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Makeup artistry career education founded by Tania D Russell
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MAKEUP TO GO BLOG

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Makeup artist and educator Tania D. Russell working on set

Tania D. Russell...

Tania D. Russell is a career media makeup artist of over 25 years, and a makeup educator of over 15 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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Makeup artistry career education founded by Tania D Russell
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I've literally seen websites without contact infor I've literally seen websites without contact information. Not to mention without location information. Fam, private clients might be willing to go through the form and then the Calendly and then the discovery call and this that. OR some private clients may prefer to just go straight to a booking form like acuity or something. That's not how it's going to be with media clients. Someone hiring for makeup (hair/nails/wardrobe/whatever) for a music video commercial editorial or the like just needs to know where you are and they need a yes or no answer on your availability. And they need to get those answers in the quickest way possible. So even having a form on your website is risky because a lot of decision makers aren't trying to do that. Just make it easy on them – hence making it easier on yourself – and have an email address and phone number. If you don't want to put your real cell number out there on the Interwebs which I get I don't either, you can get a number like Google Voice that will forward to your phone number. But don't get disqualified at the starting line before the race even begins. Make it easy for folks to book you. 👍🏾 Pt 2 building a portfolio that books is the actual portfolio website. If you need guidance, hit the link in bio.
Your booked gigs alone is not your portfolio strat Your booked gigs alone is not your portfolio strategy. I’ve observed in the social media era many artists wondering why their Instagram or before and afters won’t get them certain kinds of bookings. The short answer is that isn’t the type of work decision makers in the media/creative spaces want to see, but it’s even more granular than that. What do YOU want to see? Who are YOU as an artist? And how do you articulate that to other creatives? Aye, there’s the rub! Yes, over time much of your portfolio will naturally be work you've been hired to do, and that’s important information for decision makers. But depending on where you are and what you're going after, booked work alone may not tell your full artistic story. A creative collaboration gives you the space to show range, execute a vision the way you want to execute it, and work with people who can potentially be in your corner long-term. Three reasons I keep prioritizing it: - Meet and build relationships with great teams - Define and solidify your artistic style (without a client brief over your head) - Diversify the work available to show, which can open up further opportunities Hence, even though I am 2000 years old and have been at this makeup thing for 1657-lebbin years, I still LOVE creative shoots and I prioritize getting at least a few good ones done every year. (SIDE NOTE - This strategy has also kept me from becoming “Old Makeup Artist” and being put out to career pasture…) I made a free guide breaking down how to build a Portfolio that translates not just to bookings, but the bookings you want to get. Comment PORTFOLIO26 and I'll send it to you, or grab it via the link in bio. (And don't clown me on this filter please lol. My regular wasn't available, I wasn't wearing make up, and I couldn't see that this filter added shall we say certain details until after I'd already recorded lol)
Shopping is the least important thing you'll do at Shopping is the least important thing you'll do at The Makeup Show this weekend. The Makeup Show NYC is this weekend May 3rd and 4th — and while I’ll be holding it down here in LA, I want to talk to those of you who are going about how to actually work a trade show. Because most of y’all aren’t doing it. Because The Makeup Show is pros only and you aren’t competing with fans lined up for influencer brand drops, there is more opportunity to connect with your fellow artists and brand vendors. Here's what I would do... Pre Show: Plan both the education and which vendor booths want to hit in advance. These should be your priorities and you don’t want time overlap. ��With the education, yes, go see the product demos because Product Knowledge (PK) is important - but pretty please prioritize any business-focused education on the schedule because this is prime career time not just a shopping trip like going to Ulta. On the floor: Shop, yes - especially if you're coming from outside LA or NYC and don't have regular access to pro stores and pro discounts. But don't just grab and go. Introduce yourself to the people at those booths. This is why you want to map out your priority booths in advance because you want to start getting to know your brand vendors and having them know you. And you don't have to buy everything to learn about a product - ask for educational materials. 👍🏾 The mixers: Metropolitan Events (the organizers) sometimes partner with groups like The Powder Group for cocktail-style mixers before or during the show. Go to those. Meeting fellow artists is just as valuable as meeting vendors, and I know artists who’ve met agents at these get togethers. You can be shy later at home, go mingle! 🤗 Bear in mind I've made relationships that have lasted years from Trade Shows. I've loaded *jobs* from connecting at Trade Shows. The networking may not pay off today, but having in-person conversations with your artist community is a precious opportunity that cannot be missed. Are you going to The Makeup Show NYC this weekend? What are you most looking forward to? Tell me in the comments 👇🏾 #makeuptogoblog #promakeupartists
How consistent is your marketing, really? Not whe How consistent is your marketing, really? Not when you feel like it or when work is slow and you panic. I'm talking consistent consistent. This is where many emerging makeup artists struggle, and Fam, I know the struggle all too well. Here are Five Small Ways to up your marketing game early in Q2 so you can ball a little bit harder in 2026… 1. Be Consistent in your Outreach - Outreach is just the name of the game, my friend. Consistency is how we build our name brand so decision makers know who we are. If it feels awkward to you, fear not: the more you do it, the easier it becomes to do. 2. Be Consistent in your Focus - If you don't know what you want to do and your focus is scattered, your marketing will reflect that fact. Pick a direction and commit to it. Other opportunities will come, but you need a home base to work from. 3. Be Consistent in your Presentation - Your portfolio, your social, your website should all tell the same story. If a decision maker can't figure out who you are or what you offer within a few seconds of looking, they're out. 4. Be Consistent in your Positioning - “Know your worth" may be the mantra of social media, but your presentation has to back it up. If you're positioning yourself as a luxury artist, a client should primarily see beautiful makeup, beautifully photographed, in beautiful settings, not just before and afters in questionable lighting. 5. Be Consistent in your Follow-Through - PLEASE. Reaching out is only half the job. If someone responds and you don't follow up, or you go quiet after one exchange, any opportunity that may have existed has left the building. This is an area of weakness for me, and I can tell you that my success rate increases *dramatically* when I get it together and do my follow ups. Once your name and reputation are solidified you’ll likely not need to grind as hard (or you’ll have an agent to do it for you). But to get to that point, your consistency will always be your key. And if you want help getting any of this sorted, the Five Small Things Membership and Need to Talk 1-on-1 Strategy Sessions are both great places to start. Links are in the bio.
Let’s talk about being uncomfortable for a minute. Let’s talk about being uncomfortable for a minute. For the past several months I have been contributing to a large-scale online education program in our industry. And unlike the courses and content I create on my own, this work was subject to full academic review. And the reviewers were analysts, college professors, longtime classroom teachers: serious education experts, not just other artists saying "yeah that looks good.” Y’all every time I pressed send on an assignment to be reviewed I was *nervous* nervous. But every single one of my lessons were accepted. I am not sharing that to brag. I am sharing it because going through that process taught me something important: I had been operating at a higher level than I was giving myself credit for. And I would not have known that if I had let the fear of being judged keep me on the sidelines. This is the thing about staying in your comfort zone. It feels safe, but it also keeps you from finding out what you are actually capable of. If there is something you have been hesitating on because you are afraid of how your work will be measured, I want you to think about that today. If you want support in figuring out your next move, I have two ways to work with me. The Five Small Things Membership is where I share actionable business guidance on a consistent basis. And if you need to think something through one on one, the Need to Talk Strategy Sessions are available for that. Both are linked in my bio. #mediamakupartist #mtgfivsmallthings #promakeupeducation
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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