Hey Everyone!
Ever so often, I like to update you on life, what goes on behind the scenes. – you know that stuff. June has been a pretty crazy month and so has the past few months ever since I came back from London. I launched the online store, I’ve been working on the blog part time and I’ve been a full time, professional and certified make-up artist. I juggle this between filming for Mediacorp ToggleTV (I have my own series called Beauty Basics now), voice-overs and speaking and hosting events too. I guess that’s what I do, although sometimes I feel like a third culture kid trying to explain it. Despite the compulsory confusion when asked, I feel like I’m doing what I need to do at this point in my life. I’m only 22 and it’s like I’m using every part of me, everything that God made and blessed me with and I feel like He’s my boss. BTW, I’m scattering my make-up work throughout this post, whether you like it or not.
So I’m sure as an aspiring make-up artist, you probably want to know – Roseanne, what happens after make-up school? I’m sure that’s the question on a lot of people’s minds. I’m going to let you in on what happened for me – and also what you should be doing. For me, when I first came out of school a while back – life after make-up school was pretty exciting, but I think most of what I’m doing now is a result of all the effort I put into everything even before attending any school. I studied make-up for three years myself before I went to school. It’s not really about the school, but it’s more about becoming a professional make-up artist. Yet, I really feel that becoming professional has made me appreciate make-up on another level. Actually transforming faces and seeing that transformation has made me love it so much more. Not just transformation of appearances but the way people feel and how much powerful and confident they become because of it. It’s not just about swooning over the latest launch of your favourite brand, it’s not just about swatching things or finding new ways to apply them – but it’s really about make-up becoming an art and a tool to transform not only how you look, but how you feel. It’s those eyes brightening and those lips smiling that really make lugging around a make-up kit worth it.
Here’s some advice.
#1 Test like a crazy woman.
You need to test and you can’t expect actual work for a long time until you build a network of photographers and clients. Testing is when you collaborate with photographers and models to build your portfolio. Everyone works for the picture and not for money. When I first came out, even though I had a lot of experience with make-up already – everyone knew me as a beauty blogger and not a make-up artist. Building a portfolio of what I’ve done helped prove them wrong. People were excited and surprised at what I could do and I wasn’t just there to smile and make videos. The bookings came in and so did the assignments to do make-up for their events, weddings and campaigns. But to get here, you need to test. Testing is a great way to get to know people already in the industry, get great pictures so you can show other people what you can do, and build your experience doing make-up. Although you have to work for free at first (it’s like a rite of passage), it will pay off.
#2 Build your Kit
Every make-up artist needs a good working kit. A collection of make-up that you use for all the work you do. We all know know that make-up can be really expensive so here’s a few ways to cut the cost. Invest in neutrals and think about colors later. Seriously all the stuff I do (more the paid jobs that I do) want that neutral and commercial daily look. You really use neutral colors like your beiges, browns and pinks more than anything. My number one make-up palette I use is the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette because it can do both eyes and brows. Invest in a range of lipsticks though – mainly variations of neutrals pinks, reds and dark reds. To cut back on getting every single foundation color available, get only three or four that you can mix and match. Just make sure it’s the same brand, type and texture and you can do the mixing. I usually use the M.A.C studio finish because they have all the shades and finish off with my Bobbi Brown BBU palette. Build your kit as you go and as and when you need certain things. Getting those fifty dollar feather and paper lashes now might be a little useless if you’re never going to use them but if you have a crazy shoot to do tomorrow, get them the night before. That way you only spend money when you need to.
#3 Get a Good Attitude
Get a good attitude – a working attitude and don’t be easily disappointed when the photographer asks you to correct something or re-do something even. Some photographers can be really harsh, some don’t know what they want (and are a little frustrating) and some will make you do something, take it away and go back to what you did before. It can be a silly process but it’s about having a good working attitude towards your new job and a good team makes a good picture. It’s really not about you either – you need a good model and a good photographer too. You all work as a team and no one’s efforts really outshine the other.
#4 You learn a lot on your Own
Be prepared to learn a lot on your own. It’s just like art. You can teach me how to paint and what I need to paint, but you can’t teach me imagination or creativity right? I learn hair on my own now and it’s difficult but if it’s something you love, you’ll do it. Put yourself to the challenge and do looks you’ve never done before to see what works out and what doesn’t. It’s really all trial and error sometimes mixed with good technique. Have a little fun and keep on improving yourself. Didn’t get the liner right the first time? Do it again, and again and again until you get it right. Sometimes it really tests you – how much do you love what you do?
All of this lovely work I’ve done is now on my online portfolio! Check it out at www.roseannetang.com :) And contact me if you need my services. I do bridal, events, fashion, runway and even provide personal make-up lessons in Singapore. That’s right. Feel free to email me at roseannetangrs@gmail.com to enquire.
Love,
Roseanne