Beauty Talk with Photographer Roy Cox 01/13 by Illusions Cosmetics | Blog Talk Radio

Beauty Talk with Photographer Roy Cox 01/13 by Illusions Cosmetics | Blog Talk Radio

This was an awesome interview with photographer Roy Cox. I really did learn a lot from listening to him speak. Thanks to the Tunnell twins!

Plan Day!

Every Monday ever since the year turned to 2013, I've been either sitting down at my computer or writing in my planner what I hope the week will bring. This can be anything from what I may cook for dinner for the next few days to what kind of makeup jobs I'll be doing the upcoming weekend. Well, today was a little different! Since I had to work late (the wee hours of the am) on Sunday night, I slept way past my getting up time like after noon to be exact. This in it's self had threw me off my game and kind of made for a slow start to my day. I normally would help my daughter get off to school, grab a something quick and small to eat before going on my morning walk everyday. But since I got up late in the early afternoon walking was out!

Today felt really slow and drowsy like a gloomy rainy day. No sun with a nice breeze just somber. A cause to sit back and snuggle under a warm blanket, drinking hot coffee, tea or coco and reading one of my favorite books or watching a movie. (Better yet knowing me the movie would be watching me sleep...HA!) But I knew I had to press on with my day cause today was PLANNING DAY! That's right the only day in the week where I plan, schedule and write out everything that's happening. So made me a fresh cup of coffee and hit the ground running around about 4 pm.

Started by making those phones calls a lot of us (creative types) really don't like to make...FOLLOW-UP CALLS. Better known as the "I Really Liked Meeting You but I Rather Tell You in a Email" call.  I know, I know that I should be a little bit more gracious in the way I feel about Follow-Ups but like I've said many times, this is my OPINION! So I got to it and made those calls first, then to the ones I like the best calling people or emailing to stay in touch. We talk about almost anything from kids to politics to some stars clothes. I mean the conversations are endless on topics and I love them. And these are the calls where I learn a lot about my colleagues and/or clients.

Being a MUA I get the chance to be a great listener as well as a great conservationist. Once the guard is down of someone (clients/colleague) they tend to open up and speak freely about themselves, their life and hopes and dreams. I get a chance to see a beautiful glance into their life. In a way that can also help me when doing their makeup by giving them a Total Experience. I truly love being able to give to someone and see the joy it brings them. It's very rewarding to me.

So yea, most PLAN DAY can be boring and filled with task work but there are some that are filled with joy and happiness. Those are the days I look forward too!

That's all for now until next time,
A Day and Life of a MUA signing off!

Nervousness to Networking

The one thing I seem to have a problem with is NETWORKING. I mean it's not as easy as it seems for me especially. It's much easier to have a client sit in my chair and I beat their face as I'm talking. Then it is to stand there next to strangers at a mixer event trying to make conversation about self and my business. I feel like the girl waiting her turn to get into the double dutch ropes to show off what she can do.

Not saying there's anything wrong with networking I'm just not sure on how to approach it. The "it" is the start of a conversation without looking clueless. That's the worst...the clueless-ness about it all. You now, I wish there was an awesome way to sound cool without the elevator pitch. I totally feel like a salesperson when I do that and it just feels awkward. This is the reason why I'm not attending a lot of the networking function that I'm invited to.

By me typing this is really giving me the chance to say what I want to say without the eyes staring at me. Either they're too intense or too uninterested in what I may be saying at the moment. So I guess that's just my opinion on things. People probably are truly interested in what I'm saying or speaking about but I'm just consumed by my nerves that I can't tell. This is what networking in my mind looks like:
I'm in a room filled of cows loudly mooing and moving in a herded huddle, pushing their way to the front wanting to be notice.

 I'm a fun loving person but I don't have the desire to be either center of attention or be in the front of the crowd. This is way I love doing makeup...being behind the scenes is humbling and I love it.  For those who know me they can tell you I'm not in front of  a camera by myself. Either it a shot of me doing an actual makeup on someone or standing with the person I did the makeup on. Ever since a young girl I've been this way. Helping others look their best by either makeup, clothing  or knowledge. Whatever I learned I would share with friends. It's never really been in my nature to hold on to things, ideals or knowledge about anything. I guess that's the quality one might need to become better at networking.

Well tonight a great networking event is going down...GET CONNECTED here in Atlanta. And I'm not sure it I'm going to go. If I do, I'll let all of you know by the comment section. So the battle of my NERVES continues on...

Until next time,
A Day and Life of a MUA signing off!

Haute Couture Chanel 2013

Now this was a Fashion show to watch! The drama that was the 1930's married with classic dreamy lace love the Victorian era was famously known for. I totally was in all while watching the models walk the runway in cute retro type 1920-1930's boots under the lacy couture Chanel designed dress. Even the gown had the same shoe. It was accelerating! I felt free seeing the boots as the footwear instead of high heels. Don't get me wrong I love me some high heels. But this was in it's own way a little...quirky and ladylike.

I totally love this show!!! Watch it for yourself and comment here on your thoughts of the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVBLIxKllvI&list=LLQXCQyjxgEVIvbYhzyZnDVQ


A Day and Life of a MUA signing off!!!

Faking It!

I have always wondered why people who are placing ads for help just won't tell the TRUTH! I love the ones that state that you will be FEED, CREDIT and REEL/PHOTOS in place of compensation. These things are already expected so why not say "I'm BROKE!" or "I really need your help and you are hired for the next paid shoot/film production or whatever."

But no I think folks feel it's okay to sugar coat nonsense and try to turn it into GOLD. BS doesn't fly like that! I could have done the same thing with feeding everyone a bunch of mess and making it seems like you maybe getting money when you're not. But I'm truthful so I guess BS marketing isn't my thing.

So to all you Promoters, Coordinators, Event Planners and anyone who has something to do with hiring freelancers like me. Just TELL THE TRUTH! And see how successful that can be.
Because in all actuality it does work!

Just my thoughts for the day. Plus I'm tried of people thinking that freelancers (makeup artists, hairstylist, stylist, photographers and others) are stupid and we can't comprehend the trickery of marketing and advertising. I go through this everyday while looking for work. I feel if I'm honest with you, the person who may hire me, then I feel you should be just as honest with me from the jump. The street goes both ways. If I feel you are being real about what you are offering but you had packaged it so well that I fall for the trap. Then will I be able to trust anything you say or do ever again? Do you think I'll keep my mouth shut? Really! Then you're the stupid one. Because what goes around comes right back around to YOU! 
So like I've said before and million times BE HONEST in dealing with the public. Because you never know what could happen in the future.


A Day and Life of a MUA signing off!!!

Something so small can change everything

Happy Friday! While I was checking posting and updates on my Facebook today I came across something cool. A group that I so happy I had joined, Makeup Artist Meet had posted a interesting question for MUA's to share their answers. Question as follows: "What single makeup tip did I learn that changed my makeup artistry?"

 That got me to thinking, there are some many tips that I've learned over the years can I really bring it down to just one. When answering the question at the moment on Facebook I really didn't think hard. But now that I'm sitting here typing way. I'm kind of putting more thought to it. Really! What was the one thing that change my makeup artistry? And did I feel that making this one change would truly make my artistry better! Well the answer to that is... YES! It was the best advice that help to do wonders for the face, by opening it up through the EYES. Yes, I said the eyes by doing just one thing...THE BROWS. Back when I started out I was doing my makeup applications like everyone who are self-taught and new to the market. I drew on the brow so thick and even a little to heavy that it made the photographer expertise in photo editing to have to tame them. Crazy huh! But was all I know at the moment. I didn't have the chance to look at YouTube videos or go to beauty networking/workshop events yet. And no one said to me, "Hey Keisha the brow are a little to thick" Until one photographer pulled me to the side and informed me of the situation. At first I felt horrible and then angry. Like who are they to tell me I don't know how to apply makeup. (But notice they didn't say that just the brows were thick) Then I came to accept what was said to me and started to research on how to achieve the perfect brow. It wasn't until I watched a video from one of my favorite YouTube gurus Sam Chapman of Pixiwoo.

She said in the video to first brush the brows upward. (This helps to see the gaps of space in the brow.) Then lightly use to fill in the space either or both brow pencil or brow powdered shadow (like eyeshadow). The next step was something I had never done before until after watching this video. That was lightly brushing through going over the brows with my spoolie to achieve a softer more natural look. The very next time I had to apply makeup on my next client I did just what I viewed. And you know what!...It worked! The brows looked naturally filled and pretty. I was happy my photographer was happy and so was the client. See how one small thing can change everything for the better. I have to say thanks to Makeup Artist Meet for that great question and to Sam of Pixiwoo for video recording and posting an awesome tutorial.

 Until the next time... A Day and Life of a MUA signing off!

Looking at the Beauty Glass Half Full

As a freelance makeup artist here in Atlanta I've seem to feel that the Beauty Glass was always half empty. The reasons for feeling this way was from the beauty community at large here. When I first jump into this business back in 2009, the sense of "together-ness" was lacking. I was running into people wanting for self and not willing to help the newcomers or even each other. But in November 2011, all that changed for me. I was told about this amazing event here in Atlanta with wonderful cosmetics that I had known about for years. The Make Up For Ever Road Show would be in town and I heard about this from someone I had never laid eyes on, still til this day. At that moment I felt that I would be accepted in the Atlanta beauty community finally. I had so much fun learning that weekend and meant awesome people that later would be important in my future. When you find the "beauty" from people within, is when magic can truly happen. I'm embarking on a new journey of my beauty business and career. That's all for now and til next time. A Day and Life of a MUA signing off!