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The print and online portfolio's are a hair, make-up and fashion stylist's most valuable tool. The print portfolio goes with you to appointments, it gets dropped off for decision-makers, and is often sent by messenger and overnight courier to clients and prospects throughout the country.
Learn what makes a book stand out, and you will increase your chances for being singled out, selected and hired for a job.
Don't make the mistake of putting every test or paid assignment that produces a tearsheet into your portfolio just to fill it up, because an art director isn't going to separate your superlative hair from bad makeup, bad photography, or bad fashion styling. Following are some of the things that are important.
CONTENT:
- The quality of the prints, color copies and tearsheets.
- The choice of images.
- The creativity, inventiveness and enthusiasm with which you complete assignments.
- Layout. How well did you tell the story of who you are as an artist? Is there a flow in your book that keeps the viewer with you til' the end? Have you included enough range to let them know you are capable of performing on an all day shoot with several changes?
PRESENTATION: The inside, outside, and collateral elements of your styling portfolio. Size, typeface (font), cleanliness, neatness and accessories all come together to create an impressive presentation.
SIZE: A 9.5 X 12.5 book with 9x12 pages or an 11X14 book with 11x14 pages are safe bets and are standard in the industy. They are fondly referred to [by their page size] as 9x12 and 11x14.
STYLE & TYPE: There are custom (made-to-order) and off-the-shelf (cash-and-carry) styling portfolios. Custom portfolio makers lik JC Presentations offer books that can be built according to your taste and pocketbook. Style choices include things like: color, materials, embossing, pockets, and more.
APPEARANCE: Prints and tearsheets (anything that has been published) are most impressive when cut and mounted so they don't move around in your book. Portfolio pages come in two different materials: plastic and acetate.
ACCESSORIES: Pockets. Carrying cases.
SELF PROMOTION: Print and electronic comp cards, a web site, blogging, short but consistent posting to social networking sites, submission of newsworthy industry activity (public relations) as well as social and community involvement in the creative community with which you want to work.
COMP CARD: Leave behinds. Your very own personal mini brochures that show potential clients what you do, your style, and the way you approach your art. It acts as your calling card and leave-behind all rolled into one. It will remind others of what your work is like long after you and your portfolio have left someone's office or studio.
PDF [electronic] COMP CARD: A new way to send documents across the world wide web. It's called APortable Document Format, better known as, Adobe Acrobat.
WEBSITE: If you are a professional Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist, Fashion Stylist or Manicurist, you MUST have a website. As important as your print portfolio and hopefully less to maintain. The trick to creating a website is not getting it built, but getting it seen. If you build it and don't promote it (by at the least submitting it to major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and AOL), it's like trying to sell a house without a real estate agent or a newspaper ad. The only people who will know that your house is for sale are the ones you tell and the people who drive down that street.
THE RÉSUMÉ: The only thing worse than a poorly compiled portfolio is a sloppy résumé and cover letter. It's often said that a résumé won't get you the job, but it can lose the job for you. A résumé may not guarantee you the job assignment, but it can and will help you get your foot in the door of many television and film company decision makers who won't entertain meeting with you until they review it.
THE REEL: A reel, like a print or online portfolio, is a compilation of your work that has appeared on music videos, television commercials, television shows and/or in feature films. A reel is a production. It is created by collecting the music videos, TV commercials, TV show episodes and feature films on one or more master tapes and then editing them down to a few fabulous minutes of an artist's best work and laying some music over the top for mood.
CREATIVE DIRECTORIES: Resource guides provide you with names, addresses, phone numbers, email and web addresses as well as other important information that will help you reach out to photographers, artists, producers, art directors, production coordinators, directors, fashion editors, beauty editors, and even other make up, hair and fashion stylist's that you may want to assist. Following are some of the best in the biz and detailed information that will help you to determine which ones fit into your goals, and future marketing efforts.
- ASSOCIATION OF FILM COMMISSIONERS INT'L.
www.afciweb.org
$Free
Published Annually
(323) 462-6092 Fax 462-6091
More than 250 film commissions. Organized according to regions around the world. This directory contains just about every production directory for film and TV in the world.
 CRYSTAL WRIGHT'S
THE HAIR MAKEUP & FASHION STYLING CAREER GUIDE
$49.95
Published bi-Annually
(323) 299-0500 Fax 443-3752
The definitive sourcebook for everything you want to know about making-it behind-the-scenes in print, video, film, and TV as a freelance makeup artist, hair stylist, or fashion stylist. Filled with valuable information step-by-step instructions on building a portfolio, testing with photographers, and getting work. Also included, are the names, addresses, phone numbers, and advice quotes from agents that represent freelance artists, and producers and photographers that hire them. The "Career Guide" is considered the 'Bible' in the industry, and it is used at FIT in NY as the text book for their fashion styling course, as well as at FIDM, the Int'l Academy of Design in Florida, and Bauder in Atlanta. Read the Testimonials.
BUY THE CAREER GUIDE ONLINE.
- LEBOOK
www.lebook.com
$ 112.00-$160 (depends on where you buy)
Published Annually
(212) 334-5252 Fax (212) 941-4150
CLOAKING
LeBook has certainly replaced THE BLACK BOOK in terms of prestige when it comes to looking for the best talent in the world. It is the nternational reference to the fashion world. More than 10,000 fashion professionals, including the best designers, stylists, photographers, modeling agencies, catalogue companies and studios.
- THE BLACK BOOK
www.blackbook.com
$72-$110
Published Annually in December
(800) 841-1246 (212) 539-9800 Fax (212) 539-9801
The Black Book is probably the most prestigious directory of advertising photography produced. Strictly advertising related. When an art director in an advertising agency is looking for a photographer to shoot the new American Express ad campaign, they are more than likely going to turn to the Black Book first.
- CREATIVE INDUSTRY HANDBOOKS
www.creativehandbook.com
$ Free for the askin
Published in January and June of each year
(323) 874-4181 Fax 969-9130
You'll find: Costumes, everything from designers to Studio Services, hair and makeup supplies, jewelry, resale and vintage apparel, shoes, boots, props, fabrics, editing and title facilities, photographers, photo labs, studios for testing, color & laser output and promo cards. To receive a free copy, write to them on your business or personal stationary and provide the following information: Your job title, three projects you have or are working on and a list of 5 products or services you might be looking for in a source book. Be sure to include a street address for UPS delivery, they don't deliver to P.O. Boxes.
- LA 411
www.la411.com
$69.00
Published Annually in January
(323) 460-6304 Fax 460-6314
CD ROM available
The production bible. A "must have" for people who produce television, video and film projects in Los Angeles. It is used to hire everything from hair stylists to zebra painters. A great help if you are interested in working on music videos and television commercials. It lists the names and phone numbers of working professionals who can hire you as an apprentice or assistant if you are just starting out.
- FASHION & PRINT 2000
www.pgdirect.com
$ 59.95
Published Annually in July
(800) 223-1254 o (212) 869-2020 Fax 869-3287
Formerly the Madison Avenue Handbook, Fashion & Print 2000 is a comprehensive, detailed listing for image making professionals who need resources in the New York, and Miami, Florida. Individual listings are available.
- MIAMI PRODUCTION GUIDE
www.miamiproductionguide.com
$ 50.00
Published Annually in December
(800) 223-1254 o (212) 869-2020 Fax 869-3287
Focused on film and television production resources in the Miami area. The directory includes listings for directors, producers, photographers, video duplication, libraries as well as hair, makeup and styling agencies.
- MINNESOTA PRODUCTION GUIDE
www.mnfilm.org
$ 50
Published Annually in January
(612) 332-6493 Fax 332-3735
Published annually by the Minnesota Film Board. While the book has a price, those with an interest in producing a feature, commercial or video in Minneapolis can get a copy sent to them for free. The guide supports the states efforts to bring Hollywood to Minnesota.
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