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Becoming A Commercial Makeup Artist - Part One

Becoming A Commercial Makeup Artist - Part One

I just received this question on Facebook and because it’s such a common question I decided to write about the subject and share it. Because of the amount of information I want to give, I will have to release this in a 3-part article. This is Part One. To see Parts 2 and 3, please sign up for my newsletter at www.camerareadycosmeticsshop.com. I will release Part 2 and Part 3 shortly.     “Hi Mary! I'm a longtime fan of CRC and your work! I had a topic idea for emerging MUA's. I recently left my full-time management role with MAC cosmetics to pursue my freelance career full time. I live in XXXXXXXXXX which has a strong bridal market but I'm working to get more commercial work. There are many companies based out of XXXXXXXXXX and I'm struggling to break into commercial work. I've been collaborating with photographers and local models but I'm not sure how to tap into commercial work. I met with a tenured freelance artist in the area and she just viewed me as competition and offered no insight. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!” I have been asked this question many times over the past 30 years. I’ve given the keys to commercial success out sparingly in the past, less than 6 times in the past 30 years. Why did I hold these secrets so tightly? For one I didn’t want to share secrets in my own market and create even more competition for myself. I know that sounds selfish, but it’s self-preservation in a small market. What business owner helps their direct competition? Another reason for not sharing is that most people wouldn’t follow through with advice I gave them because, quite frankly, most people just won’t put in the real work. So, I assumed it was a waste of my time. The few people with whom I did share these tightly-held secrets did go on to succeed in the business. I feel like it’s time now to share this same information with the masses, because I think a level playing field is fair. Let the hardest working men/women win. What Is Commercial Work? Commercial work is what I consider work for companies like Sony, HP, McDonalds, grocery store chains, hospitals, large corporations, etc. Most employ makeup artists for their TV commercials, print ads, internal videos, and annual reports. I will add catalog work here as well, because most commercial artists also do catalog work. These are what I call “commercial jobs,” and I call artists that primarily do this type of work, “Commercial Artists.” In most cases a commercial artist is expected to do hair and men's grooming as well as makeup. This weeds out a lot of makeup artists who are not skilled with hair or just afraid to branch into that area. On many commercial jobs, there is no wardrobe or hair stylist. In this case, you will oversee straightening ties, smoothing out clothing wrinkles, and so forth on set. Full steaming and ironing is generally not required, but without a stylist on set you will be expected to at least straighten ties. So essentially on smaller sets you are the makeup artist, the hair stylist, the men’s groomer and the wardrobe stylist. How Much Money Does A “Commercial Artist” Make? The world of commercial makeup artistry can be lucrative – probably one of, if not the most lucrative jobs in the makeup artist industry. It’s also steady work. Twenty years ago, the average commercial artist made about $600 a day in Southern California. That was 20 years ago. When I retired a few years ago that average (in Southern California) was $700-1,200 per day. The good artists in my market worked 3 to 5 days every week. Of course, many artists wanted this exclusive niche in the industry, but very few could wrangle their way into this market and that wasn’t for lack of trying. Today commercial work is still lucrative. It is mostly untouched by the Instagram market, untouched by the “celebrity” artist market, and really is still a market that plays by its own rules outside of social media. The pay varies depending on the area and the size of the market. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and other major markets still command $700 to $1,200 per day on average. Smaller markets can go down to as low as $500 a day for this type of work. There are a few commercial artists working for less, but in my opinion doing so is a very big mistake that I will touch on later. How Do I Get This Commercial Work? Now that’s the million-dollar question! Let’s start with your calling card. Your Portfolio You must have a commercial portfolio, and it needs to be online where people can see it. Take all the crazy and fun makeup out of your portfolio; put that in a separate place where the commercial client will not stumble upon it. The "no makeup look" is what they want to see, polished and clean. This is the most difficult makeup to perfect because it involves restraint, something most artists have not perfected and truth be told, don’t want to perfect. It’s boring. Here are a few examples from my very old and dated portfolio, but keep in mind that commercial makeup doesn’t change much from year to year.  The lip colors change, hair styles changes, but rarely does the rest of the makeup change. You just need great work presented, and toss the rest out. Your portfolio is only as strong as the weakest shot in that portfolio, and that’s what your future client is looking for – they look for the weakest shot in your portfolio, because this shows them what you consider "good enough." DO NOT trust yourself to edit your own portfolio. Go to successful people in the industry and get opinions. Don’t seek out friends and other beginners. Your family and friends are not your target market. We all become attached to our own work, so don’t make that mistake. If you love a photo you worked on, hang it on your wall. Don’t put it in your portfolio unless you know the decision makers will love it. A client considering hiring you will look for exactly what they want in makeup. That makeup needs to be in your portfolio. If you bury that makeup with 50 other photos, you will probably lose that client. Keep your photos to a bare minimum and just the very best representation of your work. Your Website  You need a website and not a social media portfolio. Let’s start with the domain name. The best-case scenario would be to own your own name, the same name as on your other promo material. Nothing too cute. Keep your website and business name professional. As a commercial artist, a website like luciouslooksbybabs.com isn’t going to help you. You need a name that encompasses who you are as a professional commercial artist.  If your name is Wendy Low it would be best to own wendylow.com. If you can’t get that, try makeupbywendylow or some variation that stays out of the real "cute" area. If you have a very difficult name to spell and pronounce go with something like makeupbywendy or makeupartistwendy or wendylowmakeupart, etc. Try to use the name by which people know you. Using your first and last name will help you with SEO, and I’ll touch on SEO later. Go and buy your domain name NOW! It’s around $10-14.00 a year. GoDaddy.com is just one of many domain services from which you can buy. If your own name is taken but you can’t find anything at that web address (the name is not being used for an active website), email the owner and ask to purchase it for $100.00. You can work up from there. To find the owner you can do a “who is” search in google and find that information quickly. When purchasing a domain name Skip the ‘.net,’ ‘. co,’ ‘.org,’ and other extensions. Stay with the ‘.com’ suffix. I’ll explain why later. If you can’t invest $10 to $14.00 a year into your business, you probably should stop reading now. You aren’t ready to enter the world of commercial makeup artistry just yet. One other bit of advice: once you have your own domain name, please use that as your email address. Market from wendy@makeupbywendylow, and not wendy12345@aol or wlow3456@yahoo. There's no need for you to advertise for AOL, Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail! I’ll wait right here for you. Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon! Sign up for my newsletter at www.camerareadycosmeticsshop.com  
Makeup Artist Career Tips
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Camera Ready Cosmetics Easter Egg Hunt

Camera Ready Cosmetics Easter Egg Hunt

Find the Hidden Easter Eggs and Win!     Contest Rules   Official Contest Rules:  Search and find the hidden pink Easter Egg on our website (not in mask logo :-) ). The first person to find the pink egg and fill out the form with a link to the page with the hidden egg and a short description of where the egg is on the page will win a  Sigma Bunny Eye Brush Set, Sigma Brush Shampoo and Brush Mat (retail value worth $104.00). Find the blue or yellow egg and win a Camera Ready Cosmetics $50.00 gift card good for anything in our Camera Ready Cosmetics store. One gift per person. There will be a total of 3 winners, one for each egg. The first entry received will win that corresponding prize. The winner will be chosen in the order received by Camera Ready Cosmetics. There is no purchase necessary to win. We will notify the three winners on April 17th around 12:00pm (noon) CST, directly by email.    Contest Prizes         Your Entry   What is your name? What is your email address? Where did you find it? (URL, and describe where in the page) Entering will add you to our Email list for sale notifications and promotions.      
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Win a FREE RCMA No Color Powder

Win a FREE RCMA No Color Powder

No purchase necessary. Contest valid now through 4/11/17 at 11:59 PM CST. All correct answers win. One guess per person. See details and official rules on our Instagram post here. 
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Filing Taxes: The Do's and Don'ts for Pro Makeup Artists

Filing Taxes: The Do's and Don'ts for Pro Makeup Artists

Written by: Mary Erickson, CRC Founder and Professional MUA   Mary Erickson is NOT a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Please contact a CPA before making any tax decisions or for detailed questions regarding filing taxes. The information below is not intended as a guide for filing your taxes. ___________________________________________________ When it comes to filing taxes as a makeup artist, I hear the following statements from my freelance friends all the time: “I’ve never been audited. I don't make enough money to be noticed.”  “I’m a small fry. The IRS doesn’t care about me.” And, most common: “I keep all of my receipts so I’m good.” All three of those statements are false. If you've never been audited, congratulations. You managed to get lucky. Did you know working as a freelancer or making lower income is one reason you may be audited? The IRS doesn’t exclusively audit the wealthy. With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on our economy and personal finances, the federal government has extended the tax filing deadline to July 15 without putting you at risk of interest or penalties. The typical tax deadline is April 15, so take a moment to celebrate and breathe a sigh of relief.  If you owe money to the IRS, this extension gives you until the July 15 deadline to make a payment. So even if you file today, you won't say goodbye to that money until whichever scheduled date you choose up to July 15. This extension automatically applies to all taxpayers; there is nothing special you need to do. File as you normally would. ___________________________________________________ NOTE: This extension only applies to federal income taxes. State income tax varies by state. While most states have matched the federal government's tax deadline of July 15, others have created their own guidelines. Visit your state or local government website to learn more about alternative state tax filing guidelines that may apply to you. ___________________________________________________ How To File Taxes As A Freelance Makeup Artist Maybe you've never filed taxes as a freelance makeup artist, or maybe you have but never seem to quite understand what you're doing. Follow my list of DO's and DON'TS to protect yourself from an IRS audit and ensure you're getting the maximum return or minimum amount owed.  DON’T lie to the IRS! This is the #1 most important thing you’ll read all day. Real cases go like this: You’re a freelance makeup artist, but you only dabble in it while living with your friend/roommate. You claim $20,000 in income for the year from various freelance jobs because that’s what appears on your 1099 forms. You claim $15,000 in expenses with gas, office supplies, phone, etc. So you will owe taxes on only $5,000 in income for the year. Now enter the IRS. Your rent is $600 per month. Your car payment is $200 a month. Your expenses (not including food, utilities, etc.) are $800 a month. Are you ready for this question from the IRS:  “How did you pay rent and car payments on $5,000 for the year?” This is not the time to make up falsehoods about loans family gave you or money you found in the garage. That won’t work. The IRS employs intelligent people who have seen and heard everything. When it comes to tax dodging, you are not smarter than the IRS. Maybe you can tell them you made it babysitting? That would mean you failed to report income to the IRS, which would be a crime in the USA. If you like your own bed, and steel bars don’t appeal to you, do not lie to the IRS.   DO keep a mileage log and gas receipts. (The real receipts, not just a bank statement.) In the event of an audit, this will make your case a much stronger one. Mileage is something they almost always look at in an audit, so don’t fudge this. It’s not worth the few dollars you may save. Document every address you go to, if claiming it as travel. There are numerous free apps for this that can help you. DON’T say to yourself “I’ll worry about an audit if/when the time comes.” That time will probably come one day, and you need to be prepared. Self-employed individuals are a target and for good reason. It’s easier to lie about pay and expenses when you’re self-employed.  DO hire a CPA to handle your taxes. I know this is expensive, but the few hundred dollars you will spend every year can save you thousands of dollars in an audit and a lot of valuable time. The fines for an error, even a small one, will pay the CPA fees for years. You can use Quicken and TurboTax or other tax software, which is cheaper, but research every expense you’re taking. Don't assume anything. DON'T take cash from anyone and assume there isn’t a paper trail. An audit of your client who paid in cash for your services can lead to you as the source of his/her expenses. Also, a bank deposit of cash can lead to questions as to where you got the cash. I know it’s none of their business, but sometimes they make it their business.  DO claim dinner out with clients as an expense. Put the name of the client on the receipt. If you are wining and dining for business, you should get the write-off. If you’re questioned about it, you may be asked for that client’s information. DON'T write-off makeup you buy for your personal use. Keep receipts so you can show the IRS that you do buy makeup for yourself, and you don’t write it off. DO write-off every penny of makeup that you purchase for your kit. It’s all a tax write-off. Makeup for your kit is a legitimate business expense for an artist. DON'T try to write-off clothing, jewelry, hair stylists, plastic surgery or Botox. I know you must look good as a makeup artist, but the IRS won’t buy these expenses. I know, it sucks.  DO write-off your home office, but only if there is NOTHING else that you do in that room. There are two options for filing home office deductions. 1) Simplified Option This option allows a standard deduction of $5 per square foot of home used exclusively for business. If using this formula, you may not calculate more than 300 square feet of space, and the maximum deduction is capped at $1,500. To learn more, read the IRS rules here. 2) Regular Method This option requires you to calculate the actual expenses of your home office. These expenses may include mortgage interest, insurance, utilities, repairs and depreciation. Deductions for a home office are based on the percentage of your home devoted to business use. So, if you use a whole room or part of a room for conducting business, you need to figure out the percentage of your home devoted to your business activities. Your room can’t double as a guest room and an office. Take the measurements of the room, and calculate its percentage of your home's total square footage. This will be necessary to write-off utilities and rent for that space. Example: If your 10x10 office is 100 sq. ft. and your home is 1000 sq. ft., you can write-off 10% of your rent and utilities. DON'T use your personal account for business. Your business should be a separate bank account. All expenses should go through that account, and all income should be placed into that account. DO start doing this now if you have not been doing this in the past. The sooner you start doing the appropriate things the better off you will be when you are audited. DON'T decide not to file taxes. This is a huge mistake! If you don’t file, the IRS will calculate what you owe. In my best Liam Neeson voice: “They will find you, and you will pay.” The first time you get a job that requires your social security number, they will send a notice to your employer demanding a wage garnishment for past due taxes. I have seen this happen with 3 of my past makeup assistants who failed to claim the income I paid them. They will hunt you down forever, and the amount you owe will grow with fines. Think about 5 or 10 years down the line when you go to buy a house. They pull up your SSN only to find a tax lien for past due taxes. A few thousand in past due taxes can turn into $20,000 with penalties and fines very quickly. Please make sure to pass along these tips to a makeup artist you know. 
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Professional Makeup Kits for Every Artist

Professional Makeup Kits for Every Artist

"We combined high quality products at a discounted price. All kits start at a 10% discount and were created for the working and aspiring artist in mind." -Mary Erickson, Founder & Owner       SFX Makeup Kit   About the SFX Kit: Get gory! Making the most realistic looking bruises, wounds, scabs and scars is hard enough and we understand the last thing you want to do is worry about what products you need to create these looks! This kit is perfect for the pro artist who is looking to get all the essentials for creating graphic looking special effects in one easy kit.   Why it's special: We’ve included everything you need to go from dear to drear.   What's included:  This kit includes latex, silicone, 3 different types of blood and more.  SFX Makeup Kit Details Here.       Professional Makeup Kit   About the Pro Makeup Kit: Ideal for intermediate to advanced makeup artists and cosmetology professionals, the Camera Ready Cosmetics makeup kit will level up your creative efforts. We have included universally flattering palettes and correctors to keep you going through the busy seasons.   Why it's special: You’ll love the mix of pro artist staples from brands like Viseart, Ben Nye, Kett, and Graftobian.   What's included:  Skin and lip enhancing palettes, perfect for HD makeup, and an array of essential tools of the trade.  Professional Makeup Kit Details Here.       Student Makeup Kit     About the Student Kit: This kit is perfect for the artist on the rise. We've included an array of palettes ideal for experimenting with all skin tones, and playing with various makeup looks. All products are HD friendly and suitable for all types of media.   Why it's special: Included are all the tools to help you perfect your craft, all in one place.   What's included: This kit includes the RCMA VK Foundation Palette, RCMA Foundation Adjuster Palette, and more. Student Makeup Kit Details Here.    Vegan / Cruelty-free Makeup Kit About the Vegan / Cruelty-Free Kit:  In an effort to supply the demands for the artist who is conscious of the ethical treatment of animals, we've created a Vegan / Cruelty free kit.    Why it's special: This kit allows you to be creative with makeup while remaining dedicated to the ethical treatment of animals. What's included:  This kit includes the RCMA VK Foundation Palette, the La Femme Eye Shadow Pans, Bdellium Brushes and more. Vegan Makeup Kit Details Here.  
Makeup Artist Career Tips, PRO Tips, Tools
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Are You Buying Cosmetic Knock-Offs? Could They Be Dangerous?

Are You Buying Cosmetic Knock-Offs? Could They Be Dangerous?

Are you buying cosmetic knock-offs? Read about the dangers of buying counterfeit makeup, the harms it can cause and where to buy authentic makeup.   By: Mary Erickson | Founder, Camera Ready Cosmetics    I am going to address the latest in knock-off cosmetics. I’ll start with one of the hottest face powders on the market, Ben Nye Banana Powder, made famous a few years ago by Kim Kardashian and her personal Makeup Artist. While all Ben Nye powder colors fly off the shelves, the cult favorite is the Ben Nye Banana Powder because that was the color used on Kim on a very popular YouTube video.   Many makeup enthusiasts who follow bloggers and vloggers understand how these cosmetics go viral. It seemingly happens overnight. Once this happens the manufacturer can’t keep up with the new demand. Many times, as in the case of Banana Powder, months went by before some customers could get ahold of the product they now had to have. This shortage created a situation of panic among the very few (at the time) authorized Ben Nye dealers. Camera Ready Cosmetics was one of those dealers, so I know first-hand what happened when this product went viral worldwide in just a few days. It was a short matter of time before knock-off Ben Nye powder was being made in China. China manufacturers are very good at making knock-offs to look exactly like the product you know and love. They make it for pennies on the dollar and sell it in bulk.  Who does China sell these powders to? In many cases it is men and women working from their homes or warehouses all over the world, including the USA. These clever entrepreneurs get the product shipped to their home, garage, storage facility or warehouse and pay as little as $1.00 per bottle. These entrepreneurs don’t have walk-in retail stores, so where do they sell the product? They generally sell it on third party websites like Amazon, eBay, Bonanza, Alibaba, and Walmart (yes, they have a reseller division now). Third party Internet retailers are popping up daily all over the world to give these entrepreneurs an online market to sell their fake or “knock-off” product. So what’s the problem? Here is the main problem for the consumer when they buy a knock-off product, knowingly or unknowingly. The consumer has no idea what the ingredients are in that product. Remember, the bottle and label are all very good copies, and the only difference in these products is usually what’s inside the container. Yes, the part that goes on your skin, around your eyes and on your lips. You might be asking “It’s just cheaper makeup, how bad can it be?” How bad can a knock-off be for your health?   There are many articles on the internet about health issues and fake products. Here is just one quote from the Huffington Post: Some fake eyeliners, mascaras, lip glosses and foundations are laced with arsenic, mercury, lead and even -- wait for it -- RAT DROPPINGS!”   Now how do rat excrement and poisonous substances end up inside these phony cosmetics? They’re manufactured in unregulated and unsanitary factories, and are not subject to rigorous safety tests according to Huffington Post. See full article here.   Insida a Counterfeit Perfumery Source: The Huffington Post Makeup products also expire. Cosmetics can grow harmful bacteria if the product is kept anywhere but in a climate-controlled area. Many knock-off products are kept in garages, storage sheds and warehouses without air conditioning or heat. We assume that many products are kept past their 18-month expiration period. Products kept past this period could be growing bacteria and should not be sold at all. Can I get ill from old makeup?  Yes you can!   Source: Daily Mail How to tell the difference between a knock-off product and authentic product? Is the product sold being sold on an authorized dealer’s website? How do you know the site is authorized to sell, and is selling, the actual product you are trying to buy?  This is harder to determine for some brands, but when talking specifically about our current subject Ben Nye, there are a few simple ways to know who the Authorized Dealers are and shop with confidence.   Ben Nye does not sell to any company or individual that sells through or on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Bonanza, Wish, Alibaba or any third-party selling site. If you are buying from any of these sites, you are buying a product from an unauthorized dealer and have no idea what you will receive, but you DO know it was not supplied by the Ben Nye company. Ben Nye does not sell to any retailer without a brick and mortar retail store. If you are purchasing from anyone without a brick and mortar retail store then you are buying from an unauthorized That seller is not getting the product directly from Ben Nye. The price is over or under the suggested retail price. This is a dead giveaway that you are probably buying a fake product. Ben Nye does not allow its dealers to charge less than retail. If anyone is selling Ben Nye powder under the normal retail price there is a good chance they are buying it from a China wholesaler at around $1.00 to $3.00 a bottle. (See wish.com as an example.) What can they provide at $1.00 to $3.00? Your guess is as good as mine, but I do know that for this price you are not getting anything close to what is in the real authentic product.   Authentic Ben Nye Banana Powder Can you tell a fake product from the picture?  No, not really, not on the internet. These sellers generally lift the legit photos from authorized sellers’ websites. Even if they shoot their own photos, the bottle is usually the same as the original, the lid is the same and the label is a very good copy – so really on this product the only difference you will see and feel is when you use the product.  Besides possibly damaging my health, are there any other repercussions to purchasing fake products on line? Yes, many! The legitimate manufacturer spent a lot of time and money to formulate a product that would feel good and perform well. In many cases, they purchased expensive machines to fill the containers, they purchased containers, they go through cleanliness drills with the people filling those containers to insure clean product. They worked long hours getting the formula just right, and probably spent weeks working on getting the label perfect. The brand has spent a lot of money on marketing and educating the public on their product. The knock-off lines simply jump in, make a substandard and possibly dangerous product, and then saturate the market with these fake products. Customers buy the fakes because they are cheaper or just more convenient on third-party sites, and then what happens? These customers who have purchased the fake product spread the news that the product is “not as good as I thought,” “made me break out,” “smelled funny,” “waste of money,” etc. They are pushing the value of the product down after all the work the manufacturer put into the product, and they do this all for just a little ill-gotten quick profit.  Counterfeit Makeup Seized by PICPU Source: The Huffington Post The unauthorized dealers of fake products are making a lot of money. My guess would be that they are making more money than most people reading this blog. Just look at what is being sold daily on Amazon and eBay by each seller. If we imagine that they are buying each fake powder for $1.00 and selling that powder over 1000 times at over $9.00 a product, the profit would be over to $8,000.00! Let that sink in…. $8,000.00 for one product, and many sellers can sell that in one month. Now add another 3 or 4 fake products to that and one can make $32,000 a month on just selling a few knock-off products on Amazon. The losers are the consumer and the manufacturer. The winner is the third-party selling site and the seller, who usually remains completely anonymous because they are selling fake product and simply prefer not to be caught.   Will it ever stop? If you consider how long Amazon and eBay have been around and how large they are, my prediction would be “not anytime soon.” This is a real David and Goliath situation. Stay tuned for my next blog exploring the future of third-party sites and how old fashioned retail can fit in. For now, protect yourself; buy from authorized sellers! Ben Nye Authorized Sellers: Camera Ready Cosmetics Nigel's beauty Emporium Naimie's Alcone Find more authorized sellers by contacting Ben Nye directly. Author:  Mary Erickson, professional makeup artist of over 30 years, owner and founder of Camera Ready Cosmetics, Camera Ready Studios, and Camera Ready Academy
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March Mystery Picture Contest Winners

March Mystery Picture Contest Winners

Thank you to everyone for participating in the March 2017 Mystery Picture Contest! The Correct Answer: La Femme Loose Powder Stacks Congratulations to our Winners! March 2017 Winners All winners have been notified.* 1st Place Prize The BeautyBlender Pro Pac, Valued at $125.00 2nd & 3rd Place Camera Ready Cosmetics $20 Gift Cards Shop Our Store!
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Lingo Every Makeup Artist Should Know

Lingo Every Makeup Artist Should Know

Aspiring makeup artists, be prepared! Learn all the terminology you need to know before you go on set! By: Mary Erickson | Founder, Camera Ready Cosmetics I got this question from a young lady just getting her start as an on-set makeup artist. I realized what is valuable to her can be invaluable to many up and coming artists, so I'm sharing it all here. My hope is that young artists are better prepared before entering the competitive world of makeup. Feel free to share these tools to the makeup artists you know.     Last looks – When you hear “last looks,” get in there and do your finishing touches! They’re going to start rolling the camera. Finals or final touches - See last looks above. Speed - The cameras are on; you’ll hear “rolling” right after.  Never step in to do touch-ups after you hear “speed.” Rolling - You will be severely reprimanded if you make even the tiniest noise after this call. They are filming. Phone should always be off near the set!  What's your ETA? - "When the hell are you going to be done? Talent has been in your chair over 5 minutes!" Usually when this question is asked it’s because they want you to hurry up.  The best thing to ask is “when do you need her, or him?”  Just try to get what they need done when they tell you it needs to be done. Hot Spot - If they are talking to makeup, they usually mean a shiny place on the face or head. Dailies - Whatever was shot that day (film, video), usually used when doing TV and film. (The producers will review it.) Talking Head - You will just have an upper body type of shot. Think of a TV news interview inset, chest-up shots. On location - Anywhere not in the studio. Could be a house, a beach, the desert, the park, etc. It's a wrap! - The shooting is completely over for this project. One more for safety - They will do a retake of the last segment or shot just to be safe. It’s really never usually just one.  One last time - NEVER means one last time - Probably like 10 more times. Key - The one in charge of makeup or hair or both. Key makeup and key hair are normally separate people, but not always. If you have a team of makeup people there should normally be a “key” in charge. Set kit - The kit you carry with you out of the makeup room to the set or to the location. Continuity - You need to make the talent look exactly like they did in the last shot in this particular scene, even if it's two weeks later. Better take good notes and a cell phone or digital photo close-up. Kit fee - Fee you will get for your product usage. This is a TV/Video/Film practice and not commonly found in the print business. Tear sheet - Ad or magazine page you will put in your portfolio or on your portfolio website. Eye candy - The model added to the group of guys or background girl added to the shot to get attention, like the girl in a bikini holding up numbers at a boxing match. This term isn’t used much anymore.  Clean makeup - They don't want to see the makeup; very natural. First hold - Client has a hold on you for a job. You will notify them if you get another offer, and at that time they need to confirm or let you go. This is a common term if you have an agent representing you. Call time - Time you need to be at work. Better to be 20 minutes early than 1 minute late! Craft services - The people that provide the munchies. (The most important people on any shoot.) Mic the Talent - The sound person is going to hook a microphone to the talent.  Check the gate - In video/film this is when the camera man will check the film before moving on, to make sure the last shot was good. Gels - The photographer and/or the TV camera crew put film over the lights that will screw up your makeup; usually used in-doors. When they use blue they hate you and want to make you look bad. Blow him out or blow her out - The lighting is so bright the talents features will disappear; you can use more color and contour. HDTV or High Definition TV - You will forget everything you know about makeup. You now have to make the person up so that they look great to the naked eye - what you see is what you will see on the TV or film. Now you know for sure this original list was made in the 90’s. Losing light - You are using the natural light available for the shot and time is running out to get the shots required. This is usually said in a panic. Glamour shoot - One where the model has a great figure and the photographer is going to try to see more of it. Ok, now I have offended all the photographers out there, I will add that the model is usually going for this look and the photographer has grudgingly agreed to do the shoot (insert sarcasm). There is usually very little money in this for the makeup artist. Artistic nude shots - See glamour shoot (above) with different lighting.  Money shot - In photography this is the shot that will bring in the money; the cover shot, the best shot. Beauty shot - When shooting a product, this is a shot of just the product, no models or talent. When a photographer is shooting a model and no product and says "beauty shot" it's usually a close-up face shot.  Martini - Last shot of the day. Abbey Singer - Shot before the martini. Stepping in - What you say when you are stepping on to the set in front of cameras. NEVER do this while they are rolling or the photographer is shooting. Crossing - What you hear when someone is stepping through the shoot in front of the cameras. Flashing - ALWAYS say this on set when you are taking any kind of flash photography, and say it loud enough for people to hear you. Otherwise be prepared for a lot of angry faces and reprimand. Closed set - Only people who need to be on set are allowed on set.  Lock it up/ locking down - They are moments away from starting, so now is not the time to go to craft services. Turnaround - Can mean two things:  the camera is moving to shoot the other side of a scene or ‚ the amount of time you have in between shooting days.... for example, “you have an 8 hour turnaround.” Hot points - Somebody, somewhere is moving something that can hurt you, and being on a set, they are moving it quickly. ALWAYS move out of the way when you hear this. Don't expect "please" or "excuse me"— just move! It's for your own safety. Forced call - You mostly will find this with union projects. Depending on your contract, you are guaranteed a specific number of hours in your turnaround. So for instance if you have an 8-hour turnaround and production gives you a forced call (cha-ching) and you only get a 7-hour turnaround then they will pay you extra for the time they cut into your turnaround — a.k.a. forced call.  Video Village - The group of people that sit around the monitors. If you can get a seat there, make sure all the other higher-ups have gotten their seats. Vanities typically stand at video village. Vanities – Makeup and Hair crew Shooting on spec - This is not just a makeup term but a general term used mainly in photography. It means is that you are probably being asked to work for free and if the ad sells then they will pay you. These shots almost never sell and you never get paid. Advertorial - This is an editorial that is actually a product placement ad. It's like the brand placement you see in film and TV, but in print. If someone shows up on your editorial and insists that you use this or that product in the photo it's probably an "advertorial" and you should be making more money (full commercial rates). The magazine can choose to use their sponsor's wardrobe and that's smart, but when they start insisting that the model wear "this exact necklace" or "this purse must be in the shot" regardless of how it flows, you are probably on an advertorial shoot. The biggest difference is where the money comes from. In an editorial the magazine pays for the crew, whereas in an advertorial the magazine may agree to add the sponsor's product if they buy an ad in that magazine or pay them in return for product placement. This turns the editorial into an advertorial. Hard out - The talent and/or crew needs to be packed up, cleaned up, and ready to go at a specific time, and not a minute later. Grace - When production asks you to delay your specified meal time so they can finish up a scene or shot before the crew breaks, without incurring meal penalties (i.e. paying you extra). Test Shoot – A team of people, generally a model, photographer, makeup artist, hair stylist and stylist work on a photo shoot for their portfolios. These shoots pay nothing but with a good team you may get a good portfolio shot or two. These are very risky. A lot of time is wasted here, but it’s often necessary when you’re building your book.  TFP –Trade for print, Time for print.  See “Test Shoot” above.  We'll fix it in post - We will fix it in the editing process usually means we’re too lazy, pressed for time or inexperienced to fix the problem now, so we will hope and pray that no one notices in the finished product. If anyone says this to you and an artist, don't believe them. Fix it now if you can, because you will probably be blamed when the problem never gets fixed in post.   Comment below, and share this article!
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Mystery Picture Contest

Mystery Picture Contest

Enter for a chance to win a BeautyBlender® Pro Pac! (Retail Value $125.00), guess this mystery product *   Current Prize: BeautyBlender Pro Pac, Retail Value: $125.00 To enter the contest, simply type in what you think the image could be. For example, if you think the picture is a Ben Nye Banana Powder, type in "Ben Nye Banana Powder." Your answer must be the same name as it appears on the product page. To be qualified for this contest, you must be subscribed to our newsletter.* The first correct guess wins the prize, and the 2nd and 3rd correct guesses will win a $20 gift certificate. No purchase necessary. Browse the site to guess the mystery picture.    Current Competition ends 3/13/17       What is your name? What is your email? What is your guess? Entering will add you to our Email list for sale notifications and promotions.      
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Makeup Artist Chat Pati Dubroff Blog Camera Ready Cosmetics

Makeup Artist Chat: Pati Dubroff

Pati Dubroff is one of the most sought out after and well respected talents in Hollywood. Dubroff’s work has graced the covers of Elle, Glamour, Allure and Harper’s Bazaar to name a few. The industry pro chatted with us about her experiences in our latest Makeup Artist Chat.     If you could go back in time to your very first shoot, what advice would you give to your former self? I think back then I thought that more makeup was better. I've now learned that less is definitely more.    You’ve had the opportunity of working with some of the top names in Hollywood. With a jet-set lifestyle, what keeps you grounded?   Meditation, working out, spending time in nature and family are super important to me.    When your career launched, becoming a makeup artist was somewhat of a novelty. Now that the demand for makeup artistry has exploded, what advice would you give an aspiring artist trying to set themselves apart from the crowd?   I would say to be careful with falling into the YouTube and Instagram traps because I believe that could have a short shelf life. I would advise someone to look to working makeup artists in Hollywood and in fashion instead of Instafame artists.   We know you’re all about beautiful skin. Any tips on how to ensure skin is always Camera Ready?   Encouraging people to cleanse well at night no matter how tired they are. I also like to prep skin with a good sheet mask to give the skin some plump and glow. I feel this is a great way to hydrate instead of using a heavy moisturizer. I also recommend prepping the skin with a light primer to ensure the center of the face is Matte and appears pore-less.   With social media and technology evolving, how has the industry changed since you’ve started out?   A positive aspect of social media is that there is now a broad platform on which to proudly show your work. The downside is that there is a lot of photo manipulation that goes on with social media, so there's the risk that you’re seeing a misrepresentation of someone’s talents.    What drives you – is there something specific that keeps you going?   I love when a woman looks in the mirror, smiles, does a little shimmy dance and feels beautiful. That never gets old.    What was your defining moment as an artist-the moment when you thought to yourself “I’ve made it”?   Marie Claire Magazine just held the Image Makers Awards, and honored me with the title of Icon Makeup Artist. It was hugely flattering.     Everyone who has seen great success has someone they look up to. Who was that one person for you?   Christy Turlington has been a constant inspiration for me professionally and personally. Her use of her good fortune and success in the realms of giving back are aspirational.     With a largely successful career, are there any mantras you live by?   Humility and respecting others is important no matter how successful (or not yet successful) you think you are.   We all know how transformative the power of makeup can be. What is your beauty philosophy? Healthy skin should never be masked, only slightly enhanced as needed. When the skin looks beautiful and real you can play up or down any feature and not look overdone.    Working long hours with A-List celebrities is not for the faint at heart. How do you mentally prepare for it?   It's not about being mentally prepared it's about being physically prepared.  Exercise, sleep, healthy diet and a positive frame of mind prepare you for any situation.    Have you had any freak-out red carpet mistakes? Yes, one time a false eyelash came loose and thankfully there was a cosmetic store near the carpet that I ran into to get some glue to try to fix it on the sly, in public. It was one of the more stressful events in my professional life.    All images courtesy of Pati Dubroff
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