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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.
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I recently saw a post where a makeup artist listed I recently saw a post where a makeup artist listed upcoming award shows and events as potential job opportunities for makeup artists. Immediately people started responding to her post, "where do I apply?" Fam, you don't. As freelance makeup artists we are all trying to get our next booking, I totally get it. But more often than not you need to put in a little bit more elbow grease then just replying to a social media post or a listing. These are the types of opportunities that are created by your marketing, networking, and outreach efforts. And not just throwing pasta at the wall and seeing what sticks but thoughtful and intentional marketing and outreach so you can attract your intended client. How do we do this? It takes a lot of research. Your skills can be great but posting a photo of a bride or private client on social is not going to necessarily get you in the front of the right people to work on an awards show. *Back in my day* (old people voice) this meant endless hours in the library scouring directories, business listings, etc. While I still recommend going to the Library just in general, nowadays you have access to most of that information online PLUS the myriad social network tools we have. All the tools you need to be able to cultivate your own clients and not be dependent on job listings or what have you are all there waiting for you 🤗 So leave the Facebook groups and log off social for a couple of hours, pull out your laptop, and spend some time doing deep research on who is actually hiring for what. 👍🏾 I cover this pretty extensively in the five small things membership and in fact I have an action guide called "who how hired(tm)" which is available for individual purchase. The resource library for the membership also has a very complete listing of award shows and events for the coming year. So if any of that tickles your fancy, DM (or visit the website - link in Bio) and I will send you the info. 👍🏾
It’s the New Year. Do you know where your Resolut It’s the New Year. Do you know where your Resolutions are? As we know, most resolutions don’t make it to the end of the month. Instead of Resolutions, I like to think of my intentions for the year and what will help me get the year off to a strong start. With that, here are Five Small Things I'm doing to start 2026 off right. 👍🏾 1 - Connection first. Starting around late summer 2025, I made it a point to start seeing people and having a good ole sit and sip sessions with folks. It was THE BEST. It is so easy to feel isolated, to feel like everything in this biz is transactional, etc. etc. So when I’m reaching out to people I've known over the years - it’s not because I need something, it’s just to check in. Those relationships matter more than we remember when we're heads-down working. 2 - Getting clear on focus. What am I actually trying to do this year? Am I maintaining what I've built, shifting direction, or pushing for the next level? We can't make a plans until we know what we're planning for. 3 - Making time to ideate. We're artists. Creation is literally our job. But it’s easy to go into auto-pilot and do the same ole same ole if don't give ourselves space to think and play with ideas. 4 - Action vs overthinking. Overthinking is just fear masking as “Productivity”. As the great John Wooden once said, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement”. At some point, you have to just start doing the thing. 5 - Actually resting. I posted two Stories recently that ruffled some feathers. The first was “places I’m not going: Above and Beyond, Back and Forth, and Out My Way” (I’ll add “The Extra Mile” as well). The second was "Manifesting Nothing for 2026". Now of course it’s not that I don’t have plans or intentions or even - dun dun dun - goals for the year. It’s that I won’t be killing myself over it. Last year was *rough* for me. This year I'll be taking a much more measured approach. Rest isn't the opposite of productivity - rest is what makes sustained productivity possible. How about you? What are you prioritizing to start your year?
2025 wasn't half bad. It was a rough year for man 2025 wasn't half bad. It was a rough year for many of us I'm sure, but looking back over everything I'd have to say we did A-OK. 👍🏾 Some of the highlights pictured here: working with a private client in a beautiful venue in Palo Alto, of course working up in Santa Barbara, some great creative shoots and the big commercial shoot in November. Really great quality time with family, close friends, and music and art. And of course going to the Lakers games. 👍🏾 Not pictured here of course are all the fabulous one on ones sessions, and the Cohort of the Makeup to Go Five Small Things Membership. I got to work with wonderful artists and watch them elevate their careers to new heights. I'm looking forward to what the Membership has in store in the coming year, it was efinitely the best part of Makeup to Go's 2025. Many thanks for everyone who has been a part of the Makeup to Go galaxy of stars. 🤗 So let's keep it going even higher for 2026, shall we? Happy New Year, y'all! ✨ (PS – that image of the gentleman Coaley Owens is from The Black Cowboys exhibit that was at the Autery Museum of the American West. I specifically posted his picture because he is a relative 🤗) #makeuptogoblog #mediamakeupartists #promakeupartists #mtgfivesmallthings
Money Matters for Pro Makeup Artists Did a little Money Matters for Pro Makeup Artists Did a little live-y Live this morning with Fab union artist @curlyourlashes on how we have dealt with money and negotiations and contracts and oh my over the course of our careers. This ended up being a bit of a free wheeling conversation so we're probably gonna do a part two. In this part one there's a lot of information on union money matters. I am am not at nor have I ever been a member of the make up artist union so if you are looking for more about how the Union works when it comes to rates/contracts/etc. there are some good nuggets of Info in this Live. So I will keep this replay up for a bit and as always there will be show notes available probably in a couple of hours with some of the resources that were discussed during the Live 👍🏾
It's the final weekend of my birthday sale! You'v It's the final weekend of my birthday sale! You've been a nice makeup artist so you deserve a treat 🤗 If you are an emerging artist on the come up or a more established artist working the Pivot, and you're trying to go all the way UP 🆙 in 2026, let Makeup to Go give you a helping hand. Link in Bio or in Stories or comment BDay Sale and I'll send you the deets 🤗
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
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