How to Make a Hair and Makeup Porfolio
A hair and makeup portfolio will allow you to demonstrate your talents in hair design and makeup application skills. If you have professional samples, you are well on your way to a great portfolio but even if you are new to the business, you can create some great samples by using friends and family as examples. Your samples demonstrate both your talent and skills to potential employees and clients. Your hair and makeup portfolio is your illustrated resume.
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Instructions
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Determine the purpose of your portfolio. Are you using it during the interview process to gain a job? Or will it be used to show potential clients as both a resume and an idea book for their own hair and makeup? You will want to make sure your portfolio can be updated, changed and modified easily.
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Stage a photo shoot. Ask clients (and even family and friends) if you may use them in your portfolio. After you have styled their hair and/or makeup, take a photo of them in a neutral location. In front of a brick wall, at an angle in front of a mirror or even standing in front of a large fern will cut out background distractions and serve as a decent backdrop.
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Take photos close up, blocking out everything but their face, hair and shoulders. Take shoots from several angles. Don't stage the same photo over and over again. Instead ask them to look up, down or to the side. Have her smile...or not. Suggest they look over their shoulder or lean on their hands. You don't need to have a degree in fashion photography. You just want to have a variety of poses, angles and options when choosing photos to include in your portfolio.
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Choose an assortment of photos, highlighting your best work. Select several different hairstyles as well as various makeup fashions. Use only fabulous photography. Crop the photos before printing to include only the most crucial part of the picture. For makeup, consider focusing in on just her lips or eyes, if a dramatic style is used.
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Include a large number of pieces in your portfolio. It should grow over the years as you add and remove different photos, accent current fashions and stylings. If you are using it as an idea book, keep in mind that clients are used to perusing through a variety of photos, looking for a style she can envision on herself. Include plenty so they can see your diversity and gather ideas.
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Mat each photograph or color copy onto a heavy sheet of black cardstock or on the page of a coiled binder used in a portfolio folder. Attach the piece securely so there is no danger of it falling off. Include more than one photo per page, if it fits.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your portfolio up to date as hair styles and makeup trends change and evolve. A portfolio of eighties hair styles and blue eye shadow won't impress anyone.
