Lynz_Sharon wrote:
I was reading another post and had a question that I didn't want to post in there.

What's important in a portfolio I plan to show to people I want to assist or photographers I want to test with?  Not so much a portfolio I would show possible clients and paid work, but people I'd like to approach about being part of their team and testing.

MUA, what do you look for in a beginners portfolio?  If someone wants to assist you, is there anything you think is a must have for their portfolio?  Anything you do NOT want to see in a portfolio?  Does the photography style have a strong impact on what you see? 

And photographers/hairstylist/wardrobe, if a newer MUA approaches you, what do you look for in a portfolio and what would be a definite don't?  Do you prefer to see beauty shots or ones where the makeup isn't the main aspect of the concept?

Would you prefer a printed portfolio or is an online one acceptable?

Sorry about all the questions, and thank you!

This is a GREAT question

things I would want to see
eyes
A well blended eye
Different styles of eyes on the appropriate model, smokey , rounded , nude , color ,  block color , i. e.   tecnique and a well rounded idea of different styles
Buetiful liner, cat , natural , smudged , winged ect ect
lips 
a perfect mouth
lined
overdrawn
underdrawn
natural
different shaped bows and different period styles
Skin
Flawless natural skin
dewy
glossy
matte
natural
shading and conture

I want to see the choices you make as an artist
I want to know you know how to cover a tattoo
do body makeup ( not body painting but body makeup )

Id like to get a sense of who you are as an artist and your ability

I think a HUGE problem is with younger artists is they dont understand how  your book should reflect your ability
I think alot of people think that its the Wow artsy makeup we are looking for , as an assistant I really want to know if I say lets do a rounded glossy eye you will know what im talking about
or lets do a retro Biba style shoot ...... youll know what I mean
I do alot of beauty and fashion but ............
I tend to do ALOT of commercials so I want to know you know how to do character makeup as well

yes I want to know your ability but if you want to wow me , show me a book with those kinds of images .......

that being said .......... your personality will weight equally as heavily as your ability becouse if we do work together chances are we will be on set together anywhere from 8 to 16 hours so we have to get on well and entertain each other and as Rick said ....... I also need to know you have my back as you represent me on jobs

Lynz_Sharon wrote:
Thank you for all the information.  I've bookmarked it and will be sure to listen to your advice!

I never would have thought to include a tattoo cover up or body makeup!

Yeah , but for someone like me that does a ton of commercials , were constantly covering tattoos , so for me its a huge feather in your cap to know someone elese on my team can do that , also for runway

One of my friends has almost made a career of that , covering angelina jolies tattoos..... its taken her all over the world and she s worked on a ton of huge features with her becouse of her skill in covering tattoos

Back in the day there was a seperate class of union makeup artists that were stricktly Body Makeup artists
I started in body makeup

Sian Ryan MUA wrote:
Brilliant reply ^
I am bookmarking this and taking as gospel!

Also again, I want to know book vs online?

for me either way , I just want to know what you can do

for an agency of course you would want to express this in a hard cover book , but its a really good idea to create a seprate book or online/ipad book to show other artists you would like to assist , I personally dont care about a hard cover book as im not an agent , just want to know if your on my team what you can do

TheMakeupMan wrote:

This is a GREAT question

things I would want to see
eyes
A well blended eye
Different styles of eyes on the appropriate model, smokey , rounded , nude , color ,  block color , i. e.   tecnique and a well rounded idea of different styles
Buetiful liner, cat , natural , smudged , winged ect ect
lips 
a perfect mouth
lined
overdrawn
underdrawn
natural
different shaped bows and different period styles
Skin
Flawless natural skin
dewy
glossy
matte
natural
shading and conture

I want to see the choices you make as an artist
I want to know you know how to cover a tattoo
do body makeup ( not body painting but body makeup )

Id like to get a sense of who you are as an artist and your ability

I think a HUGE problem is with younger artists is they dont understand how  your book should reflect your ability
I think alot of people think that its the Wow artsy makeup we are looking for , as an assistant I really want to know if I say lets do a rounded glossy eye you will know what im talking about
or lets do a retro Biba style shoot ...... youll know what I mean
I do alot of beauty and fashion but ............
I tend to do ALOT of commercials so I want to know you know how to do character makeup as well

yes I want to know your ability but if you want to wow me , show me a book with those kinds of images .......

that being said .......... your personality will weight equally as heavily as your ability becouse if we do work together chances are we will be on set together anywhere from 8 to 16 hours so we have to get on well and entertain each other and as Rick said ....... I also need to know you have my back as you represent me on jobs

Yep, I agree with all this 100% when considering an assistant. I don't have a preference if work is on reel or a hard copy, but I do like to meet/talk to an assistant first. If I can I'll work with them on a low stakes job or test first, to see how well we mesh. I've learned the hard way you can't always gauge a personality online.

I have to say skin is the most important thing to me. If I see a port full of colors on every page so all I see is makeup, photos that are overly airbrushed in a bad way, crap stuck on the models' faces, no intent in the choices made, I'll pass.

Brandi Bravo wrote:
This is all great information. Another burning question I have that might be a little off topic: how can I showcase my ability on MM in the most professional manner while I build my portfolio? I have started doing TF work and am waiting for images. But in the interim, how can I best prove that I am serious about my goal and not just someone that plays makeup on herself in her bedroom? :p

thats a tough question ........

edited :

Id say people will take you serious without a ton of great images first with your knowledge , do you speak the same language we do , do you know what looks which designers are featuring for which collection , do you know who shot what and who did the makeup ,,,, lets say in the current issue of italian vogue , whos on the cover of french vogue , V or W  ect.ect  Can you spot a work by Val Garland or Pat or Alex whats Gucci's new campain look like ......  or if fashion isnt your thing , who did the makeup on hunger games , who was the dept head . ect ect
learn to speak the language of the industry you want to work in , be it fashion , beauty , celebrity , film ,,,,,if you speak the language and dont have a book at least we will know your doing your home work  ,,,,,,,, so maybe you dont have the expeirnce yet or images , but your drive and passion ,and education will make people take you seriously