Good tips and advice in building a make-up artist portfolio? How do you present your work to an angency? Help!

I'm ready to build up my portfolio but I need some advice.


What are the best type of pics for it? How do I present my work to an agency? How's the interviewing process?


Anykind of help and information will be appreciated. Thanks!Good tips and advice in building a make-up artist portfolio? How do you present your work to an angency? Help!
I'm not exactly sure about this... but I was in mary kay for awhile and made a booklet of before and after photos after I did different girl's make overs and I actually got a lot of business from it. So while you're buiding your portfolio, find people and do before and after's of them.... get a variety of different ';looks'; to show.Good tips and advice in building a make-up artist portfolio? How do you present your work to an angency? Help!
Just an FYI so you don't sound like you don't know what your talking about on Model Maayhem if you get on.. TFP/TFCD is TRADE FOR Print or TRADE FOR CD... NOT time for.. :) Report Abuse

A great way to get started on a portfolio is to do TFP shoots(time for print). You will need to have a variety of work to show off your talent. Natural look, glamour makeup, High fashion (crazy stuff). Join Model Mayhem (modelmayhem.com). It is free! It is a forum that you can learn so much from other artists, and meet up with models and photographers in your area that want to collaborate and make awesome pics for their books too! (I am #505920, say hi once you are on!)





I would recommend getting a full portfolio of knockout pics before attempting to set up an appointment with an agency. A lot of makeup artists think an agency is the way to go, they don't realize that an agency will take a certain percentage (sometimes 20-40%) of the money from the job for landing that client for you. If you want your portfolio to look professional, don't do before and after (unless you wanna book weddings and proms forever), it shows you are not as experienced. Call agencies in your area and ask what size photos they prefer (some want 8x10, others 9x12 or 11x14), and I do have a couple of black and white images, It can really show off your contouring skills :)
I used to do movie makeup (like the blood and gore stuff), but I also do professional beauty makeup sometimes. To build your portfoilo I would suggest many kinds of photos. You would definately want black and whites, sepia, but mostly color shots. Add in some of your creative work too. I would put an add in the newspaper for some volunteer models. Request them to have no makeup on and no blemishes. Also ask them to have their eyebrows done the day before the photoshoot. All the models need to have a before headshot. You also need your models to sign a release form stating that you own the rights to their photos. You will want closeup shots of eyes, lips, cheeks, and before and afters. Another thing to consider is looking at makeup ads in magazines for inspiration. Make sure your photos are in focus. Your portfolio will need actual photos (not copies printed on paper). Also, many industries now require all your photos backed up on a high resolution disk (so they can send them to others in their department). During an interview you will be asked the obvious questions, like how long you have been doing this, but they will test your product knowlede. What founation color would go on someone with combination olive skin? When you find an agency, you need to call them for an appointment to see them. Do not just mail in your work. Well, good luck!
well no black and white pictures. do peoples make up and then take it to any agency. DO NOT MAIL IT. take it straight to them. the interviewing is nothing big but you need to know things about make up.