Jason Keeven Photo

A little over 20 years ago, a close friend of mine encouraged me to pick up my first camera. I had been fly-on-the-wall to quite a few commercial shoots by another friend Bob Jacquin and had an extreme curiosity in photography. In retrospect, being a visual storyteller with a degree in visual communications, I guess it made sense. It was on one of those shoots that I met Suzy Friton. Bob often brought Suzy in for hair and makeup on the shoots and I would assist and play the Digitech role (before it was officially a thing). It was the early days of digital photography and I think all of us were eager to see the possibilities digital photography could take us.

Many times, after shoots we would all hang out a bit, chat, a have a beer, and I think that’s where Suzy and I first connected. We had mutual friends who all hung out and we’d see each other and catch up, but I think it was when we were creating together—her with hair and make-up and me shooting—that we found a close bond. Over the next 5 years, when either of us wasn’t working we were often shooting together… and if we weren’t shooting, we were often planning the next shoot. Suzy was an important part of my growth as a photographer. She often played the dual role of both H/MU stylist and subject. I think it was this constant playful exploring and learning that helped us both grow in our respective areas. By 2006 Suzy had become quite the accomplish make-up artist. She had embraced new techniques (airbrush) and had honestly outgrown the St. Louis market and had greater heights to soar too.

In 2006 Suzy decided to relocate to Los Angeles where, her skills would find a wide-open range of opportunities. She became an ambassador for DinAir (before being an ambassador was even a thing) and began a long career as stylist for ESPN and the UFC. We managed to work together on a few more projects whenever I was out in LA, and we would always shoot when she came back in town to visit family. But as she got busier with traveling and her work, and I with my Ad Agency, our chances to collaborate and work together became less and less frequent.

Over the next ten years we connected less. We both had lots of craziness in our lives (both good and bad) and new seasons of friends would enter both of our lives. Looking back, I think Suzy not being around was a big part of why I put the camera down and took a break from shooting.

On September 9th, Suzy died from stage four breast cancer. I know her family at UFC with grieve the loss of a truly fierce collaborator just as I do. We had grown apart through the years, but I still hold her up as the gold standard by which I will always judge other stylists. She loved her craft and mastered it in a way that many others can only hope to aspire too.

Today I look back fondly, on the years we collaborated, the laughs we shared (I’ll never forget watching Tom Green in Sarasota with her and Steve Owen). Today I am joyful that she is no longer suffering, and hopeful she is playing with the most amazing color palettes ever in heaven.