Copycat, copycat where are you...

What’s new copycat? Woah, Woah

What’s new copycat? Woah, Woah…

Nothing in terms of you or your work it seems!

An industry filled with copycats that should be ashamed of themselves!

Now don’t get me wrong, at this stage in the game there is nothing truly original out there as most makeup looks are regurgitated versions of old. However, most artists manage to create their own unique take on something that has been done before. As for those of you that continually copy looks and make a hash of it… shame on you!

One thing I am seeing again and again are the Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), the calaveras, which stand for "skulls" in Spanish. This Mexican skull make-up art is copied again and again and again and it's gotten pretty boring at this stage. Here's a test for you, type 'Mexican skull makeup art' into google and just look at the amount of stuff that comes up! 

Another thing I am noticing a lot is schools that are teaching students by continually telling students to 'copy' what they have done and often what they have done is a bad imitation of someone else's creative idea. 

I've heard of tutors printing off images I have heard stories of school printing off makeup images from the internet, handing them to students and telling them to copy it... yep, that's the way to go :/

Worse still, there are those of you that go beyond copying, opting instead for the even lazier route which is just to steal someone else's work and publish it on social media sites as your own! 

Here is a shocking example. Makeup Artist and Beauty Blogger, Karla Powell (www.karlapowell.co.uk) and another blogger happily allowing her readers to believe this is her own work! 

Karla has built up an extensive following and it must be extremely frustrating when another so-called professional uses your work (without credit!) as their own. This does not a makeup artist make!

This kind of thing takes effort, determination and creativity - all part of being a professional makeup artist. If you can't be bothered to give credit where credit is due, to cultivate your own ideas and create your own looks then you are in the wrong industry.

Now don't get me wrong, it can be very flattering to have someone openly recreate 'your' look, but please, oh please at least make sure you credit the person who's work it actually is. And certainly, in the event that you are just posting someone else's work, when your followers/friends comment on how amazing 'your' work is, at least have the decency to point them in the direction of the actual artist who bothered to do the work in the first place!

So you want to be a Makeup Artist?

With a spate of so-called makeup artistry schools churning out so-called makeup artists it's time those of you considering makeup artistry as a career took heed!Before you even consider makeup artistry as a career, read this information and act on it! It will save you a lot of heartache, false promises, bad advice and wasted money!While there are many fantastic schools out there worth going to, with tutors who have relevant industry experience and are teaching to a standard that the industry recognises, there are also a lot of schools out there that sadly can't and don't offer you the relevant information, tutors or qualifications in order for you to have relevant skill, knowledge or a budding career in an industry you desire to be in!

 Choosing a school:

For God's sake, do your research! Research every option that’s available to you to find a school that fits your needs.Visit every school, look at their facilities, meet tutors and ask questions! Speak to industry professionals and past graduates (when possible) for advice. Check the course fees and get written information regarding what is offered within those fees - will you have to pay out more for materials throughout your course or a kit? Are course notes and information updated according to industry needs? Will there be adequate tools and products for each student? Who's Teaching You?

Ask to see the published work of your instructor/s and get a complete list of the clients they have worked for where available. Are brochure images and/or website images stock photos? Are they adequate representations of tutors work? Beware of schools with lecturers that claim to teach every kind of make-up there is. The professional make-up industry does not want make-up artists who know a little about everything but not much about anything. Clients hire artists who are specialists in a particular field. 

Promises, Promises, Promises...

Any schools that promises you extensive work experience throughout your course and/or a high paying job straight away once you graduate, you should run a mile from! Some schools will offer students work experience, but it can often amount to little more than a group day trip, where work is observed, not attempted. As the school sends every class to the same venue, it’s of little value to the students; And, as it’s a group work experience, every student who graduates will have the same experience on their CV… class after class, year after year… rendering it significantly less impressive!

Portfolio Work:

Another common promise is working with professional photographers. But this can also be less educational than it appears – as the photographer is hired to do a job for the school. In the ‘real’ world, a photographer hires a makeup artist to ensure their images are as stunning as possible – if the photographer is working FOR the school, they will often make the best of what they’re given, often not pointing out flaws and problems with looks. Get used to working under such conditions, and the first professional job you do could be a shock to the system! 

Qualifications:

For individuals working within the Screen/ Media Hair & Make-Up (Photographic, Film, TV, Theatre): Minimum 300hrs / 3 months training via private schools (ex-industry professionals) or a college course.

These courses MUST INCLUDE: Health & Safety, Character creation (including use of tooth cosmetics & additional teeth), General casualty simulation, Application, care and re-dressing of Facial Hair, Making, application and after-care of Bald caps and small Prosthetics, Basic Hair styling and Period hairdressing including attaching of wigs & hair pieces (UK), Basic Hair cutting (UK), Airbrush application.

Make-Up Qualifications Level 2 Certificate in Fashion and Photographic Make-Up 

Level 2 Certificate in Face and Body Painting 

Level 3 Diploma in Theatrical and Media Make-Up 

Diploma in Fashion, Theatre and Media Make up

Recognised Accreditations:

BABTAC

Habia

NASMAH

The Guild of Professional Beauty

BAC - British Accreditation Council

BTEC Courses

Edexcel Courses

HND Courses

ITEC Courses

VTCT Courses

Starting out:

After completing a foundation training course (a basic training of no less than 300hrs is required), you are a trainee. There is much for you to learn, not only about make-up but about how a production works, set etiquette, continuity and so on - things that a course can only teach in theory. 

After being a trainee you progress to being an assistant and, after several years of solid experience, you may then be considered a make-up artist. 

Remeber, being a film or television make-up designer takes many years of experience and NASMAH (www.nasmah.co.uk) cannot stress this enough - simply doing a make-up course does not make you a designer!

You never stop learning and developing your skills and there are lots of "top up" short courses on a wide variety of subjects.

This Sh@t Costs Money!

Ah yes, long gone are the days when money crossed palms without any question, query or rhyme. In the good ole days giving a quote or getting paid a proper rate was never an issue but now it’s all ‘will you do it for a credit?' or ‘You’ll get great exposure?’... blah, blah bloody blah!

Let’s face it, the only people that look at those credits are our competitors and as for exposure… if I want to expose myself I’ll streak across a football pitch, neither of which will pay my bills!

Has everyone forgotten that it costs money to work as a professional makeup artist? I know some people have the notion that ‘it’s only makeup…’, ‘sure I do my own makeup all the time…’ etc. etc. but let me just break it down a little here in the hope of shedding some light on this financial situation which is making us all grit our teeth right now.

So you want me to come to your house to do your makeup? Great! Well my vroom vroom costs money to run and the petrol prices, as you know, are crazy, oh and I also have insurance and tax to pay on my car. Oh and least I forget, I have to pay my AA Insurance which is vital. After all, if I do break down/get a flat tyre on the way to your house it means I can get that sorted so I don’t let you down… yay!

So you have sensitive skin and I can’t use facial wipes and you require a particular type of cleanser – hypo-allergenic? Suitable for sensitive skin? No problem! I carry a range of skincare products to suit the majority of skin types. Hey it’s all part of the service.

You get kinda’ oily and are worrying about that makeup stuff slipping off your face? No worries, I have primers that work like magic. They are expensive but you are so worth it!

You get dry lips? Yep, that will be the cold weather, sure I have a great lip balm that’s an industry fave and I am never without it in my kit.

You want to be airbrushed? Giving you a flawless complexion and a long lasting finish? No problem! I trained in Airbrush makeup doncha' know! Yep, it was an expensive course and I also like to keep up to date with new techniques so I tend to do workshops on it every now and then, just so I can always offer my clients the best of the best! Oh and did I mention I also carry spare airbrush guns? Just in case I have a lot of faces to make beautiful, because most of you ladies don’t have time to wait for me to clean out an airbrush gun. 

What’s that you say, will I have a shade that suits you? Sure, I carry at least 6 – 8 shades of airbrush makeup and I also have an even larger selection of cream makeup’s in case you prefer the look, feel or finish of those. You lucky, lucky duck!

You have some blemishes and are concerned about those dark circles under your eyes? Don’t fret! I have just about every kind of concealer you can think of, all the best brands of course!

Now let me set that beautiful base with a gorgeous and lightweight powder, can’t have your makeup not lasting all day/night long now can we.

As an artist I also love to put the contours back into your face after I've made that canvas of yours all even and flawless, so I have a gorgeous array of bronzer's to suit and some cute blushers to add that pop of colour back into those cheeks of yours.

You want a smokey eye? A natural eye makeup? A classic contoured eye? Something bright and colourful? Excellent! My selection of shadows covers every need, want and desire. I have matte, cream and metallic textures coming out of my … so I know I’ll have exactly what you need.

You want a little sumin' sumin' to make those gorgeous eyes of yours pop? Cool! I have so many loose pigments and glitters it’s just not funny.

You love that flick of eyeliner? I do too! What colour would you like?

You wear contact lenses and have very sensitive eyes? Poor baby :/ I have a great selection of mascaras and you know these babies only last about 3 months once opened? Yep, that means I have to replace them on a regular basis but hey, the hazards of the job right?

And eyelashes? Yep, I have those. Plenty of them. I use only 100% human hair lashes and to stick them on, I have every kind of glue… oh wait, you’re allergic to latex? No problem! I have latex free glue just in case!

Pencils, pencils, pencils… You don’t want that heavy lip line and want me to make sure the lip pencil matches your lipstick or gloss? Sure! I have that covered so don’t you worry your little head.

You like lipstick rather than gloss? You want a nude shade… oh wait… a cool shade? Oh and you don’t have one for touch ups so can you have mine? Hmmm

Sorry? What’s that you say? You can’t pay me but you’ll tell all your friends what a great job I did and they might book me to do their makeup? Woop de do! So you know what I’m thinking, in order to keep this bartering system going I’m thinking next time I go to restock my kit I’m gonna’ ask if I can have everything I want and need for free too and in return I will tell everyone how great the shop/brand/sales person is… that will work right?!?!