Brandalyn Fulton - Makeup. Ashlee - Major Models. Photographer: Bo Zhang.
Question: I am in the beginning stages of my acting career and I am finally ready to take professional headshots. I came across some of the photographers you mentioned in one of your previous posts and I took a look at some of their work. I must say, everyone looked flawless. I am a little bit afraid to spend hundreds of dollars on a make-up artist, but honestly, in your opinion do you think it is a good investment to hire a professional to do your make-up for a professional photoshoot?
~ J.H Brooklyn, New York
Answer: I know everyone may not agree with my response to this particular question, but I am standing firm *strikes ‘I mean business’ pose* on what I am about to say on this matter. 
I whole-heartedly believe that if you are a professional in any field, especially an actor, model – where your face is your calling card; hiring a make-up artist should go hand in hand if you are investing in professional headshots.
Once upon a time I had the mentality that hiring a makeup artist for my shoots were completely unnecessary. I figured if I put makeup on daily for live performances and it works, why would a shoot be so different? There is a huge difference and I learned that the hard way. One particular shoot the photographer went on and on about how fabulous these shots were (this was before digital and I had to wait a week to get a contact sheet) and you could imagine my face when I was less than pleased with the images. Sure my smile was on point, but my hair had fallen flat, my bang had a weird part, and my makeup was uneven in certain parts.
I was so disappointed but somehow managed to find one or two images out of the 200 that I could work. From that moment on, I always make sure I have money set aside to hire a professional when getting new headshots. I spent so much money on my photos and was not able to use many of them because I nor the photographer caught those details. Don’t make my mistake.
Now you don’t have to take my word on the matter. I asked one of my fabulous friends to chime in on this question, who happens to be a professional makeup artist and wig designer, Brandalyn Fulton. I asked her expert opinion on what a professional makeup artist brings to the table and she said, “Hiring the right makeup artist can really make a photo shoot a great experience!” Now here is nitty gritty from Ms. Brandalyn Fulton:
Brandalyn’s Top 5 Advantages to Hiring a Makeup Artist for your Headshot
- An experienced makeup artist will have lots of Photo-Ready products. A great makeup artist will have products that look good in all types of lighting and environments. Some products just do not photograph well. Take the mystery out of your makeup kit and hire someone who knows what works well.
- Do you need or want help to bring out your best features? An experienced makeup artist can help bring out your best features without using a lot of makeup. Less is more with the proper placement.
- Less stress! Focus on being the talent. You do not want to be tense and distracted. That can show up in your photos. Let the Makeup Artist do their job. They also can touch up your hair if it has gotten out of place during your commute.
- An experienced makeup artist can give you options. If you have no idea what looks good, that is what having a Makeup Artist can provide. If you have your set color palette of what you are used to, having an unbiased opinion never hurts. Also stage makeup and makeup for a professional headshot are two totally different approaches to makeup.
- Never hurts to have a second pair of eyes. Once you get in front of the camera, the photographer is making sure the entire photo looks great. A makeup artist can touch you up, fix stray hairs, remove lent off your clothing, help you relax, and keep an eye out for anything weird that can happen.
Here are a few things to think about if you can’t afford a Makeup Artist:
- DO a trial run of your makeup and take pictures with a flash. If something looks gray, ashy, or just not good, you can fix it.
- ALWAYS moisturize your skin.
- DO NOT use any products with a large amount of SPF (does not photograph well).
So there you have it! If you have related questions shoot me an email using the form on this site. Also, don’t forget to check out Brandalyn’s work and blog for your make up and hair needs.
Check back next week for another edition in Ask Tamala Thursdays.
Love,
Tamala
About Brandalyn
Brandalyn Fulton is a Makeup, Wig & Hair Artist residing in New York City. She has worked in beauty, fashion, and Off Broadway & Regional Theaters for the past 8 years across the country. Her work can be found in ON MAKEUP Magazine, Blu Magazine, and New York Moves Magazine. www.brandalynfultononline.com.
Connect with her on twitter as well @brandalynfulton
About Tamala Baldwin
