Urban Chic Beauty wrote:
Please look over my Makeup applications and critique them. I have a complete kit with professional quality products already I use Graftobian HD foundation (except the pinup look) , MAC and Urban Decay for eye colors, and Ben Nye Setting powders. I am currently working on finding a photographer to get professional photos taken.

What can I use work on? Any suggestion on techniques and products are more than welcome. Would you work with me?

Hi, first off, I applaud you for having headshots of your makeup skills in your portfolio.

Second...eh...the makeup is ok overall.

Meaning I'm not terribly impressed with it and I'm not discouraged by it either.

I think you have some raw skills yes...but you need some serious work, practice and studying to fine tune them as well.

I just finished posting my views on another mau thread who was asking about her stuff as well.

Your port is limited (not only) to only a few images, but to women of color.

Basically, when I am seeking a makeup artists I want to see a variety in their port.

I want to see strength in their makeup abilities.

My advice?

* Work with better photographers (the ones in your port are not good and do not show your work off effectively).

* Show variety in your work, including but not limited to the following:
A) Formal/Theatrical
B) Casual/Day time
C) Creative/Fantasy
D) Ethnic Diversion (Hispanic/Caucasian/Asian/Afro-American/Indian/etc.)

Best of luck to you!

Swank Photography wrote:

Hi, first off, I applaud you for having headshots of your makeup skills in your portfolio.

Second...eh...the makeup is ok overall.

Meaning I'm not terribly impressed with it and I'm not discouraged by it either.

I think you have some raw skills yes...but you need some serious work, practice and studying to fine tune them as well.

I just finished posting my views on another mau thread who was asking about her stuff as well.

Your port is limited (not only) to only a few images, but to women of color.

Basically, when I am seeking a makeup artists I want to see a variety in their port.

I want to see strength in their makeup abilities.

My advice?

* Work with better photographers (the ones in your port are not good and do not show your work off effectively).

* Show variety in your work, including but not limited to the following:
A) Formal/Theatrical
B) Casual/Day time
C) Creative/Fantasy
D) Ethnic Diversion (Hispanic/Caucasian/Asian/Afro-American/Indian/etc.)

Best of luck to you!

Thanks so much for your reply! My pictures were taken by me on my not so great digital camera. I am hoping to find a good photographer to work with here. I never though about ethnic diversity will definitely work on that. I love doing makeup so I plan on continuing to practice on different faces and hone my skills.

Chicchowmein wrote:
It as obvious to me right away that all of the image in your portfolio were snapshots taken by you which to me is preferable to seeing a portfolio of images of " professional" photographers who have indiscriminately used the blur filter so that you can't see the makeup artist work.

I am not discounting the importance of working with professionals but often I can see more from a snapshot than an overly retouched image. At a certain point it may be worth it to pay a pro to help you develop your book but for now I would just keep working on improving my portfolio and working on my skill set.

What I am looking for as a photographer and most agencies are looking for and the hardest thing to find is good " clean natural" makeup.

All that crazy stuff is great but in reality most of what you are going to be hired for is going to be clean natural. If you look in the magazines today the trend is towards very clean makeup.

Glamour is a little different and bridal is different as well. Another crucial thing to consider is to know your client and what their needs are. When in doubt ask for samples or tearsheets to know what kind of look they are trying to achieve.

I would get a more well balanced portfolio in terms of ethnic diversity and I would post some before and afters. People are really impressed by before and afters.

Best of luck on your journey!

I did notice that a lot of established Mua have clean natural makeup shots in there portfolio. Before and Afters are a great idea. Thanks for all the advice I'm encouraged by how helpful everyone is here.