Friday 19 October 2012

Assisting A Make Up Artist

So WOW. I haven't posted on here for aaaages because I've had a bit of a nightmare with my laptop but I'm back, and I'm so happy I can post because yesterday I got to assist Andrea Perry-Bevan on a photoshoot at Nemesis Modelling Agency. Considering I'm totally untrained with zero experience it was so kind of Andrea to let me help out and I am really grateful for the opportunity.

The day started early, getting the train from Liverpool to Manchester at 8.22am! I had faffed around majorly on what to wear and what make-up to use - of course - but settled it by going simple with a plain dress and leggings (which is pretty standard for me) and smoky eye with my lucky lipstick, YSL Vernis a Levres in Orange de Chine. I'm going to be honest, I was so so nervous and didn't have a clue what to expect - I had a certain image in my head of a modelling agency and didn't think I'd quite fit in...to put it lightly. As soon as I got there I settled right down, everyone I met, from managers to models to staff to photographers, was warm and polite. I got offered cups of tea straight away and generally really well looked after. But of course, I was there to work and not there to get petted...
Being inexperienced, I knew I might make mistakes but decided from the off that I would be as polite as possible and smile a lot so that even if I didn't really do well, I could be pleased with myself that I'd taken the right attitude.

It was a really busy day, with two separate shoots for Andrea to do make-up for, and for the first shoot I was mostly asked to get specific items out of Andrea's kit. This was - let's have it right - really exciting. What aspiring MUA doesn't want to have a look at someone else's kit? As an example of something I was asked to do, Andrea asked for a nude lip pencil for a 60s look. Seeing a working MUA on a shoot was definitely the best part of my day, and it was so good to see what the job is actually like. It was a lot more hectic than I had assumed, and so much more physical. Sitting in front of my webcam at home putting eyeshadow on is totally different to the atmosphere at a shoot, and reflecting on it today there were a lot of people around, all wanting to look at the make-up before it was finished. I'm still inexperienced enough that that would creep me out a little! During this shoot I was kept busy sharpening pencils, finding scissors and tweezers, gluing lashes, and curling the model's hair. All during this time, we were in the kitchen of the modelling agency and it was humming with activity. If anything, this part of the day really had the vibe most similar to doing your make-up for a night out but with a lot more 'industry' talk. The shoot was going to be a kind of 60s model in Manhattan, using Manchester sights, with lots of movement. Straight away this 1962 Vogue shoot (original Jean Shrimpton image on left, recreated by Karen Gillan on right) popped to mind. Turns out this shoot is going to be featured in Vogue Italia (!) and here's a look at it.

The next shoot was a video of Andrea applying make up to three different models. First up was Jess (who doesn't yet have a profile on Nemesis' homepage) who had the most amazing red curly hair. She got treated to a gorgeous bronze and shimmery eye look with a matte nude lip. Some of the products I could spot being used were Illamasqua Berber pigment, Urban Decay Naked Palette and NARS Hungry Heart as well as a Miners matte lip cream. During most of this look I was in the kitchen starting to curl Kit's hair - she had a lot of it! Once this got done Kit then got her makeup done by Andrea whilst being filmed by Adam Al-Sened. Her look was to feature some beautiful Paperself lashes. Here are a couple of sneaky pictures of her:



After this was done, Kit and Jess then worked with the rather wonderful photographer JK Green, who took some amazing pics of them with all kinds of light projections and - weirdly enough - a sheet of plastic. Here's a sneaky look at Jess

After lunch - for which Andrea had made me some sandwiches! - I was back on hair curling duty with the very lovely Laura Gallagher who then went to get some insane blue and green make up done on film with Andrea whilst Kit came back to get her hair re-curled. It was actually really nice to be in a quieter room doing a relatively relaxing job yet still called in to help Andrea with different bits every now and then. Obviously this wouldn't be the case with every shoot but for my first time I really did appreciate it! Laura and Kit then went under the plastic sheeting and light projections for some more creative shots and videos, which when previewed later on looked amazing - kind of as if they were swimming or being born!

Final job of the day was catwalk shots - and whilst I was helping Andrea tidy up Alex Leigh, a preternaturally gorgeous human being who made me a cup of tea and was generally lovely, came and gave Kit and Laura some catwalk lessons. I may or may not have listened in for tips. 




All in all I had a ridiculously brilliant day. BIG thank yous to everyone involved! xxxxx

No comments:

Post a Comment