Portfolio Building

A portfolio is a makeup artist's key to landing jobs. This book will showcase the work you have done and looks you can accomplish. It is your holy grail.

Every makeup artist will want to show that they can handle dramatic, over the top looks. They will glue feathers, stones, candy, and anything they can get their hands on to a models face. This is all well and good. It definitely shows your skill, but if your book is littered with these types of pictures it won't benefit you.

You're portfolio should have range and variety. It should show that you can handle a clean look up to a high fashion look. Don't do the same look over and over again. Recently, I was listening to an excerpt of an agencies portfolio building workshop and the agent said the worst thing is to open the book of a makeup artist and see a picture of a girl going for a night out and then turning the page and seeing the same look on a girl at the beach. It doesn't work. The makeup should tell a story just as the picture should. You're not going to do a smoky eye to go to the beach so don't do it on a swim suit photo shoot.

Don't do your own photography, unless you're a photographer. I know you'll see articles out there saying take snapshots of makeup you do. Yes, this is great to document looks you've done but an agency is not going to want to see these. It's amateur and will not flatter your work. There are a lot of things that go behind a picture; lighting, angles, even a little retouching. A snapshot from your digital camera won't cut it.

Your portfolio should reflect the work you want to obtain. If you want to do bridal and you're targeting beauty salons then you're work should be simple, clean, and pretty. On the other hand, if you're targeting alternative models that will be looking for dramatic, colorful looks then your book should reflect that. Think about who you're targeting when putting your book together.

Basics:

• Black or gray. You can go out and get a zebra print book because you think it's cute. Sure, you'll definitely be remembered but the person opening that book is going to be expecting a certain look throughout your pictures. Keep it simple with a black/gray book so that you're not judged.
• Size: usually 11 x 14 - Make sure you're getting hi res files to print. When they're blown up to 11 x 14, you don't want blurryness.
• Pictures should not have any logos or watermarks on them unless it's a tear sheet (more to come on tears)
• Get a book with a pocket on the front or back so that you can keep copies of your resume and business cards.
• ALWAYS have doubles of the pictures in your book. If you lose your portfolio, you lose any documentation of your career. Sure you can contact the photographers you have worked with but why go through all that stress?