Jorge Kreimer wrote:
I like your work. Very eclectic.

Thank you!

Orca Bay Images wrote:
I like your work, Leanne. It's subtle and elegant. Enhances the model without drawing attention away from the model and to the makeup.

Beautiful work.


However, your portfolio has some shortcomings, IMO.

Some of your images are full-length shots in which the face and makeup figure too small in the image. Stick more with headshots and portrait work that better show the makeup work if you can.

Beautiful shot, but just doesn't show off your MUA work particularly well. (There are several like this.)


And you've got one image in which the colored lighting swamps out the makeup:


...and one headshot where the color balance is off in an unflattering way:

.

Thank you for your critique. I switched out the full body shots for some tighter shots.

Tony Lawrence wrote:
Your avatar looks a tad out of focus and in general isn't a good shot.   The model looks a bit cross eyed.   I looked at your website and WOW you have some fantastic editorial images.   Whoever the photographers are continue to work with them.   A MUA needs to focus on faces.   Its always great to have full length images but faces have to be first.   You appear to working with agency models.   That's smart.   Personally I'd try and get more beauty shots and a few strong commercial ones as well.   Overall I'd say you have a well done portfolio.

Thank you for your critique and kind words

Jarrett Porst wrote:
Hey Leanne!

I think, this is your best image.  https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/40361650.  Your brand and your service is MUA, maybe hair too.  Show case this!  Your photographer must keep everything in focus.  You're going to want detailed, sharp resolution from the entire area you are affecting.  You'll want to hear things like;  F-stop is 5.6 or higher (DOF is 2+ inches), shutter is 160 or higher.  Chimp the photographers screen and ask for details to be zoomed in on.  The shot must be lit to show case the subject, your work.  Get heavier on the makeup.  Not gaudy, only more intense.  The shot that I linked to, more like this in various colors and layouts.  Get some images that have detailed, high contrast edges on your lines.  Your clients will want to know you can pull off perfect lines that need minimal to zero editing.

Take a look at these resources for inspiration: inspiration, not duplication, make your own way. 
https://www.instagram.com/tamarawilliams1/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/kayleigh_june/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/patrickta/?hl=en

Leanne, I have 5+ assets on a set.  All are equally important, equally.  If any of them aren't on their perfect game on shoot day, I edit my profits away and my assets loose their value.  Perfect your skills and you'll command being sought after. 


Such good fortune your way.
J.

Thank you for your critique. I do love love doing colorful makeup, but the majority of requests I get are "clean" and "luminous" makeup looks with the occasional bright lip.

Leanne Harpin wrote:
Just added some new pictures to my portfolio and I wanted to see what you guys of them or just my portfolio in general.

Make up! Your make up is lovely. I looked over that fact at first and was considering it a photography portfolio. While they are very nice, I stopped and took a closer look after realizing you were a make up artist.

Well done, (from someone who doesn't shoot make up but has been a model.)

Jen
p.s. edit and I agree about the avatar shot, it doesn't do your work justice

Photo Jen B wrote:

Make up! Your make up is lovely. I looked over that fact at first and was considering it a photography portfolio. While they are very nice, I stopped and took a closer look after realizing you were a make up artist.

Well done, (from someone who doesn't shoot make up but has been a model.)

Jen
p.s. edit and I agree about the avatar shot, it doesn't do your work justice

Thank you for your critique and kind words.

Leanne Harpin wrote:
I do love love doing colorful makeup, but the majority of requests I get are "clean" and "luminous" makeup looks with the occasional bright lip.

This is normal, especially in smaller markets.  Paid work primarily will be for "clean" makeup most of the time, and if your purpose is to attract the heart of your likely market, that's what you need to (primarily) show.

Is the purpose to show off your technical skills (which may have little to do with your market)?

Is the purpose to atract "creatives" and do more out-of-the-box or "editorial" work just for the fun of it, or for experience?

Without knowing your purpose I can't tell how well you have served it.  You clearly have skills, but I'm not sure they are well displayed, depending on what you are trying to do.

I disagree with my colleagues here in one respect.  (Depending on purpose) a makeup artist's work will be judged, fairly or not, based on the totality of the shot.  Is the photography excellent?  Does the model "look like a model" and have appropriate expressions? Does it look like, in at least some shots, you have worked as part of a substantial team with high production values?  All of those things add value to your work and the perception people have of your abilities.  So excellent, high-concept, high production-value full length shots are certainly of value and several should be included in your portfolio if you can.  "Showing off the makeup" isn't the only important thing.

Schoetze wrote:
For the most part, the makeup is very subtle/muted.  I'm surprised as an MUA that you don't have at least a few photos with more vibrant color especially on the eyes, for those that want more vibrant color.  JMO.

It depends really, her make up is natural and beauty style. I don't think it needs to have wild colors. Unless that is the type of work saught.
Jen

Emeritus wrote:
The problem with critiquing a portfolio - anyone's portfolio - is that we have to know the reason for the portfolio. 

Is the purpose to qualify you for work?  If so, what kind of work?


This is normal, especially in smaller markets.  Paid work primarily will be for "clean" makeup most of the time, and if your purpose is to attract the heart of your likely market, that's what you need to (primarily) show.

Is the purpose to show off your technical skills (which may have little to do with your market)?

Is the purpose to atract "creatives" and do more out-of-the-box or "editorial" work just for the fun of it, or for experience?

Without knowing your purpose I can't tell how well you have served it.  You clearly have skills, but I'm not sure they are well displayed, depending on what you are trying to do.

I disagree with my colleagues here in one respect.  (Depending on purpose) a makeup artist's work will be judged, fairly or not, based on the totality of the shot.  Is the photography excellent?  Does the model "look like a model" and have appropriate expressions? Does it look like, in at least some shots, you have worked as part of a substantial team with high production values?  All of those things add value to your work and the perception people have of your abilities.  So excellent, high-concept, high production-value full length shots are certainly of value and several should be included in your portfolio if you can.  "Showing off the makeup" isn't the only important thing.

The majority of the paid work I do is for weddings, proms, boudoir, and other special occasions.
Editorial work that's been published in a magazine makes it easier for me to apply for pro discounts from cosmetic companies, and I just love the process of collaborating with a team and telling a story when it comes to an editorial.

And thank you for pointing out that makeup is just one piece of the process when it comes to a photoshoot.

Orfinus wrote:
This is totally out of my field, so I can't offer any criticism, but only wonder out loud.

These are images showcases the retoucher, in my opinion. They are heavily photoshopped. Yes, I am sure you applied great makeup to allow their job to be easier, but where are the actual images of that.

Or is that what MUA showing their work usually show, the fully finished post-produced image?

Not criticizing at all, if that is how it is done, then everyone must be doing that. On retouchers' websites/ports I often see the before/after images. I am not suggesting you show images of the model without/with makeup, that might not be a great idea given how we are all about "hyper perfected glamor" look but if one were to truly evaluate something how is one to compare.

The images themselves are spectacular and highly polished and flawless for the most part. But then again, that is expected given the degree of post production that went into it.

When you post a photograph in your portfolio, every aspect of that picture will be judged so everything about it has to be on point. I could do the most stunning makeup for a shoot but if the photography is bad, the model isn't selling the look, the hair and clothing styling look amateurish it kills the look completely.
Your portfolio has to be like art you see in an art gallery or museum, it has to speak to the viewer, tell a story, and makeup is just one part of that work of art.
Plus working with photographers that know how to use lighting to bring out the best in the model makes all the difference.