Makeup to Go!

…dedicated to the Art and Craft of Makeup

Instagram Facebook-f Twitter
makeup to go blog tania d Russell makeup educator Los Angeles San Francisco
  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Personal Services
  • 5ST Member Resources
  • Contact
MAKEUP TO GO BLOG

Bookings

makeup to go blog tania d Russell makeup educator Los Angeles San Francisco behind the scenes

Tania D. Russell...

Tania D. Russell is a career media makeup artist of 25 years and counting with a career that has run the gamut from early hip hop videos to print advertising. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Elle Sweden and Runners’ World, on TV shows for clients such as BET, MTV, and HGTV, and for more commercial fashion and beauty clients than she can remember.
Instagram Facebook-f Twitter
makeup to go blog tania d Russell makeup educator Los Angeles San Francisco
Work With Us
visit the blog
Contact us

makeuptogoblog
I recently saw a post that got me thinking about h I recently saw a post that got me thinking about how artists sometimes struggle when they transition from private clients to media work - which makes total sense because nobody really teaches you this stuff!�� Well, actually, I do ;-) And I can see how the rules of engagement of working with media clients might trip you up if that hasn’t been your bag, so let's clear some things up for ya: PRIVATE CLIENTS = YOUR CHAIR, YOUR RULES Straightforward. You’re running your own business, so you call the shots. MEDIA CLIENTS = THEIR DIME, KINDA THEIR RULES - Less straighforward. Understand you're being 𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 as an independent contractor, providing a service to the end client. Yes, there are things you absolutely can and should negotiate, but the dynamic is different. PAYMENT TIMING IS EVERYTHING - Private clients? PLEASE get payment upfront. Media clients? That will almost never happen. Now - different jobs pay in different ways - production jobs may have you on payroll, agency booked jobs the client pays the agency and the agency pays you less their cut.. etc. You might be able to negotiate a faster turn around time in some instances, however the reality of the reality is trying to demand payment upfront on a media job is going to raise eyebrows. BOOKING SYSTEMS VS CONTRACTS- Your private clients might book through whatever method you prefer. Booking with media clients needs detail - preferably a contract - that outlines 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. Trust me - you want this. The person who contacted you is likely not the same person who will be paying you. A paper trail brings the Clarity needed to ensure the payment process goes smoothly. These aren't better or worse ways of doing business - they're just different systems for different types of work. 👍🏾 If you're ready to level up your media client game, comment AGREEMENTS below and I'll send you a Sample Agreement and info about my upcoming Confirmation Agreements 2.0 release - plus get you’ll be on my list for all the insider knowledge that'll help you navigate these career pivots like a pro. #makeuptogoblog #mediamakeupartists #confirmationagreements
Hitting "send" just now made my heart race on the Hitting "send" just now made my heart race on the real. You know that feeling when you're about to do something that could either move your career forward or blow up in your face? That's what I've been working on these days. At 55, with decades in this industry and a solid client history, you'd think the hard stuff would get easier. Plot twist: it does not. I'm still pushing myself to do the things I hate - cold calls, networking events where I know nobody, sending proposals and counter-proposals that might get rejected. But the great @mariettacn Marietta Carter-Narcisse taught me many years ago: "To make the deal, you can't be afraid to lose the deal." Nerve-wracking? Yep. But also empowering. Here's what I keep reminding myself (and what I tell my students): if you want something different, you have to DO something different. When I was starting out, my drive to ditch the safety job and go full-time pushed me through every uncomfortable conversation. Today that same energy still exists - I'm still ambitious, and I still have goals I'm chasing even at my big age and doing this for a long time. The biggest thing holding most artists back isn't talent. It's putting yourself out there when your comfort zone is calling your name. It's doing the ick business stuff when all you want to do is make people beautiful (or ugly depending on what part of the biz you're in 😉) I get it. I keep telling myself I should just ride corporate makeup into the sunset. But that's not being honest with myself about what I want. Staying comfortable might feel safe, but it won't get you where you want to go. What's one hard thing you can do that could change everything for your career? If you want information, support, and community in figuring out and reaching your goals, consider joining us in the Five Small Things membership. Link in Bio, or comment COMMUNITY and I'll send you the details 👍🏾
It used to be me, too. I used to think that dolin It used to be me, too. I used to think that doling out affiliate links was sales-y, smarmy, influencer-y (back when I thought being an "influencer" was automatically a bad thing), you name it. Really, I was just insecure. What turned it around? Getting asked by certain clients. Hello? Recommendations is kinda part of my job. For us makeup pros, this isn't about liking every product we ever touch or going on about the latest fad trending on social. This is about making the recommendations we were already making in ways that serve our customers hence serve ourselves as well. #winning For me that looks like; - Only linking my Hero products that I can recommend with my whole chest. - Not talking about every product I ever try (which in our cases can be a lot so I don't start recommending until a product reaches Hero status). - Keeping it relevant to my audience. There may be some related things that might fly but ya know, no one is coming to me for fashion advice, for example LOL - Social can only do so much so I don't go on an on about it on social. YMMV but again, that's not the content my peoples are looking for from me so I don't go on and on. - Long form, evergreen content on the other hand? Oh yeah. 👍🏾 As a "micro influencer" with around 2K followers on this platform, I've still grown active and engaged mailing lists, my blog gets a regular good amount of hits, and I have an active Substack. With little or no "push" I'm good for a few $$$ a month through my links. I'll take it! 👍🏾 Interested in a few $$$ of your own? Comment "AFFILIATE" and I'll send ya my wee guide to help you get started. Is Affiliate Marketing of any kind part of your makeup career matrix? #mediamakeupartists #makeuptogoblog #mtgfivesmallthings #promakeupartists
Are you ready for Q3? Let's talk strategy! The ye Are you ready for Q3? Let's talk strategy! The year is half over. Are you crushing those goals? Even if things haven't gotten off quite the way you wanted them to, it's never too late to start and to go up! Here's some things I would do to set yourself up for the second half of the year. 1. Clean up your social. Update your bios, make sure all the links work, make sure your Profile looks tight, etc. Instagram - for example - said they were getting rid of Highlights so I let mine go. Turns out Highlights are still there, so gotta clean 'em up. 2. Get over your fear of LinkedIn. LinkedIn's reputation of being corporate and business focused is true but people that work in corporations like Procter & Gamble and Nike and whatever fashion/beauty brand you could name are all on LinkedIn. Hello! Fix your profile, get your information current, and get after it. 3. Clean up your affiliate links/platforms. I recently looked at my Amazon Storefront for the first time in forever and I was horrified. My ShopMy shelves were a mess too. Clean it up, make sure info is current, fix links, etc. ** Want a lil resource to help you with your Affiliate Marketing and monetizing your expertise? A post is actually coming later, but comment AFFILIATE and I’ll send ya the resource now 👍🏾 ** 4. Do some significant outreach. Outreach should be a constant in your life anyway but I always focus on doing some high-level promotion at the end of Q2 beginning of Q3 so I can catch various happenings through the end of the year. 5. Learn Something. If your Summer tends to be slower, this is a good time to add some more tools to your quiver. From adding new craft skills, to upping your tech or business acumen, any new education is always time well spent. What goal do you plan to crush to close out the year? Want an assist? Comment AFFILIATE and get the Affiliate Marketing workbook and info on joining the Five Small Things Membership so you can go all the way up 🆙 to close out 2025! #mediamakeupartists #makeuptogoblog #mtgfivesmallthings
Looking for an affordable way to stock your kit? A Looking for an affordable way to stock your kit? Aren't we all! (Update: link in bio to find the one nearest you 🤗) But as professionals we also have to be discerning about the products that we use. Depending on the client type we have what we have in our kit may (or may not) matter. And above all else we need fresh product in good condition. I was recently reminded of the treasure that is The Cosmetics Company Store. The Cosmetics Company Store is Estée Lauder's own store to handle their overstock, discontinued items, etc. etc. so on the downside they only sell Estée Lauder brands. But on the very upside these Estée Lauder brands are 50 to 75% off of retail. And considering that most legacy brands like Estée Lauder don't give a pro discount, that's pretty sweet. Brands carried at The Cosmetics Company Store include Mac, Tom Ford, Estée Lauder, Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and Bumble, Dr. Jart, and Too-Faced. So not the latest greatest flashy new Instagram brand but a lot of long timey solid kit performers. I went specifically because another artist friend of mine mentioned that they still had the original formulation of MAC Studio Fix which I personally was never a big user of but I wanna compare the old formulation to the new formulation. (video coming soon 👍🏾). But if you were a fan of the original formulation not only can you get it there but I paid $22 instead of $44. 👍🏾 My trip to The Company Store was dope. What other hidden treasure shops have you found to stock up on your kit on the c̷h̷e̷a̷p̷ less expensive?
Full elaborate makeup can be Hella fun and artisti Full elaborate makeup can be Hella fun and artistically satisfying. But that's not what defines a makeup artist per se. Being able to assess and deliver the needs of our client is what makes a professional makeup artist.
Follow on Instagram

All images copyright of respective photographers | Many thanks to Sonya Bowman Photography, Saryn Christina Photography, and Together in Wellness RN for BTS and Portrait Images

Website Designed using Bluchic Themes | All content © 2008-2023, Makeup to Go / Tania D. Russell except where noted
Disclosures | Official Giveaway Rules | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy