Reiss-Sitko Aims High With New Downtown St. Charles Business

Karla Reiss-Sitko has proven herself in the city’s business world in terms of resilience and adaptability.

The former mortgage broker  transitioned into work as a retailer after the housing crisis. She opened Claudia’s Closet, 217 W. Main St., a luxury consignment boutique that she built into a successful, growing business with a loyal following.

Serving your clients well and providing them with a quality product are key, she says, to growing a successful business. She recently sold that business, and believes the new owner will assure that Claudia’s Closet continues to thrive and grow.

But while selling a business that’s been near and dear to her heart from the start marks the end of a chapter in her life, it also marks the start of another.

Reiss-Sitko has teamed up with photographer Thomas H.P. “Jerry” Jerusalem of A-Moment-in-Time.com Photography to open shop on the second floor of 15 S. 2nd St. as Shooting Star Studios. The talent agency and photo studio opened its doors June 7, 2013. She and Jerry will host their officials grand opening, however, from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 22.

While quite different from the retail venue she cultivated at Claudia’s Closet, a model/talent agency is not as far from what she’s familiar with as one might think.

“Jerry and I worked together with models when I owned Claudia’s Closet,” Reiss-Sitko said, noting the “Big V” shows she hosted, featuring local talent to model the pieces she sold.

A model/talent agency, she said, offers her and Jerry a unique opportunity. “We can continue working with other places to help these girls make their dreams come true,” she said.

The two of them believe that is precisely what they can do. Reiss-Sitko  recently began publishing a magazine, I Did It, and Jerry is preparing to embark on his own publishing venture with a magazine, Vintage, set to launch in August.

Jerry’s a talented photographer who already has been working with Reiss-Sitko and local models to get their faces on the pages of magazines. Publishing their own magazines, which will feature their own models, will help the girls build up “tear sheets,” which are published photos that become more or less like a resume for them as they pursue new modeling jobs.

Shooting Star Studios combines the talents Jerry’s photo talents with casting calls for print, TV, and fashion shows, according to a release issued earlier this week by the Downtown St. Charles Partnership.

The grand opening will give visitors an opportunity to see the new business, meet, Reiss-Sitko and Jerry, enjoy food and beverages, and will feature a fashion runway show with multiple designers and models that appeared in Vogue Italia.

The studio is scheduling regular open casting calls that are free and open to the age ranges listed on its website, according to the Downtown St. Charles Partnership release. Those attending may come in natural hair and makeup and casual clothing. Those younger than 18 must attend with a parent.

Recently, a casting call landed 10 girls print opportunities. “The girls are coached during the photo shoot with … Jerry. The transformations can be incredible; the process is a confidence-builder that allows the girls to see themselves and like themselves for who they are,” says Reiss-Sitko.

Upcoming casting calls Include:

• From 1 to 4 p.m. every Friday, or by appointment only; email your photo and resume to: info@ShootingStar-Studios.com.

• From noon to 5 p.m. Monday, June 24: An open casting call.

• Aug. 16: Models Hang-Out Social Event network and shoot event for A-Moment-in-Time.com Models-Shooting Star Studios, Modeling+Talent Agency,.

To learn more about Shooting Star Studios, please visit www.shootingstar-studios.com.

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