Hair & Makeup
is a huge aspect of fashion photography, and I can even go as far as saying they are as vital as the clothes themselves. This is because they are what really help bring forward the right image and really set the right tone. Which is why I try to plan the hair & makeup aspect as soon as possible. This allows me to control how the shoot will look and feel and how each aspect of the shoot will fall into place. However, there is one small detail that you should keep in mind that can help you a great deal in the long run.
Yes, Hair & Makeup is a huge part of the process, and yes, you are required to plan it ahead of time. However, each hair and makeup artist is different, and while some offer both services, other simply focus on one. So before you head out and hire someone you should take out the times and discuss what they have to offer, and how much can they cover in a certain time frame. In addition, you should ask them how much time it takes them to work on a single model, and never believe them. This is because during a shoot there are so many things that can possibly go wrong, that you have to plan like something will go wrong. In order to make sure that you have all your bases covered.
[pullquote]You should hire a team of professionals that understand your requirements, and see what needs to be done. [/pullquote]
A great tip I learned the hard way was that no matter how good your hair & makeup artists is they won’t be able to take on all your shoots. This is because not all makeup and hair artists run with a team, and you might be comfortable with a one-man/women show, but at times it will not be enough. Here I am referring to large shoots that include a number of models, and different settings and get ups. As a single artist will be a waste, no matter how good they are. Which is why you should hire a team of professionals that understand your requirements, and see what needs to be done. Discussing the ideas beforehand will allow you to voice our your concerns, so you do not have to run after them on the day of the shoot.
On the other hand, if you are working with a single or two models, then you should go with a single artist. As she/he will be able to get the job done, without an extensive team that is simply adding to the workload. It is the perfect solution when it comes to daily shoots, as you will not have to worry about making sure everyone understands your ideas and concepts. And a meeting with the artist before the shoot will be enough to ensure that they understand your requirements.
So the next time you are looking to hire hair and makeup artists, keep in mind that it is not just another box you need to check off your list, it is something you need to plan and place carefully.
