|
Forums >
Hair, Makeup & Styling >
photographer wants to learn makeup
Hi, I travel often, so I don't have reliable connections for makeup artists wherever I go. Often, make up artists can be flakey (one wanted to notify me the morning of the 8am shoot as to whether she could take the job, for example), or overpriced (I think $100 is too much for 5 minutes of work). I have had situations where male models show up who definitely need makeup. I thought the best solution would be to learn to do it myself. I checked a course which is priced at $9,700. I am thinking I don't want to invest that kind of money to learn. The women usually look good. I just need to do makeup for some of the men who need it. What is my best course of action. Jan 24 15 10:25 pm Link Besides being a great photographer, T H Taylor does wonderful MU and hair for many of his shoots. He has a tutorial on his profile. I don't know how much it would apply to male MU, but ask. He is super friendly. https://www.modelmayhem.com/45851 Jan 25 15 09:12 am Link That isn't all that hard to learn. To be honest, not all MUA's really know where to use blush, at all, anyway, so when hiring them, you have to know enough to know whether the work they do, is done correctly to begin with. That's especially true of retail make up artists, from make up stores, and beauty shops. Photography requires that the face be sculpted and shaped. To learn how to do that, is not complicated, but you have one drawback...........most cosmetologists are licensed. To get around a licensing requirement, means you have to know the law where you might go, to work. Some states have laws where you can do makeup IF you use applicators, and do not touch the face with your hands. (That is recommended anyway.) You need to also know how to select hypo-allergenic products, and how to actually use the products, correctly. To build a kit, you will need these basics, for men: concealers (they come in different shades and in different colors, for corrections under the foundation.) foundation (I like to work with 3 shades, to create the highlights and shadows where they need to be.) eyeshadow (only use when needed) eyebrow enhancer (again only when needed for men) blush (only in natural shades for creating shadows) lip color (only more natural shades, for men, for a little extra emphasis) finishing powder razor shaving cream hair spray (I do prefer Sebastian Shaper Plus) combs and / or hair brush a really high quality finishing powder brush You will need to have these for all skin colors you work with, of course, for white, black, Hispanic, Asian, etc. The applicators include makeup sponges, powder brushes, eyeshadow applicators, lip brushes, etc. All applicators must be cleaned and sanitized before being used on another model, or must be disposable. Doing the make up is harder to tell you. It simply involves using only what is needed. Anyone with dark hair is prone to 5 o'clock shadow. Others can simply be sloppy about being freshly shaven. Apply the products as needed, on a fresh face, in this order: concealer foundation eyeshadow blush lip color finishing powder You are going to need the shades that make men look better, but not like women. The use of makeup should be subtle, and not obvious. A good book on makeup application should help you in how to apply the specific products. The key is to keep the natural look, create shadows under the cheekbones, at the bottom of the chin, and along the sides of the nose, and possibly along the edge of the jaw. Create highlights under the eyes, in the center of the forehead, on the bridge of the nose, etc. Different faces will need slightly different treatment. Women are much more involved. I realize this is a bit sketchy, but it's about as good as I can do, in a forum. Jan 25 15 05:14 pm Link I learned to do makeup. I have a full kit. That was actually the expensive part. I did combination of watching youtube videos and taking a few classes on basic makeup. I started with mary kay. If you buy a kit they give a class. I practiced a lot with my gf and some of her friends. The best recommendation is to learn a few looks (colour combinations) and stick with those. It really isn't that hard. I found that I also am pretty good at critiquing mua. The full kit can be expensive, though. My kit is mostly revlon product and sephora. I have some mac product. too. I think I have least $1500, invested. But my crew specialises in makeovers and weddings. I also have extra product because at a wedding there may be as many as 10 people to put makeup on at a wedding. good luck learning. Jan 25 15 05:56 pm Link CheapBooks Inc wrote: Wow, 5 minute to do the job right? That is awesome and probably the fasted MUA on earth, I bet you couldn't even have seen their hands moving ... just a blur of brushes and powder. Here, up north in the US of A, our MUAs take at least 20-30 minutes for a decent job and hover around the model doing touch ups, etc. Sure it cuts way down on Photoshop time, which ticks off the retouchers, but I'm impressed that down in Columbia your MUA can do a 1/2 to 1 hour job in 5 minutes. (Maybe its a relativistic time dilation thing when you go near the equator?) CheapBooks Inc wrote: I'm with ya buddy, nearly 10 large to learn how to apply makeup seems excessive, I'm mean how difficult can it really be, my daughters can do it and they are only 14 (but sometimes they look light 19 year old hookers ... hmmm ... maybe they don't known what they are doing). Its a good thing that our camera equipment and photography education doesn't cost much money. Let's keep really quite about this point. Jan 25 15 09:54 pm Link I've been studying makeup for about 5 years now, invested tons of money in a professional education and I am still learning. It's one of those things where you are constantly learning. I don't even know where to begin… I will suggest that you watch some YouTube tutorials, not those beauty guru people who aren't even makeup artists. I will suggest some real makeup artists that can really help you. Lisa Eldridge https://www.youtube.com/user/lisaeldridgedotcom Charlotte Tilbury https://www.youtube.com/user/ctilburymakeup Wayne Goss https://www.youtube.com/user/gossmakeupartist Jordan Liberty https://www.youtube.com/user/givegoodface Nic and Sam https://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo There's also a lot of good books out there, Bobbi Brown has some really good ones as well as Kevyn Aucoin. Makeup artistry is a very detailed craft, overtime you develop an eye for things that most people don't see. You need to learn about color theory. It's one of the most important things in makeup. Get a color wheel, learn about complimentary colors and how to mix colors, as well as what colors cancel out others. I could go on and on, but check out those makeup artists. They can definitely help. Jan 25 15 11:18 pm Link Saying that $100 for 5 minutes of work is fairly insulting. It's like saying that one is paying a photographer for an image that only took a fraction of a second to capture. And really.... if it only took 5 minutes for a makeup artist to do a good job.... how is it that so many get paid a full day rate to work on a commercial or film if they are only needed for can do the whole cast in half an hour (according to this idea anyways). First, so much time and effort goes into the learning (as you will soon find out) Then the kit. Then travel, emails, advertising and etc. You know the drill. You aren't paying $100 for 5 minutes. You are paying $100 for someone who knows what they are doing to show up and do it, and then hang around to keep it right. That, or you are not getting what you paid for, which is on you. Now that I have that off my chest. Learning makeup is like learning photography. You can read, study, take classes, watch videos, and so forth. You can pay a school. One method that I have heard works quite well is to pay an expert you trust to give you a private lesson or five. This can help you go very quickly for a reasonable sum. Or, you can buy the gear and work and work and work and fail a few times until you get it right. Jan 26 15 07:31 am Link That "$100 for 5 minutes of work" crack is insulting. I bet you don't like it when people say photographers should only be paid a couple of bucks because it only takes a split second to press the shutter. And I've never seen a makeup artist yet who could do a face in 5 minutes, so maybe you are exaggerating a little to go with the smart remark. Anyway: you can learn to do at least basic makeup by reading this forum, watching tutorials from real makeup artists like the ones listed already; reading books like Kevyn Aucoin's; and practicing. Do not bother with makeup artists who only apply makeup to themselves on YouTube. There is HUGE HUGE difference between being able to do one's own makeup and being able to apply it on other people. I have done makeup many times for actor's headshots and I was the MUA on a film recently, but I only took the job because the headshots are supposed to be pretty natural-looking and the film was four characters and only basic makeup - concealer, foundation, de-shining, light lips, mascara. Oh, and grubbing up one guy to look worn and haggard. Because I know I couldn't have handled "full" makeup by myself. So learn what you can and know your own limits. And really, you'll gain no friends by going into the makeup forum and stating their rates aren't worth it. Also: hiring a real MUA to give you some lessons is a great idea too. Jan 26 15 09:28 am Link I would say I was insulted by the five min $100.00 crack but others beat me to it. So let me leave you with this. Sometimes we do makeup in five min. And get paid $100.00 for it. Last week I worked on a two day commercial. I did hair and makeup on an older male spokesperson. The first day I had all the time in the world. I was fast and professional and did my job well. The second day there was some mis communication with getting the gentleman to the correct location and he was an hour and a half late. When he arrived I had to get him ready, get him into wardrobe and on set to be photographed with only one hour of total time. I had him ready in ten minites and on set. While I was there 30 minutes before my call time in actuality I made $300.00 for ten mins of work. Don't ever underestimate who we are or what we do for you. EVER. R- Jan 27 15 06:00 pm Link I think the post has been answered well. I don't think its that insulting, male grooming for most shoots is not that labor intensive and someone with a reasonable intelligence and a few supplies can master is fairly quickly. For high fashion, of course, the skills are much more refined. But the OP is really talking about learning the basics of grooming. I think he can easily learn this. Jan 27 15 07:18 pm Link Digital make up - buy "Portrait Professional" Jan 27 15 11:17 pm Link learning basic makeup isn't that hard. You do need to invest in a bit of makeup though. like everyone who says photography isn't about equipment. it is also about having equipment. Jan 29 15 07:38 am Link Nice post.... I haven't ever seen an MUA do a look in 5 mins, nor do I believe it's possible. And have you considered the possibility that their fee is tied to the qualifications required, kit needed, and experience? Good make up is a fantastic skill and I don't think that a 5 min youtube tutorial and some drugstore foundation is going to get you any closer to what you want. If you want to replace make up artists, you'll need to at least get your own kit which is a few hundred if not a few grand. One way to bypass the need for courses is to shadow a make up artist and hire them for a private tutorial or series of them. I'd suggest asking with considerably more respect than what you showed in the OP. Given that a single look takes over an hour, with numerous touch ups needed during shooting, it seems unlikely that someone be able to do both jobs properly without it taking twice as long. Jan 29 15 08:52 am Link MikeW wrote: As the OP says he is shoots TV commercials , not sure PP works on video ?? Jan 29 15 09:10 am Link CheapBooks Inc wrote: Anybody can apply make up Jan 29 15 09:14 am Link Photos by Stan wrote: Stan this is actually not the case... Jan 29 15 10:22 am Link He's being sarcastic. Jan 29 15 01:29 pm Link ME_ wrote: Thanks... that make sense... Jan 29 15 01:52 pm Link ME_ wrote: ArtistryImage wrote: I hope he was just caught up in exaggerating for effect. Jan 29 15 01:57 pm Link ArtistryImage wrote: Never thought about it that way .. Jan 29 15 02:06 pm Link Photos by Stan wrote: Stan I'm not a practicing attorney, nor pretend to be an authority on licensing of those who work in the beauty industry... nor do I wish to engage in a debate thus this is my last response in this thread... You do not need a License to apply makeup for no compensation or apply makeup at a makeup counter or for an independent makeup company so long as the makeup application is solely for the purpose of selling the product and not for selling the service. The kicker here is that MAC typically requires a minimum purchase of $50 of product for a fully face demo... there are countless folks who abuse this to have their makeup done for a schedule event on the cheap... And MAC sells them in essence a voucher redeemable for $50 of retail product... MAC is possibly one of the leading vendors of product because they will train you in real-time to use their product... other high end vendors do this also... just visit a counter in Nordstrom. Macy's etc. You'll see counter reps demonstrating application of a product line... their are likely freelance... while full time MAC artist receive formal training (as do Sephora cast members)... Stan the beauty industry is vast, billions of dollars hang in the balance and the complexities are huge... Jan 29 15 03:45 pm Link If you are really interested in learning more about makeup, here are some books you should read. http://kjbennett.com/makeup-artistry-books/ Jan 29 15 04:36 pm Link CheapBooks Inc wrote: Mar 20 15 04:36 pm Link Photoshop Mar 20 15 04:38 pm Link I did makeup on a model for the first time yesterday. It wasn't great, but not that bad either. Mar 20 15 08:28 pm Link |
