Assisting Rules by DeShawn Hatcher

If you haven't had a chance to read my blog last year, let me fill you in on something: DeShawn Hatcher is an amazing artist and beauty educator based in NY. I had the opportunity to assist DeShawn last season for NY Fashion Week; I learned so much in such a short amount of time working with her. I wrote a post about my experience at fashion week but just incase you missed it, here it is:

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week SS2015 with DeShawn

So fast forward to today, I had no clue DeShawn was working on her book at the time when I met her! All I knew was that I needed a monthly subscription to DeShawn's blog because she would spill SO much truth about the world of makeup which is very rare in the fashion industry. I encounter many great artists who are great at talking about the pretty side of makeup but they don't share anything valuable to the amateur artists that will help them get ahead in life. DeShawn holds nothing back from no one; I just adore that about her.

One of the first blog posts I read of DeShawn's was this: Assisting 101 by DeShawn Hatcher  I am so thankful that she expanded this into a beautiful and easy to follow book for all artists.

"Assisting Rules" is one of those must-have books if you are a makeup artist, hairstylist, or even a wardrobe stylist trying to break into the freelancing industry but you don't know the proper way to go about it. DeShawn pays respect to the former and current great master artists so that new artists of today understand how to properly work in their field. 

I cannot stress this enough: The information in this book is something you will NOT learn from YouTube or Instagram. 

This is pure, honest, unfiltered, and very rare advice from a real working artist. Thanks to DeShawn, I now see the mistakes I said, did, made in emails and phone calls from my past. Now, I am reaching out to people I haven't spoken to before, or haven't spoken to in a while, and I am switching up how I communicate with people to be more effective with selling myself. DeShawn also talks about agency do's and dont's, how to work in fashion week, on set etiquette, standard portfolio presentation and there's much more inside.

Here is the link to purchase her book:

Assisting Rules

Turn that "NO'' around to "ON"

Would you believe the agency I am signed 

with rejected my work four times before

 signing me this year? 

4 times! 

I have called and emailed Factor Artists as well as numerous other agencies in the past 5 years and they all said: 

"no, no, no, no, no" 

I am very thankful for those "no's"; 

Those "no's" pushed me into understanding what I needed to work on to be a better artist not only for myself but for other artists in the fashion industry. Those "no's" pushed me to study intense makeup skills and even hair skills for men, women, and kids. Those "no's" helped me do things I didn't think I was capable of doing. Those "no's" are the exact reason why I am working with companies I have being dying to work with for years. If someone or something has told you 'NO', swallow your pride and understand it is a re-direction to your future.

Don't stop, don't quit, don't lose your mind: 

just flip that "NO" around to "ON" and 

keep ON moving, 

keep ON studying, 

keep ON testing, 

KEEP ON GOING!

- Andrea C. Samuels [08.27.14]

Better Fight 'Til The Day You Die

 I think of the times when my father said,"Computers would be good for you." 

I think of the times some friends would say, "You're gonna be broke." 

and I think of the times my sister said, "Makeup? Finish your Bachelors!" 

  

 and I think of the times an ex said, 

"My parents don't understand what you do. I don't wanna travel with you." 

 

 

I still didn't quit.

Now it blows my mind that every one is proud of me. 

Doesn't matter what any one says: 

If you have a dream, better fight for it 'til the day you die.

 

Photography by Emily Gualdoni, Jennifer Avello, Chris Free of Project Captured and Bing.com

Mustard Seed

 

 

This is my very first business card.

I typed out each card on my mom's Windows 95 computer. The only font we had was Arial and Times Roman, so I used Bold and Italic settings to try to make my cards look fancy. I was twenty years old, I didn't know anything but I was ready for anything. I didn't have a portfolio, or clients, or a lot of makeup, but I knew what I wanted my title to be: Makeup Artist.

It doesn't matter how you start, or where you come from, all you need is faith as small as a mustard seed and the strength to endure every possible obstacle that could come your way. I didn't know what was coming my way, but I was ready with my .99 business card.

The way you start will not be the way you finish: Keep pushing, keep going, keep striving, keep enduring! You never know where life will take you.

Room 401 | GlassBook

Room 401 | Editorial for glass-book.com

This was a fun editorial to work on! I had the chance to work with Inglot products on the beautiful Echo Nittolitto and Agency Galatea model, Todd Hansen. 

Echo is AMAZING! Once makeup and hair was complete, she completely transformed and goes into character quickly. Loved working with her! Todd was such a gentleman, even when Echo grinded her 6 inch spike heels into his legs, Todd never complained! Room 401 was a story created by my dear friend and phenomenal photographer Jennifer Avello about love, lust and letting go of your desires. Here is the rest of the story:

Photographer + Editor | Jennifer Avello

Models | Echo Nittolitto + Todd Hansen of Agency Galatea

Hair + Makeup | Andrea C. Samuels of The Rock Agency

Wardrobe for Echo | Jacki Debb of Factor Artists Emerging

Wardrobe for Todd | Michelle Jeremias of My Chicago Stylist

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

www.glass-book.com

Inglot

Some of you may or may not know, but I am representing Inglot Cosmetics for the Holidays! I could never work for a brand or company that I do not believe in, but I can tell you with 100% honesty I am in love with Inglot. I am quote proud to represent them for the Chicago region during the Holidays.

Inglot is a Polish makeup brand; it is the last name of the chemist and owner, Wojtek Inglot. Inglot offers a various array of color choices and finishes for eye shadows, eye liners, lipsticks, lip glosses, foundations AND nail polishes. The nail polish is very comparable to OPI quality.

Also, Inglot offers the "Freedom System." No other brand allows you to custom make your own palette from beginning to end: You choose the colors, you choose the size, you choose the finished quality. Not only are these palettes magnetic, they are easy to transport and they do NOT break. You can pop the product out with the magnetic plexi glass lids when you are ready to change the palette!

Here are a few images of two palettes I custom made myself during my first week working for Inglot:

Neutral (Creme & Brown) Palette

Grey & Black Palette

I'll show swatches of  Inglot makeup products I have been playing with soon!

www.inglotcosmetics.com

(Photography by Inglot India, Inglot Asia and myself)

Los Angeles | August 2012

I finally took a much needed vacation this year!! I wanted to check out a place with beautiful weather and beautiful people. My mentor Escalante recommened I check out LA, so I dropped everything and left for a week. I also wanted to spend time with family that I haven't seen in a long time, so LA was a perfect vacation spot.

I rode on Virgin America Airlines for the first time. I was SO impressed that they had music and movies to watch. I was jamming to Prince and Adele on my way to the Westcoast!

As soon as I landed, I was instantly calm. There is a sense of tranquility in the air. Every one takes there time and things are quite blissful in LA.
  The flowers are so beautiful! Everything look amazing.
  I'm still a fan!!!! :-)   Can You believe this?? I WISH Chicago had these rates.   I had NO idea LA has a train system!   They have a blue, red and purple line as well.   It was so empty and clean compared to the CTA.     I also had a chance to meet up with the humble and sweet AJ Crimson during my stay. He was so divine! AJ gave me great advice on my portfolio and a little guidance for my career. I appreciate that he took the time to speak with me during his busy schedule.      

I work so hard and so much that I often forget to take out time to myself; Los Angeles was a MUCH needed relief at this time in my life.

I will be back and forth between Chicago and LA more often, so stay tuned for more projects and events coming up soon!

How to: Pack Your Bags Like a Pro!

So, I'm going to LA tonight. :-)

It took me a few days to figure out how to condense all my makeup stuff into small cargo, but I did it! I wanted to share how to pack all of your makeup items when traveling.

1.) In the wise words of Erykah Badu, "Pack light."

 I prefer to carry-on my luggage, so I packed both my hair products and my makeup items into this one, small unit.

I found this at The Container Store for $99! This is very similar to a Zuca case, but it opens up like a file cabinet inside. This has 5 big pockets that I can stuff all my palettes and products into.

 2.) Condense, condense, condense!

 I condensed ALL my makeup into these small containers.

I found these at CVS for $4.99.

You can use the bottles the travel kit comes with for your foundations, your brush cleaner, your skincare products, your personal items as well. I used a few of them for my personal stuff:

I used the bags for the rest of my makeup products and organized my kit with them. Here is what my condensed kit looks like:

3.) Make sure you keep everything UNDER 3 ounces.

Any liquid items you have, replace them with travel size items at 3 ounces or less. If you really need certain items in a bigger size, wherever you are heading, hopefully there is a store that has what you need in the size you need.

4.) Check Please!

If you are working on a big project and you have to carry heavier items, you'll have to 'check' your bags in. This always gives me a heart attack because your luggage could possibly be lost when checking them. Make sure you purchase travelers insurance. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

I hope this helps!!
I'll take pics of my trip :-)