Modeling Resources

Should I Hire a Makeup Artist for My Photo Shoot?

For Models and Photographers

Oh HECK Yeah – you should hire a makeup artist!

When you are shooting images for your modeling portfolio, remember that these are potentially the most important photographs that you will ever create. You need to hire a makeup artist to help insure these images look amazing. These are the images that will hopefully get you signed by an agency and eventually lead to you getting work.

Hopefully you have decided to work with an amazing photographer to shoot your portfolio, so it is equally as important to work with an amazing makeup artist if you want to look your best.

Understand that you can’t do your own makeup as well and with as much range as a makeup artist can do. You should also understand that makeup for the camera is much different than the makeup you wear everyday. Plus, when you are at your photo shoot, you should be concentrating on the modeling – not the makeup and hair.

So don’t be a “Jack-of-all-trades”. Generally when you meet someone who is a “Jack-of-all-trades”, they are also a “master of none.”

A great makeup artist also serves as a second set of eyes on the set. They keep a lookout for flyaway hairs, turned up colors, etc. These little details, if missed by your photographer, can mean the difference between a sloppy image and a great one.

hire a makeup artist
Image Copyright Kateryna Upit

Important Makeup Note:

EVERY model should know how to do his/her own basic makeup and hair, because it is common for your agency to call you and say , “Congratulations, we have a booking for you and you need to show up camera ready.”

So even though I just spent an entire article telling you to hire a makeup artist – for YOUR photos – if you want to be a model – you do need to learn how to do basic hair and makeup.

Do you need to go to beauty school or take classes? Of course not! But you do need to practice. Don’t expect to walk into your first gig where you are responsible for the makeup and do a great job if you haven’t practiced.

So where do you learn how to do it? There is this thing call YouTube. You should check it out – it’s pretty awesome!

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