Professional Makeup Artist

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. I would definitely recommend to see the artist's portfolio. Everyone's makeup style is different, so its easier to know what to expect if you've seen their work.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Well I think we all see those magazines/ads with gorgeous makeup and flawless skin. Its important to understand that there is a lot that goes behind it, and it may not all be a makeup artist's doing. Photoshop and other programs that manipulate images play a HUGE role.

Also I'd think people would be surprised to know that that the real real good makeup artist are also fine artists.
Color, line and light are elements that all artist use to create their masterpieces, its no different with makeup, at least in my eyes:)

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. For me, its the moment after application when a client looks into the mirror and smiles. If I can communicate the beauty I see through my makeup application, I've done my job.

Q. What are your most common types of jobs?

A. My most common type of jobs are fashion shoots. I work in a studio off of 4th ave. with an emerging high fashion photographer, Jose Beltran.
Some of my previous work has been with The Gap, Banana Republic-Tucson Fashion Week, The Arizona Daily Star.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I was recently invited to do a big socialite's makeup at her multi-million dollar mansion. The whole day was a dream! There was even talk of some photo's going to Mercedes Benz for publication. Very exciting :)

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. I would say the latest developments in my field is how fast someone can become rich and famous for their makeup talents. Before I became a makeup artist, I learned how to apply makeup from girl's on youtube. A few years down the road the same girl's now have contracts with famous cosmetics brands for promoting or creating products.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. If someone wanted to become a makeup artist, I would advise them to figure out which niche they would work best in. By that I mean, if your dreaming of fashion shows and shoots and lots of $$$, success may mean relocating to a big city and working with big names.
If your thinking of wedding and events, connecting to the community and earning credibility slowly but surely may be your ticket.
There's just so many places a makeup artist may be needed so be honest with yourself and start doing makeup!