Creating And Maintaining A Portfolio Of Your Make-Up Work
The most common size of make-up portfolio used by make-up artists is the size of a tear sheet - A4. Your portfolio should reflect not only the work you've done but also the the type of work you want to do in the future.
If you want to work in film, TV, or the theatre, your make-up portfolio should demonstrate the full range of skills that a well-rounded make-up artist would be expected to possess - beauty and straight make-up, ageing, character, facial hair, wigs, bald cap, casualty, prosthetics, etc. You should also include your up to date CV in the portfolio.
If you're looking to work in fashion and editorial, your portfolio should contain beauty and fashion pictures - and, again, your up to date CV.
It's not a good idea to include photographs in your make-up portfolio that show you being cuddled by actors etc. All this does is alert potential employers to the make-up artist's ego and deflects attention from their work. And remember to select pictures for their quality: It's much better to have a few really good shots than a host of inferior images.
Current Photos - And Only Yours
As your workload increases, you'll need to be constantly updating your portfolio and discarding any pictures that are out of date. Make use of your computer, wherever possible, to improve the photos you put in the make-up portfolio. That doesn't mean completely changing the look of the work but things like making slight adjustments to colour, removing scratches, tidying up stray hairs that are out of place, or removing a cluttered background.
It should be obvious but never use a photo in your portfolio that is of someone else's work or add a credit to your CV that is false. Not only is this morally and professionally wrong but you will always get caught out.
It's always good to include 'before' and 'after' pictures in your portfolio because they show off your work, particularly the more subtle elements of your make-up skills.
"(Heidi came to the UK from Iceland to attend the One Year Course at Delamar Academy) Best decision I have ever made! Hard work, fantastic tutors, loads of fun, and meeting great people . . . "
Heidi Austfjord
