You're capturing a photoshoot. How can you align creative visions between the makeup artist and hairstylist?

When coordinating a photoshoot, aligning the creative visions of the makeup artist and hairstylist is crucial for a cohesive look. Here are some steps to facilitate collaboration: 1. Consultation: Meet with the makeup artist and hairstylist to discuss the shoot’s theme and style. 2. Shared Mood Board: Create a mood board with inspiration images for makeup and hair. 3. Color Palette and Theme: Decide on colors and themes. 4. Trial Run: Conduct a trial session for adjustments. 5. Clear Communication: Maintain open communication during the shoot. 6. Collaborate During Posing: Involve both artists for cohesive looks.

I always love collaboration with all who are involved in the shoot. Being an entrepreneur in the Makeup world for 30 yrs and counting , Zoom calls make my job so much easier.

Be very conscious of what moves you in terms of style, colors, and shapes. Share your ideas and preferences openly, but don’t impose them. Creating a collaborative and positive environment allows everyone to contribute their best work, resulting in memorable and impactful photos.

The team approach is very important. If you have a clear vision of how the subject is to appear and the manner in which they interact with the environment it makes the continuity between make-up and hair styles work more effectively. Be prepared with some examples from sources (promotional, head shots, and movie stills for example). The subject's ability to transform themselves to play the role is critical. If the enthusiasm from the subject to the stylists takes off, your work becomes much easier. The secret is to handle details on the fly and keep the flow of the shoot going.

This should be agreed upon before any service is rendered... If it's a creative project process varies, however, it still should be agreed upon before. If it is a paid project, the styles should align to your brand enhanced 😏.

Every shoot has its own unique setting. A photographer has to be an empathic person. It is living art your are creating and you need your subject and the crew to be on the same page. This is particularly important when shooting young people, families, and group portraits. It is important not to simply stand behind the camera and "direct" things, but to interact with your subjects and the crew.

These are very valid points. I find that this happens for commercial shoots; but not so much on smaller client-based shoots. Eg: boudoir. While the photographer may not even know the details until the client shows up with his/her garments and accessories, the HMUA should definitely be part of the creative process including their input. Otherwise, the shoot will suffer. It’s when these things all jive together that a true creative moment happens.

Create detailed mood boards and gather visual references that illustrate the desired look and feel of the photoshoot. Include examples of makeup styles, hairstyles, color palettes, and overall aesthetics. Share these with the makeup artist and hairstylist well in advance of the shoot. Visual references provide a clear and concrete way to communicate your vision, ensuring that all creative elements are harmonized.

Communicating your creative vision to the makeup artist before the shoot is vital. You think this one would be a no brainer, but you’d be surprised. Let’s start out with the obvious thing here first: no one is a mind reader. Keeping a chain of communication between the entire creative team working on a shoot is essential. This includes mood boards, written concepts, photos of the model and set, locations, and wardrobe. This allows the makeup artist to come prepared with everything they need for the shoot. We have to lug around a lot of stuff, and if we can lighten our load, it helps us tremendously. It also keeps us organized. If we have a solid idea of what each look will be on each model, we’ll be more prepared and will move more quick

Some of your ideas might not be translatable into one particular set/model or might not be withing a reasonable budget or timeframe. Communicating simply allows us to solve those issues to avoid bad surprises. Stay open!

Creativity is about being flexible with control. Sometimes innovative shoots happen because of some limitation or some technical problem that has to be solved on the spot. Your crew has to be able to respond to such "puzzles" without the subject becoming uneasy with the results. Working portraits of people within their profession is the starting ground for new photographers to learn about how to pose people and what makes them unique. You may find, for example that people in the performing arts need very little coaching, but that a chef in a restaurant will need more specific directions. The "scene" you set up requires some advance work to allow for flexibility.

Conduct a trial run or test shoot before the actual photoshoot day. This allows the makeup artist and hairstylist to experiment with different looks and make adjustments based on feedback. During the trial, evaluate how the makeup and hair complement each other and the overall theme. This hands-on approach helps identify any discrepancies and ensures that both artists are aligned in their creative execution.

I've had some of my best shooting surprises, giving a white card to Makeup artists. It was strange at first, but ended up being marvelous... That's because I knew them and trusted them. They own a knowledge pack you don't have, make the best out of this situation!

Maintaining a narrative or story you want to tell is very important to achieving consistency. Think of every shoot as a scene that has unique properties, that also are reflected in your themes. It is good with more complex shoots to have a technical rehearsal with your crew before engaging the client so that things run smoothly.

The best makeup artists constantly ask to review the pictures to check how light falls on faces, and how colours mix, to make further adjustments. Be mindful of this and ask them directly for feedback!

Multiple monitors can be good for this, but be careful that they don't distract the subject too much or create an artificial environment. You and your crew have to have an established nomenclature that reveals you are used to talking through things in a professional manner, but also can improvise when necessary. The studio is like inviting someone into your home. It must be inviting and decorated just enough to pique attention from your subject, but not be a cluttered artist den. Pay attention to lighting from the very beginning and how it might change to meet objectives your stylists have in mind.

Maintain clear and ongoing communication throughout the planning and execution stages. Provide constructive feedback and be open to suggestions from the makeup artist and hairstylist. Regular check-ins and progress updates help address any concerns early on and ensure that everyone remains on the same page. Clear communication helps build trust and fosters a collaborative environment.

Everything went well but you went berserk at the retouching stage? This can actually ruin their work. Ask them if the work looks good and be ready to correct if needed!

Encourage creative flexibility and adaptability among the team. While having a defined vision is important, being open to adjustments and new ideas can lead to even better results. Allow the makeup artist and hairstylist to bring their expertise and creativity to the table. This approach not only aligns their visions with yours but also enhances the overall creative output by incorporating diverse perspectives and talents.