LEARN HOW CITY LIGHTS EVOLVED OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS
Editorial & Beauty
Agency Founder and Director, Paula Heckenast, began her career as one of Chicago’s most sought-after professional hair and makeup artists.
Renowned for her work with high-profile fashion, lifestyle, and commercial photographers, Paula built her reputation at the intersection of artistry, precision, and production-level excellence.
Beauty has always been a cornerstone of our agency, not as a trend, but as a disciplined craft rooted in experience, consistency, and elevated execution.
Celebrity & Publications
With a career rooted in celebrity clientele and widely published work, Paula built her name inside the highest tiers of beauty, fashion, and media. Her artistry has appeared across national campaigns, editorial publications, commercial productions, and on-camera talent, earning trust from celebrities, executives, and creative directors who require absolute consistency under pressure.
Years spent on set in TV, film, and union environments shaped Paula’s approach to beauty as a production discipline. Precision, continuity, discretion, and timing became non-negotiables.
These standards ultimately led to the creation of City Lights Beauty Agency, a concierge-level beauty agency designed to operate with the structure, professionalism, and polish of a production house.
Today, City Lights represents a vetted roster of elite artists trained in television, film, union sets, and luxury live events. From red carpets and celebrity appearances to large-scale productions and high-profile events, the agency delivers calm, camera-ready excellence with seamless execution.
Corporate & Executive
What began with executive and corporate headshots quickly evolved into something larger. As leaders stepped in front of the camera, it became clear that presence, confidence, and preparation mattered just as much as the final image.
City Lights expanded from individual grooming into full-scale corporate beauty and experiential support.
On-site executive prep, conference beauty teams, and curated touch-up environments transformed high-pressure moments into calm, confidence-building experiences. From there, team-focused activations emerged organically, blending beauty, connection, and culture into elevated team-building moments.
Today, City Lights designs experiences that support leadership, energize teams, and elevate brand presence, all delivered with concierge-level care and production-grade precision.
Experiential & Activation
With a career rooted in celebrity clientele and widely published work, Paula built her name inside the highest tiers of beauty, fashion, and media.
Her artistry has appeared across national campaigns, editorial publications, commercial productions, and on-camera talent, earning trust from celebrities, executives, and creative directors who require absolute consistency under pressure.
Years spent on set in TV, film, and union environments shaped Paula’s approach to beauty as a production discipline. Precision, continuity, discretion, and timing became non-negotiables.
These standards ultimately led to the creation of City Lights Beauty Agency, a concierge-level beauty agency designed to operate with the structure, professionalism, and polish of a production house.
Today, City Lights represents a vetted roster of elite artists trained in television, film, union sets, and luxury live events. From red carpets and celebrity appearances to large-scale productions and high-profile events, the agency delivers calm, camera-ready excellence with seamless execution.
Bridal & Elopement
Bridal and elopement beauty is where everything we’ve built comes together.
Years of production, celebrity, corporate, and experiential work have shaped an approach that prioritizes calm, precision, and absolute reliability on the most important day of a woman’s life.
City Lights treats every bride like featured talent. From intimate elopements to full wedding weekends, our team delivers concierge-level support, long-wear artistry, and seamless execution designed to hold up through emotion, weather, photography, and time. No rushing. No chaos. Just grounded confidence and elevated beauty that lasts.
This isn’t traditional bridal beauty.
It’s a production-grade experience, intentionally designed for brides who value peace, presence, and polish.
Our Services
Celebrity
City Lights Beauty Agency has had the honor of working with some of the most recognized names in entertainment. Led by Paula Heckenast, our team provides elite-level makeup and hair services tailored to the needs of celebrities for red carpet events, press appearances, photoshoots, and on-screen performances. Our celebrity portfolio highlights our ability to create flawless, long-lasting looks under the pressures of high-profile events. From timeless elegance to bold, trend-setting styles, our work reflects the confidence and glamour required in the spotlight, ensuring our clients look impeccable at every angle.
Corporate
At City Lights Beauty Agency, we understand the importance of professional, polished looks for corporate projects. With over 18 years of industry experience, Paula Heckenast and her team offer expert makeup and grooming services tailored for corporate events, headshots, commercials, and media appearances. Our corporate portfolio showcases our ability to create clean, camera-ready styles that align with the brand image and professionalism required for business settings. Whether it’s a company-wide branding shoot or a keynote speaker’s presentation, our team ensures that every individual looks and feels confident, representing your company with excellence.
Editorial
City Lights Beauty Agency excels in delivering bold, innovative looks that push the boundaries of beauty for editorial projects. Led by Paula Heckenast, our team collaborates with top photographers, designers, and creative directors to bring visionary concepts to life. With a focus on high-fashion makeup, avant-garde hair styling, and artistic expression, our editorial portfolio reflects our ability to adapt to diverse themes while maintaining the integrity of each project’s creative direction. From magazine covers to fashion spreads, our work is designed to make a statement and capture the essence of beauty in every frame.
Bridal
At City Lights Beauty Agency, we specialize in creating flawless, personalized bridal looks that make every bride feel radiant on her special day. With over 18 years of experience, Paula Heckenast and her talented team are experts in crafting timeless, elegant, and on-trend styles tailored to each bride’s unique vision. From airbrush makeup to intricate hair designs, our bridal portfolio showcases the attention to detail, skill, and creativity that have made us a trusted choice for brides across North America. Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony or a grand celebration, our goal is to ensure you feel your most beautiful as you walk down the aisle.
Publications
City Lights Beauty Agency has been featured in various high-profile publications and media outlets. From bridal beauty spreads to celebrity looks, our work has graced the pages of industry-leading magazines, online beauty blogs, and professional trade publications. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for making every individual feel their most confident, Paula and her team bring their expertise to a diverse range of editorial and commercial projects. Explore our portfolio to discover the artistry that defines City Lights Beauty.
Innovation
Fresh, creative solutions.
Integrity
Honesty and transparency.
Excellence
Top-notch services.
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