What I Learned in the Chair:
An Ode to Hair/Makeup Artists
By: Paige DufresneWay back when, I was given advice for photo shoots: always have photos of the individuals you’re working with ready and available. This should make finding people you don’t know much easier. Say hello to more shooting time and goodbye to aimlessly wandering around the location shouting out someone’s name in vain (and that’s if you’re feeling brave).
This advice worked out great for me until my phone died, my outfits didn’t have pockets or my face looked nothing like my profile picture. I wandered around one set with my face painted like a lion and a dead cobra on my head wondering why my photographers couldn’t find me. These experiences could have made me frustrated, but all of the instances that this occurred I noticed some common themes: a perplexed photographer, laughter, and a repeated statement of, “Wow! These hair and makeup artists are talented.”
Hair and makeup artists can be unsung heroes of a photoshoot. These individuals see us at our potential worst and make us into a more complete human being (or whatever non-human thing we’re being that day). Insanely talented, they bring their own unique styles and skills to a shoot. Prepping faces and bodies for photos can often help photographers save time during the editing process. In this line of work, successful artists are incredibly patient by spending hours applying initial looks and then hanging around a set to provide touch-ups to their original work.
This is also the time I want to apologize for all of the times I had to blow my nose after makeup, lost eyelashes, talked during lipstick application, or squeezed my eyes shut a little too hard during eyelash application and requested assistance in prying my eyes apart.
Now that I’ve gotten the messy apology out of the way, I would like to extend a thank you to all hair and makeup artists. Before I ever sat in the chair, a makeup-less face and undone hair was completely out of the question. Being told to show up to a shoot with a clean face actually gave me nightmares. I could dive into what these dreams meant (it would be a great case study for psychologists), but I’d rather focus on the positive to facing my insecurities head-on while in the chair: I actually started to love who I was naturally, without additional products.
I recognized how by putting more time into caring for my skin, there was a recognizable difference in how my skin looked without makeup. I felt vulnerable but I saw that I had the same issues as others with my skin and hair. I never once felt self-critical of how I looked when sitting in front of the artist as they saw opportunity on a canvas with products as the medium with which to paint. The friends that I made liked me for me and weren’t superficial. I appreciated how I could look with more time, effort and skill put into my look as opposed to feeling that it was a mandatory part of me.
During this holiday season, take the time to appreciate yourself, even if you’ve had way too much dessert. Spend time with the people that love and care about you unconditionally. And thank a hair/makeup artist for their work in making you look like a human being as opposed to a snowbank with muppet hair (or is that just me?).
Facebook: Paige Dufresne
Instagram: @paigedufresne
