 0013, 0024, 0025 and 0027.
Carolyn Sieler: Mom of a beautiful and talented model, she has been the right arm in a couple of the DIFFA”S shows, helping out in many ways, one of which was taking photos of the “behind the scene” action. Thanks Carolyn! See her work in photos DIFFA ’03: No. 0028 through 0033.
Shelly Koland: Do you believe in angels? Since the 2003 DIFFA event I do. I had committed to making a beautiful group of dresses for my theme which was Masquerade, and I needed masks; I had designed all but one of these one-of-a-kind masks and I was looking for a way to create them, when Shelly appeared and said to me: “I know how we can make them!” So she, Jo (her business partner), myself and Bianca got together and made the masks under the attentive eye of Shelly who is as well, an amazing iron sculptor. Shelly and Jo were important elements to this project and you can see some of their work in the DIFFA 2003 page and the Stage Accessories pages. Shelly and Jo, thank you so much! If you are interested in knowing more about Shelly and Jo's other art, please write us and we’ll forward your message to them.
Troe Williams: owner and designer of Vandalism Design. Troe is another angel that helped me with the Masquerade event and then again with the DIVA 2004 event. Troe is a very talented designer who will never stop to amaze me with his creativity, and ability to mold and do things with materials that are sometimes not used in fashion. His creations have graced many stages and as well, decorate some of the best local Clubs and restaurants in the Twin Cities. In business for many years, he took time off his very busy schedule to help me, and during this crazy, hectic time of late nights on a sewing machine while drinking espresso by the mugs, listening to great Jazz or R&B, we "embroidered" our friendship one stitch at the time. Troe, thank you my friend! Check his talent at: www.vandalismdesigns.com
Other Angels: Vicki, Susan, Patty, great friends who jumped in without reservation to help and support me when I needed it. Vicki is actually a very talented painter; you can see her work in www.hevenlyhue.com
The Lady Bug Chapter of MN: This group of wonderful, energetic “girls” is behind a lot of very small gowns and accessories received by tiny children at the Children Hospital’s Pre Natal Care department. They are true angels to these little babies but they were angels to me in 2003 while I was preparing for the DIFFA 2003 fashion show. Michele (in the photo), came to me offering her help which I gladly accepted. After realizing I needed more hands than the ones already at work, Michele reunited her Lady Bug group and I found myself with a new set of friends with whom I am still in touch. That year I participated at the annual Lady Bug Chapter Luncheon as the featured designer for the show, my way to display their talent and great friendship to the rest of the members and guests, one example is the dress photographed by Dan Marshal (Diffa 2003 photo 007). These wonderful women are Michele, Sandy and Erlinda. I have the feeling I’m forgetting someone and if I am, Michele please let me know.
Models: I have been graced not only by the beauty of my models but their abilities and hard work. Too many to list, their faces are all over my website. These women and men, have endured been pinned during fittings, have traveled miles on their feet, have put up with crowded dressing rooms, hours of hair and make up, some with very heavy accessories or costumes; headaches, sore feet and long hours which they dismissed the moment they went on stage or in front of the photographer. Kudos to all of you and to all of you my heartfelt thanks!
Kevin Kamin: a dear friend, a wonderful filmmaker with only the best result in mind. Kevin and I worked side by side on his movie Shawn Ship Shape for which I did the wardrobe. Kevin is a guy with a gentle but determined personality. His professionalism in his work shows it. Kevin I want to thank you for the great opportunity you gave me to learn from you the world of Independent Filmmaking.
Amanda Brunner/ Click Photography. Amanda is a young but promising photographer and the author of many of the men's wear photos on my UOMO MODA page except the dress-form photos, the 00301 to 00310, the 00316/17 and 00335. Her fashion photography has been seen in the Lavender Magazine, and other publications. If you need to talk to her for photographic work, she may be contacted HERE.
Thank you Amanda for your great work!
Hair & Makeup: DIVA 2004 the wonderful people you can see in the photos of the backstage preparation of the models are: Nicki Brown, Ande Bourin, Matt Nichols, and Carrie Nelson of MOXIE SALON. Applause to them for an amazing work of make up and hair! More people should be thanked for previous work such as in the DIFFA 2002 & 2003 in addition to other events, so to you all, thank you.
Bianca: My Muse; a talented very young designer herself, she has been my biggest supporter.She has watched me grow in the business while growing herself in it through snippets of threads, needles and pins, fabrics and paper. She has designed some of the accessories used in the DIFFA 2002 and 2003. In the 2002 one of the Tin-men models (photo 0013) is wearing a hat that Bianca (at that time age 10), designed for the dress. Other contributions are the beautiful and whimsical purse she designed for the DIFFA 2003 which was held by my “Courtesan” dress in photos 002 through 005 and again in photo 0027, and the mask with head piece for the “Cedrone” dress (photos 0016 & 0026). A better view of these items can be found in the Accessories page; photos 0016 and 0022 for the purse and 0017 through 0019 for the mask and head piece. The photo No. 005 is of the other head piece. Bianca has at age 8 designed her designed her Communion dress for which she chose a beautiful Italian embroidered fabric and contrasting ivory silk for the sash, all of which I made under her watchful eye. Thank you Bianca for your support and inspiration!
If I have forgotten any of you, please write me about it and I’ll see what can be done to include you. If you do not want to be mentioned in this or other pages, please let me know and we will take your name out. For any misspelled name, incorrect credit, and all other communications, please write us an email.
Thank you,
Maria Campo