AEB MUA wrote:
How do you set up your makeup station? And is it for one client, at a studio with provided chair/table/lighting, or on location? What do you haul with you other than your kit and then when you get there how exactly do you set it up? What's your rhyme and reason to put certain items in specific areas and how do you best maximize space and organization?

My setups vary according to what I'm doing and where I'm going. My main bag is the Zuca backpack, and if I'm doing a light commercial/grooming job I can often fit both hair and makeup stuff into it. I bring my airbrush in a separate bag, and sometimes stash hairstyling tools in there too. I tend to unpack and repack my kit frequently but there's a "core" that usually stays the same. I do have to unpack my bag when I arrive but I can work out of the smaller bags within, so set up is pretty fast. I'm pretty happy with the system so far!

I drive, so I keep a bunch of just-in-case equipment in the trunk of my car: a folding director's chair with side table and pockets (saves my back - I hate bending over to do makeup!), an extension cord, a folding camping table, and a lighting kit. (Driving to gigs means I have the luxury of overpacking... LOL!) I rarely need all of that, but occasionally I'm in a small dark space with no table space so I bring it in as needed.

Here's one example of everything in use, from a recent shoot in an unfurnished room (by the time I got around to taking the photo, we had sunlight coming in so I technically didn't need the lights anymore) - the hairstylist used half of the table for her stuff, so it worked out nicely:



Here's a close-up of a different setup; my backpack is full of clear vinyl zip bags (some are Zuca brand, some random other ones I've collected over the years). The brush roll is cheap faux leather but holds a ton; I found it on eBay:



Yeah, I have wayyyyy too many eyeshadows... don't follow my example, you certainly don't need a whole Z-Palette per color! I'm slightly addicted but I do love the Zs for storage, they fit loads of pans and I haven't had as much breakage as I used to. (When I travel, I scale this down and fill up a single Z with mainly Yaby pans.)



Glamcor light kit in use in a dark studio (useful when I have to do touch-ups during a shoot, when the overhead lights are off) - I had an unusual amount of table space that day, so my hairstyling stuff is spread out in the background:



One set-up from NY Fashion Week; Youngblood was the sponsor so lots of their stuff is on display (always do this - your stations get photographed and the sponsors want to see their stuff!)



Another NYFW setup, BeautiControl was the sponsor (face charts by key artist Viktorija Bowers):



This was from a recent catalog shoot with three models; I kept the used brushes organized on labeled paper towels (I totally labeled them with eyeliner pencil, LOL). If you have less space, cups for the different brush sets work too:



Minimalist touch up kit on the beach Didn't get a photo of my set-up, unfortunately - I was outside in a parking lot, so I used my table and chair and then threw everything but the touch up materials back in the trunk when I was through.



I hope that gives you some ideas!

LizW_Makeup wrote:
My setups vary according to what I'm doing and where I'm going. My main bag is the Zuca backpack, and if I'm doing a light commercial/grooming job I can often fit both hair and makeup stuff into it. I bring my airbrush in a separate bag, and sometimes stash hairstyling tools in there too. I tend to unpack and repack my kit frequently but there's a "core" that usually stays the same. I do have to unpack my bag when I arrive but I can work out of the smaller bags within, so set up is pretty fast. I'm pretty happy with the system so far!

Thank you, Liz! Very informative. I love seeing how others are set up.

~Michelle

Heather J M wrote:

Hey Heather,

Are your brushes in a brush roll just leaning against the mirror? Or in some kind of stand up thingie?

Right now I use several keg cups for brushes on gigs and it works okay, but I've been looking for something like a brush roll that can prop up vertically. I've seen some, but not any that hold the amount of brushes I have with me when I'm working.

Dani B

Heather J M wrote:
Hey! Yes that is a brush roll propped against the mirror. To be honest it holds itself up pretty well due to being at the very edge of capacity. I'm looking for a new one myself - I love the brush easels but I need a bigger one than I can currently find?

Darnit! Yes, I know, me too! That pic is exactly what I want and what I've looked at, but it needs to be bigger, as you said. Or at least able to hold a jillion brushes. Any crafty people out there? Ok, I'm done hijacking.

Aviva Leah wrote:
Any suggestions for lights/lamps to use?

GLAMCOR!

CMaquillage wrote:
here's some of mine

AMAZING - SO MANY PHOTOS SO MUCH INFO, NEW IDEAS FOR ME. Ummmm.... dumb question I am sure - what are those mats you have on the tables and where can I get them? Purpose? Thanks, sorry for not knowing, I use disposable mats but this looks like no slip grip!

AEB MUA wrote:

AMAZING - SO MANY PHOTOS SO MUCH INFO, NEW IDEAS FOR ME. Ummmm.... dumb question I am sure - what are those mats you have on the tables and where can I get them? Purpose? Thanks, sorry for not knowing, I use disposable mats but this looks like no slip grip!

they are bamboo place matts from the dollar store. just a lil nicer then a towel or paper towel, i'm all about presentation.

CMaquillage wrote:

they are bamboo place matts from the dollar store. just a lil nicer then a towel or paper towel, i'm all about presentation.

I am LOVING that idea.

/ PS this thread = win.

BrianaDanielle wrote:

I am LOVING that idea.

/ PS this thread = win.

+1,000!!! I love the bamboo mats idea and I luvs all the pictures!!! Definitely inspiring.

JZino wrote:

+1,000!!! I love the bamboo mats idea and I luvs all the pictures!!! Definitely inspiring.

Bought some! Yay! MORE PHOTO UPLOADS PLEASE!

CMaquillage wrote:
they are bamboo place matts from the dollar store. just a lil nicer then a towel or paper towel, i'm all about presentation.

I also have the bamboo mats. I LOVE them. And you are right, they present your products better and they are easier to clean.

CMaquillage wrote:

they are bamboo place matts from the dollar store. just a lil nicer then a towel or paper towel, i'm all about presentation.

I lay these down over the top of my work surface. It's convenient if i need to take excess product off my brushes too, I can just wipe the brush or tap it over the sheet without fear of staining the table.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product … 94737.html

Makeup by Dani B wrote:

Darnit! Yes, I know, me too! That pic is exactly what I want and what I've looked at, but it needs to be bigger, as you said. Or at least able to hold a jillion brushes. Any crafty people out there? Ok, I'm done hijacking.

Have you looked at EMJ Company?  They do large brush wraps (luxury), albeit not stand up ones.

http://www.theemjcompany.com/index.php/cPath/33