J O H N  A L L A N wrote:
The makeup looks a bit heavy in a couple of the photos.
But what bothers me the most - is that it looks like the photographer color balanced the photos all wacky, so it's really difficult to tell if you have a good color esthetic or not - the photographer clearly doesn't.

Ah, I see what you mean. I don't have a trained enough eye yet to look for things like color balance, and I didn't think about how important it would be to photographers or clients when they're looking at my portfolio. I'll keep that in mind!

I thought I'd been a bit heavy-handed in my application, so I'm glad to hear a second so I know to definitely work on that. Thanks so much!

Carl Herbert wrote:
It's hard to tell whether the models' faces are excessively smoothed in shots #3 and #4 and/or they have too much foundation on. Either way, those shots might best be rotated out as soon as possible when you get a few more.

It looks to me you like using eyebrow pencil, which I strongly dislike. I have to make do with it sometimes because my subjects only know that  type of product for filling in eyebrows. I asked an experienced film and photo MUA what she does and she demonstrated a technique using a slanted, stiff brush to stroke texture and color onto the brows to make them look fuller with brush lines instead of filling them in with smudgy brown.

I like most of your pics, though. Tightly-composed beauty photos would serve your needs better than the wider shots.

I think the answer is "both" to #3 and #4, haha.

That's a really interesting point about the eyebrows...I actually don't use pencils, but powder, and I do use the same technique you mentioned your MUA used. I think the issue (other than the fact that I clearly need to practice and perfect that technique, haha) is that I'm not using a stiff angled brush, but a thinner one that gives me too clean of a line and deposits too much product. I'll definitely work on that.

Thank you so much! I appreciate it!

Lallure Photographic wrote:
There are a couple of points to make.

The use of "blush", is really supposed to create the shadows of natural sunlight on the face. It is not intended to add excessive color, and it is not intended to make you look "flush".  It should create soft shadows, under the cheek bones, in the hollow under that bone. It can also be used to create shadows at the temples, under the chin, and on the breastbone. It is entirely, a sculpting tool.

Indeed, make up in general is about sculpting the face, to make the facial features more prominent, so that softer, attractive light, does not "wash out" the facial features.

The other comment, is that all of the brows appear heavy. I like a little softer look than that, myself.

Thanks a lot! The sculpting uses you're describing for blush sound to me like they moreso describe a sculpting powder. Not to say that blush can't be used for that, but when the goal is to sculpt the face by recreating shadows as you mentioned, the typical choice is to use a sculpting powder with a cool, almost greyish undertone to mimic the shade that would be cast by a shadow, whereas blush typically gives color to the face rather than shadow. Of course this isn't a hard-and-fast rule, but that's what the general usages seem to be. Hmm!

Could you point out photos in my port that show what you're talking about with the blush? I'm having trouble seeing it since I'm looking at the blush vs sculpting powder differences. (With the exception of my profile picture, where I over-applied blush intentionally based on our goal for that look.)

And yes, thank you about the brows! That's something I noticed myself, and everyone else seems to as well. I'll definitely be working on that. 

Kristina Smith Beauty wrote:
I'm taking this all down and will make a note to really focus on  [b[brows and lip lines[/b], as the general consensus is that those seem to be my biggest weaknesses.

Brow & lips lines...now that you're aware, they will only get better. You show tremendous promise! Keep practicing & at the end of the day it's only makeup (washes off). You weren't tattooing colour onto the model's faces, right?

Masters of Illusion  wrote:

Brow & lips lines...now that you're aware, they will only get better. You show tremendous promise! Keep practicing & at the end of the day it's only makeup (washes off). You weren't tattooing colour onto the model's faces, right?

You mean all makeup artists don't tattoo their models?!?! 

Kristina Smith Beauty wrote:
If there are any makeup artists who would like to weigh in, that would be greatly appreciated! 

Kristina... as you request...  My compliments on your attaining an esthetician license... look to getting represented as a stylist... agencies are keen on those who are estheticians... We work in pretty much the same market so here is the submission page for leading agency in DC that reps stylist a.k.a. MUA's...   You are fortunate that you can work both DC and NYC from your location.

While it appears your work is good, as others have mentioned do not put any images in your book that isn't of commercial caliber i.e. quality... That said, Mayhem is the domain of hobbyist, commercial talent is far and few between... Also your "List" of Awesome Makeup Inspiration! is actually pretty much a showcase of retouching... not makeup artistry...

Words of wisdom... in our market area bridal pays well, so well that you are far better served pursuing this than investing time on Mayhem... the hobbyist on Mayhem will want your to do creative testing (unpaid) and you'll likely receive imagery that may be branded with the photographer's logo making it virtually useless for your book if you are seeking professional representational.  Thus be absolutely certain to obtain agreement and acceptance that you will receive "clean" imagery BEFORE accepting any creative testing... hope this makes sense...

Ok, as some have noted brows need to be well groomed (best prior to a session) before you apply product... use brow gel or hair spray on a spooly brush to train and hold them in place during the shoot...  Yes the lip line is important... use pencil first and then follow with cream product as needed...

btw, you book has a critical shortcoming... it is NOT gender neutral, you seriously need to address this quickly if you care to seek agency representation... My highest paid gigs are for advertising agency clients and predominately male grooming... a.k.a. concealer and anti-shine etc... You'll likely have to look to commercial photographers in your market rather than Mayhem here... The ASMP is an excellent place to start... they are principally commercial shooters not hobbyist and will be working with a healthy number of male talent... Select Philadelphia and choose Headshots and Editorial (btw, Editorial here is photographing professionals in their working environment, NOT editorial as in Fashion)  Let these ASMP photographers in your market know you are available for an initial creative test... this is an effective route into the commercial side of the equation...

Do you have a presence on Wedding Wire? if not might be a very wise move...
Especially since you are trained in airbrush... In our market TEMPTU S/B airbrush is oft requested, in fact without this expertise successful marketing for bridal is compromised...

Please do consider getting professionally represented, the sooner the better...
Mayhem is a sandbox for newly emerging artist... hope you pass through quickly on your journey...

ArtistryImage wrote:
Words of wisdom... in our market area bridal pays well, so well that you are far better served pursuing this than investing time on Mayhem... the hobbyist on Mayhem will want your to do creative testing (unpaid) and you'll likely receive imagery that may be branded with the photographer's logo making it virtually useless for your book if you are seeking professional representational.  Thus be absolutely certain to obtain agreement and acceptance that you will receive "clean" imagery BEFORE accepting any creative testing... hope this makes sense...

Awesome advice! I'm actually getting into bridal a bit and just did my first wedding party last month. However, I'm really interested in also getting into doing print work, and I thought Model Mayhem would be a good place to start building a portfolio. (But I'll now look into the ASMP link you mentioned!) Would you recommend drawing up a simple written agreement with a photographer for clean images?

ArtistryImage wrote:
btw, you book has a critical shortcoming... it is NOT gender neutral, you seriously need to address this quickly if  [you care to seek agency representation...

Unfortunately I have to say this is intentional in my portfolio. My esthetics training didn't include male makeup and grooming, and it isn't something I've been able to self teach myself yet. I've been looking into taking advanced classes in makeup, and that's something I know I need to learn. Any there any specific resources I should look into?

ArtistryImage wrote:
Please do consider getting professionally represented, the sooner the better...
Mayhem is a sandbox for newly emerging artist... hope you pass through quickly on your journey... smile

Getting off of Mayhem and getting professionally represented is definitely a goal of mine! I was planning on gaining more experience and a stronger portfolio, especially with male grooming and clean beauty looks. Would you recommend I apply sooner and note my strengths as esthetics and beauty makeup? Or should I wait until I'm more well-rounded with grooming, etc?

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!