The Hair, Makeup & Styling Career Guide, 4th Edition by Crystal Wright

Everything you need to know to work behind-the-scenes as a freelance Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist or Fashion Stylists for Film, TV, Print & Music Videos.
In the 4th edition of her landmark book about how to make it as a freelance hair, makeup or fashion stylist in the entertainment and fashion industries, Author Crystal Wright, shares what she has learned, experienced and put into practice during her fifteen years of representing, promoting and securing work for freelance makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion stylists and photographers.

Wright informs the reader by sharing interviews with Art Directors at record labels, Fashion Editors at magazines, Agency Owners in Los Angeles and New York , Producers at video production companies, and well known hair, makeup and fashion stylists throughout the US.

This book is full of valuable advice, information, tips, and real life examples of what it takes to make it in the fast paced business of image making for music, movies, fashion and editorial.

Using a down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach and writing style, Wright guides her readers through the process of creating success for themselves as freelance makeup, hair or fashion stylists in the entertainment and editorial industries.

Topics covered in the book include:
• Building A Strong Portfolio That Sells
• Finding & Testing With The Right Photographers
• How Agencies Work & What They Are Looking For
• How & Where to Find Jobs
• Working with Record Labels, Magazines and Production Companies
• Marketing Yourself: Creating A Campaign Of Your Own
• Fashion Styling: What It Takes

A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

UsedIn 1986, a well-known makeup artist by the name of Tara Posey asked me to represent her. I had no clue what I was getting into. I didn’t know what it meant to be an artist’s representative. Fortunately, she knew more about being a makeup artist than I did about representing one. So, with her portfolio and a phone list in hand, I set out to take on the arduous task of gathering contacts and getting her work. Tara changed the direction of my life.

This book is an anthology of our travels together and beyond. It’s what I’ve learned these last fourteen years of representing hair, makeup, fashion stylists, manicurists and photographers. This third edition of the Career Guide is a labor of love. It is my way of giving something back to a business and artists that give me so much.

I became inspired to write the first book after receiving a phone call and letter from an aspiring makeup artist. This young woman, having recently graduated from a well known Los Angeles based makeup academy, was working diligently to attain work. After six months of laborious phone calls and strings of unmeaningful interviews, she was still unemployed. In her letter, she asked that I offer her suggestions on creating a portfolio. I was astounded that even though she had spent time learning techniques of makeup application, she had never been taught or informed of ways to present herself in the job market.

This fourth edition is a further opening of a door that will help to close a chapter of exclusion to a great number of young people who want so much to be a part of this exciting and challenging business.

I hope to show each of you the best way to achieve your goals and dreams. Whatever your choice, print, television or film, the Career Guide will assist you in making informed decisions about which route to take from the start, so that your journey begins from a position of power and information. Together, we will create a plan, locate your best resources, and finally, point you in the RIGHT direction. Throughout the book I’ll share with you the secrets of successful artists who have already done what you’re about to do.

The fourth edition of the Career Guide has lots of new information. A wholly expanded agency section, a chapter on fashion styling, new tools of the trade, new glossary terms and Reesa’s FYI; a compendium of observations and ideas from Reesa Mallen, former artist rep extraordinaire. Reesa brings a wealth of information about how to do business from her unique perspective as a rep on the front lines. She spent two years meeting, greeting and changing the minds of clients who were used to working with the same agencies day in and day out.

I intended the Career Guide to be well used by you: the reader. I can only hope that by the time you reach the end of this book, you will have personalized your copy with lots of pen, pencil and highlighter marks, staples, and post-it notes. Treat it like a favorite homework assignment and it will serve you well.

Sincerely,

Crystal A. Wright
Author