As you can probably tell from my portfolio, I generally go for the natural no-makeup look...I try to take really good care of my skin so I don't *need* to wear makeup and photographers seem to like to play up this attribute of mine...but I'd really love to have some fun with some bolder makeup looks and have been working on booking a MUA shoot since makeup is not my forte...in the meantime, based on my port does anyone have any suggestions for makeup looks, colors, effects, things I can mess around with and try out? Other than the obvious "smoky eye thing" which is going to have to wait for the MUA because every attempt of mine has been a complete and utter fail (I fall prey to the "the more I put on the better it will look!!" panic instinct).

The best way to get better at make up is to keep on practicing. You can read/watch about make up all you want, but you really learn through practicing on yourself and/or friends.

For hair color, you put blonde. This is a good makeup bit from a website I found, specific for blondes:

https://www.udemy.com/blog/makeup-for-blondes/
Makeup Colors for Your Blonde Hair
This breakdown of makeup colors will make it easier to navigate the complications of color palettes, depending on your particular appearance:

If you have light blonde hair, a light eye color, and ivory skin, you are most likely a summer, and you will want to use the following shades of makeup:

Foundation: Cool beige or ivory colors, without many warm tones

Lip: Soft colors, especially pinks, including rose or plum shades- nothing drastic

Eye: Highlights of soft yellow, pink, or champagne, with lowlights of teal, muted purple, or grey

Cheek: A soft pink or red, but again, nothing too dramatic or harsh

If you have golden blonde hair, bright green or blue eyes, and porcelain skin, you are most likely a spring, and you’ll want to use the following shades of makeup:

Foundation: Porcelain or a clear beige color

Lip: Classic red or strawberry pink

Eye: Light greens, yellows, and oranges for highlight, with a lowlight of dark purple or deep brown

Cheek: Very light pink or very soft red

Though most blondes look best in spring or summer palettes, if you have blonde hair that is tinged with a good deal of brown or red hues, as well as grey or hazel eyes, you could fall into the autumn category. Your makeup should include the following hues if you match this description:

Foundation: Classic beige

Lip: Deep mahogany reds and browns, and occasionally peach-like oranges

Eye: Highlights of orange and lemon shades, with lowlights of gray, deep green, or bronze

Cheek: Orange and brown tones rather than traditional red or pink

If you have blonde hair, it’s pretty much an impossibility that you’re a winter. Even if you have a darker complexion or your hair is naturally very dark, dying it blonde makes it difficult for winter tones to complement your appearance.

Since you don't generally wear a lot of make-up my sincere suggestion is that you experiment with a trusted friend who's more into make-up than you are, let them work on you while but don't look in the mirror until the whole look is finished. If you do this a few times it'll help you get used to seeing make-up on your face as well as likely teach you that every attempt by an amateur isn't going to be something perfect so that ultimately you get more comfortable trying out new looks on yourself.

As far as what looks to try I have a Pinterest board I send models pre shoot if I have to shoot without an MUA, the looks vary and many of them have step by step videos to follow: http://www.pinterest.com/tiffany_b/make … to-shoots/  I suggest starting with more subtle looks (something like this: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/228698487300752683/ or like this: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/228698487300273625/) in order to build up your confidence in terms of application and getting more comfortable seeing color on your face and then working your way up to something more dramatic.

Good luck!

It's a skill that requires practice.

see ---
'I turned Pamela Anderson into a sex symbol!' The make-up artist to the stars who gave the Baywatch beauty her iconic look
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar … -look.html

Pamela Anderson to Alexis Vogel: 'I have to have you do my make-up every day for the rest of my life!'