Put Your MakeUp On!

A couple of weeks I learned a very hard lesson about being self-sufficient.

Recently, my boss talked me into changing my look for an event. I had every intention of returning to my long extensions immediately following. Afterall, I had already gotten some highlights. That was enough change for me! So she cut my hair and I loved it.

With the overwhelming overflow of compliments and remarks, I knew this change was going to quickly become my new look. In actorworld, that means I needed new headshots ASAP.

So I planned a shoot with the incredible Atlanta-based photographer, Mike Boyce, also known as The Creative Genius. Despite shooting in a studio with an incredible photog with great lighting, I had some scheduling conflicts with my makeup artist and ended up shooting with the basic 5-minute face I give myself every morning. 

Photography by Mike Boyce www.CreativeGeniusMB.com

Bad idea.

Here’s why: Everyday make-up is not the same as photoshoot fresh. It was like everybody showed up to the party but my face. God bless Mike, he delivered great work, but what I learned was even more valuable. Equip yourself with every tool so that something like this never happens again. From that day forward, I set a standard: Never do another shoot without professional makeup. It’s just not worth the time. Your project (photoshoot, or film work) is automatically elevated when you have a polished look.

My boss (you may know her as Ming Lee) is big on branding and I took a page out of her book by hiring a makeup artist for my next shoot. Mike wasn’t available but I managed to snag a couple of hours with photographer, Cendino Teme. This time, everybody showed up to the party. I even invited my eye brows. 

Photography by Cendino Teme www.CendinoTeme.com

I can’t wait to shoot with Mike Boyce again to see what real magic we can make. And I have since committed myself to developing my own makeup kit and spending time with the Youtube girls so I can learn to beat myself to death. It will be a long time before the world catches me with my pants down again!