Makeup Artist Backstage with Victoria Stiles» Archive

New York Fashion Week: Officially On My Way

Victoria — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:55:27 +0000

Finally I’m on the train headed north for New York! After spending much of the day organizing and cleaning my makeup kit as well as some last minute laundry, I’m settled in on the train and underway! I realized I forgot one thing – my business cards! Having a wonderful husband at home is a blessing. I’m hoping he will be able to either Fed Ex them or send them with another artist who is on her way up here. Fingers crossed!

Photo Credit: Victoria Stiles

A New Year….

Victoria — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:14:15 +0000

As some of you may know, I just returned from hiatus. I feel lucky to have spent most of January in the Caribbean for some much needed R&R. I’m back, refreshed, and ready to go. The first thing on my “to do list” was to transfer my blog to another host. My goal in doing this was so I may have more options as well as interaction with my clients. Thanks to a good friend of mine and blogger extraordinaire, Lianne a.k.a. The Makeup Girl, I was able to update and transfer to this site with ease! Thanks again, Lianne!

New Website Live!

Victoria — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:52:00 +0000

Intro Screen to My New Website, originally uploaded by victoria.stiles.

Hope everyone had a relaxing yet fun-filled turkey day!! If you’re sitting around this weekend just surfing the web, hop over to VictoriaStilesMakeup.com to check out my new website and latest work!

Intro Image on Site: Jamie Nelson Makeup Artist

Victoria Stiles

Naymz

Victoria — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Be sure to check me out on Naymz!

Join Me On Facebook!

Victoria — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:59:00 +0000

Interested in makeup, fashion, beauty, photography, latest trends, all of the above? Join Victoria Stiles Makeup Artist on FACEBOOK.

Email Failure

Victoria — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:44:00 +0000

If you have tried to contact me within the past two weeks over email, your message may have been deleted. The problem lies within Yahoo and my iPhone (two separate issues which became one massive issue for communication on my part). If you have emailed in an inquiry and did not receive a response I apologize for the inconvenience and ask you to please contact me via phone at 571-265-7138. Please be assured it is not common practice for me not to return emails. Unfortunately this problem was well beyond my control.

Thanks so much for your understanding, I apologize for the inconvenience, and please call me for immediate assistance!

FAQs

Victoria — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:12:00 +0000

Being a working makeup artist, I constantly receive emails from aspiring artists who want to know more about how I got my start, the makeup business, and if this is a right fit for them as a career. I believe I’ve posted about this before but decided to do a refresher post about this since I continue to receive emails on this subject. I’d like to answer this in a public blog post since numerous folks have the same question. I find this more efficient than answering each individual inquiry on this topic. Of course I welcome any additional questions on this topic if you feel your questions were not answered. Please feel free to email me anytime.

How I got my start:

I started in makeup about 10 years ago. Most of my training has been ‘on the job’, so to speak. I started off doing theatre makeup in high school and eventually gained employment working at a makeup counter (MAC Cosmetics). Working at a makeup counter may seem a bit novice but the experience was priceless and really helped me understand faces, skin tones, and how to make people feel and look their best. It was that priceless experience and, as a favorite makeup artist of mine says, ‘real school of beauty’ that helped me achieve my goals today. It has been a passion of mine since a young age along with working for myself and having my own business. Through a lot of hard work building my portfolio (I did numerous ‘TFP’ shoots or ‘Time for Print’ which is basically work for pictures before actually receiving any compensation for my work), promoting my craft, and networking with others in my field, I am at a place in my career that I am comfortable with. I have achieved goals I set in place for myself and continue with a successful career but I also have additional goals I’d like to achieve in the field of makeup artistry. Unfortunately I am the type of person that will most likely never be satisfied with their achievements and always set goals to the highest standard. In the end, I believe my neurotic way of thinking keeps me fresh and on my toes for anything that comes my way.

Understanding the makeup business:

I’m not even sure if I’m qualified to answer this question. Starting any business is hard, especially with little start-up capital or clients. It’s doable but the one thing you have to keep in mind is that it’s not going to happen overnight. Building clientele, networking with others in your field, and building your book are key pieces to the puzzle. Only you can decide if this is the career path for you. I worked two jobs for a few years before going full-time with my business.

I hope this mini-blurb of an explanation assisted those of you who would like a career in makeup. For those of you who have additional questions, please contact me through my website www.VictoriaStilesMakeup.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Victoria — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:36:00 +0000

I would like to take a moment and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I will have limited access to phone and email as I will be on travel for the holiday from Wednesday, November 21st until Friday, November 23rd. I will get back to everyone as soon as possible! Thanks for your understanding!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. – If you haven't had the chance to check out my newly re-launched site, please do so by going to www.VictoriaStilesMakeup.com

And two months after my last post….

Victoria — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:26:00 +0000

I just can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving! Where has the time gone? I've been staying quite busy! Since my return from Europe I did 4 fashion shows, 3 Express covers, and work with 2 national publications. And I can't forget all of my gorgeous brides that I have had each weekend since my return along with my boudoir gals and model test shoots. It's been one busy season!! The national publications I worked with recently are Glamour magazine and Ladies Home Journal. I have to say I'm really excited to see my work in Glamour magazine. Since a young girl, I stared at pictures in Glamour trying to figure out different looks and it was that magazine that helped me figure out I wanted to do makeup for a living. I definitely think this is a step in the right direction. Check out January's issue of Glamour and look for a story titled, 'Women Under 40 in Politics.' I did the hair and makeup for a young gal by the name of Jill Hazelbaker who is John McCain's director of communications.

I would also like to announce a few changes with my website and direction of my business. For the past few years I've been operating under Beautiful by Victoria. I have decided to drop the business name and simply work under my name, Victoria Stiles. My new website, which just launched this week, reflects these changes and my website url is now simply www.VictoriaStilesMakeup.com. Of course you will still be able to get to it by going to the old url but I'd like to start directing clients to the new url. I made these minor changes in order to give my clients a more personalized feel. I'm not a large company and will never take my business in that direction so I basically decided to 'brand' my given name instead of doing business under a fictitious name. Hopefully this change will also help my clients understand the nature of my business. I am the one and only who answers emails and phone calls. I'm a one-woman-show and proud of it!!

I'm back from vacation

Victoria — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:22:00 +0000

And one busy gal!

The day after I returned from vacation, I had a photo shoot with the Washington Post Express for my 7th cover! Check out www.ReadExpress.com this Friday to download the publication. I also dove right back into work at my studio with Genevieve Leiper doing boudoir shoots. She has been pretty popular with area brides. What can I say, she's calming and professional. A wonderful combination for our clients! Following the boudoir session this past Friday, was a fashion show featuring the designs of Lafayette 128 at Neiman Marcus on Saturday. I absolutely adored the clothing, and of course the hair and makeup that went along with it (but I am a little biased because I was one of the stylists)! Sunday was a wedding for a beautiful bride and today was yet another boudoir for Genevieve and I!

You think I'd be a little tired by now but I'm definitely ready to go. Vacation was nice but it is also very nice to get back home and do what I love to do! This week is yet another busy week with another fashion show at Neimans on Wednesday and four boudoir shoots.

Maybe a little nap is in order…nope..I have a wedding trial in 30 minutes!