6 Makeup Artistry Tips and Tricks that will Save Your Shoot

Photographer: Essence Todman of Essence Latifah Photography Hair: Jade of Jade’s Hair Envy Model: Arielle Jackson

6 Makeup Artistry Tips & Tricks that will Save Your Shoot

By: Twilisha (Twi) Lynn McClelland, Owner of The FaceGawdess

To My Fellow Makeup Artists, this is a quick and dirty list of tips I wish someone had shared with me early on in my career. Keep reading to learn from my experiences. Twi did dat, so hopefully you won’t have to go through that!

1. Get Your Kit in Top Condition:

No matter where you are in your career, or what brands are in your kit, the best thing you can do for yourself and your clients is keep your kit clean, sanitized and organized. I typically group like items together in smaller makeup bags and label them. This cuts down on time spent digging around looking for proucts. Find a system that works for you and watch your shoot day go off without a hitch.

2. What to Pack and What to Put BackBack:

Ditch bulky glass foundation bottles and pots, and reach for versatile palettes. You’ll save space and create options by having 3-4 creme palettes and 2-3 powder palettes. Be sure to select a nice mix of warm, neutral, and cool palettes in addition to depth of tone. By walking with palettes as opposed to full bottles, you lighten your load, but not your options.

3. LIGHTS, Camera, Action!:

If possible, bring a ring light with you to shoots and jobs. You never know what kind of environment you will be walking into, and in my experience you can not rely on the other creatives you are collaborating with to provide you with adequate lighting.

4. Quick and Dirty:

You’ll want to keep makeup removing face wipes in your kit at all times. They are great for cleaning off old makeup looks, and they are good for refreshing a model’s face if she’s been sweating or has gotten oily before making it to your chair. This will help you start with a fresh clean canvas. In addition to that, they are great for quick under eye fallout clean ups.

5. I’m Jelly Baby:

Nothing is a multi-purpose juggernaut quite like some good old petroleum jelly. I keep a small container in my kit at all times. You can use it to clear away excess makeup when creating a cut crease. It can be used in conjunction with pigments and shadows already in your kit to create custom lip shades and glosses on the spot. And it’s great to use to give a wet look to eyes when dabbed lightly on the lids.

6. Confidence is Key:

There will be times when you’ve forgotten that ONE product that you just NEED to have to complete a look, or your model isn’t seeing your vision. Don’t let any of these everyday occurrences shake you or your confidence. KNOW your kit inside and out so if something you rely on is missing or needs replacement, you know what other products can pull double duty and get you through without disrupting your shoot or booking. KNOW you are an artist, a model or anyone else not understanding your vision isn’t an attack, it’s a miscommunication. Communicate your art with confidence!

*Bonus tip:

When it comes to storage and transportation of your kit, I recommend soft side train cases with drawers in the lower compartment. My first train case was a NIGHTMARE to use on shoots.

Photographer: Essence Todman Model: Teyana Harres

Photographer: Essence Todman Styling: Jasenya McCauly Photographer: Essence Todman Model: Lexus Coleman