Makeup Artist Corner

This post is for the makeup artist just starting out or a veteran needing a refresher. Over the past weekend I attended Michael DeVellis' seminar Portfolio Building and Marketing Your Career at The Canadian Makeup Show. If you've ever been to any of The Powder Group seminars and heard Michael speak then you know how amazing, funny, and inspiring his seminar's are. What you get from these seminars are real experiences and honest advice. Here is what I took away from the seminar that will change your career and life forever!

Marketing Your Career:

1. Your full name is your brand. You are selling yourself and your work so don't just use part of your name. Michael hit on this point a lot. It makes sense right?

2. Making relationships are important and so are maintaining them. Everyone you meet will somehow change your career or your life.

3. When you meet someone for the first time always find a way to talk about what you do. You never know who you're talking to!

4. If you're shy (I'll admit - I can be like this sometimes!), it is up to you to get out there and build connections. No one will know your work or how talented you are if you're at home practicing on your sister or friend (but thank god for them!). It is up to you to familiarize yourself with all the resources available to you like seminars and workshops, agencies, photographers, blogs (Michael was so awesome to give my blog and Ellen's Lipstick, Powder, 'n Paint some love during his seminar!), anything and everything that has to do with your career.

5. 3 things your business card should have:

• your full name and what you do (i.e. if you only specialize in sfx or bridal makeup state that "sfx makeup artist" or "bridal makeup artist"). Also, make sure it's big enough to read (Michael pointed out that my name is too small to read on my card! I don't know why I didn't notice this before??)
  
• a consistent style: make a style that is true to you and your work. Be consistent with your colour choices, fonts, etc.
• your contact info: leave out extra details like "email", "phone number", or "http://www.". It's pretty self-explanatory. ;)

Portfolio:

1. You portfolio should tell a story and it should say most importantly that you're an amazing artist!

2. The only person that matters is the photographer. If you want amazing images you might have to pay a little money (unless you are fortunate to work with an amazing photographer who will give you free prints for your time also known as TFP's). You can do beautiful makeup and a bad photographer will make it look bad. I've always tried to find photographers who's work I admire or have the same style as I do. So, do your research!

3. Narrow down your portfolio to your best pictures. Less than 10 pictures is not a portfolio. If you have less than 10 pictures, always let the client or the person you're working with know that you are building your portfolio.

4. Not sure what images to include in your portfolio? Ask yourself 3 questions about each image:

• Am I proud of this image?
• Does it represent my best work at this moment in my career?
• Would I hire me based on this image?

Michael's seminar had everyone nodding their heads and probably some if not all had an epiphany about their career! I kid you not! It was too bad he ran out of time because it felt like we were just getting started. But don't worry! Michael will be back at Industry Cosmetics for Billy B.'s seminar (which I'm soo excited for!) on November 25th from 6-8 pm discussing this same topics! So, if you haven't signed up yet get to it! The seminar fee for Michael is $65 (CAD). If you can't make it, you can always check out thepowdergroup.com for upcoming seminars and shows in an area closes to you (you may have to get on a plane but it will be so worth it!). If you're going to Billy's and Michael's seminars let me know! If I don't know you already, I'd love to meet you! My interview with Michael will be posted this week so be on the look out!