My Make-up Course Changed My Life
I come from a very creative family that has always had a keen interest in the arts. From a very young age I spent time with my Granddad, who would pass his old art materials and sketch books on to me. Along with these items came stories of his experiences with painting and drawing during his time as a Prisoner of War, which influenced me greatly as I grew up.
After studying for my A Levels at school I went on to gain a degree in Art & Design at Leeds Metropolitan University. Aware of the reputation of the College and convinced that I would be happiest following my love of art and creativity in search of a career, my parents encouraged me to enroll on the Fashion and Media Make-up Course at the London School of Beauty and Makeup. From the moment I started the course I knew I had found my calling. With an eye for detail and a passion for creative expression, I loved every minute of it. I had always struggled academically at school and finally felt, for the first time in my academic career, that I was pursing something that came naturally to me, and that I had an unrivalled passion for.
What was the thing you enjoyed most about your learning experience?
Without a doubt, the most exciting part of the course was getting to be a part of our very first photographic session at Holborn Studios. This was my first experience ‘behind the scenes’ and I loved every second of it! The lecturers encouraged us to be creative and worked hard with us to ensure that we all achieved the best that we could that day. This experience has never left me.
The course also inspired me to carry out research into the history behind the rise of fashion and makeup, especially within England. I loved understanding where so many of today’s styles and iconic fashion statements originated from, and it is clear to see that so many of these original techniques and influences are still evident in the fashions of today.
Studying hair and makeup professionally taught me a lot about overcoming challenges, both technically and personally, and in doing so it allowed me the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and techniques. Some of these skills I already possessed thanks to previous studies and training, however throughout my time on the course I developed countless new techniques and skills that have come to be fundamentally important to my career.
As part of the course, students were given the opportunity to meet with visiting lecturers who were all widely experienced in their fields. I found these sessions invaluable and was captured by the stories behind their success and their experiences within the industry. Without a doubt, the evidence of their successes in doing what I loved inspired me further to build a career for myself within the world of hair and makeup.
What was the hardest thing about the course?
As my main passion and talent lies with makeup, I found the week of hair training to be very challenging. At this time, I could not see myself working with hair in the future, however once I began work as a Freelance Makeup Artist I quickly came to realise what an essential part hair styling would play within my career. The hair styling skills that I acquired at the College have since proved to be invaluable and on many an occasion, as the majority of clients require you to do both hair and makeup, the deciding factor between winning and losing a job.
Has the course changed your life?
I can still remember the excitement and accompanying sense of achievement that came from seeing my name in print alongside my first published shoot in a magazine. Those same feelings still come with each job that I complete, and the initial passion that I developed for the industry within which I work remains.
Enrolling on this course changed my life dramatically. Every day I feel so lucky and thankfully to be doing a job that I love. Each new job that I undertake brings with it a new excitement and the opportunity to work with and learn from different creative professionals. I feel so fortunate that I have had the chance to assist some of the most talented and successful makeup artists in the business and I am keen that I shall never stop learning and developing on my existing skills.
Throughout my career to date I have worked with some fascinating people and I have formed some of my closest friendships. Working with makeup allows me to assist people in raising their self esteem and help them to feel good about themselves, which is a very rewarding part of my job. I am so grateful that I am in a position where I can help to increase the confidence of others and the way that they feel about themselves.
Has the course boosted your confidence?
This is not something that I initially recognised within myself, however looking back to the days before I trained in hair and makeup, it is evident how much I have grown. One of the biggest parts of my job is meeting new people every day and as a result of this, I have definitely seen my confidence grow over time. Not long after I qualified, I competed in the Young Makeup Artist of the year competition and was selected to demonstrate my skills in the live final. I was awarded second place, something that I am still so proud of achieving so early in my career.
I now find that I am constantly challenging myself and I am always looking for the next project, or technical advancements within the industry. I am so confident that this is what I want to do; I have the passion, the creativity and the drive and I believe that if you have these, then the rest will follow. Have confidence in yourself, your talent and be proud of your individual style and you are certain to succeed.
Have you travelled after the course and have you used your qualification abroad?
Living in London, one of the most exciting cities in the world, means that, for the most part, I am lucky enough to be surrounded by work locally, this was particularly important when I was newly qualified. London is one of the fashion capitals of the world and therefore provides unending opportunities for those working in the makeup industry. Every job offers something different and I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to live and work here.
Since qualifying however, I have been flown to Spain for a 3 day wedding and I was able to bring a team of other makeup artists along to assist which was an amazing experience, and definitely had its perks! I am very much looking forward to the future and am hopeful that it will bring exciting jobs which may offer the opportunity for further travel. My ideal job would allow me to travel to various different locations for Editorial shoots. As a creative person, the opportunity to shoot in different parts of the world would be amazing.
What do you do at the moment?
I am Freelance Makeup Artist based in London. I work on TV Commercials, Corporate Videos, Celebrities, Editorials, Weddings and at the same time, I love the fact that I have been given the opportunity to return to the London School of Beauty & Makeup in order to teach the class where I was once a student. Constantly looking to broaden my range of skills and experiences, I remain open minded and take every opportunity to work with and assist other inspirational makeup artists, from which I continue to learn so much.
Laura Dexter
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
1. Follow this link to find out more about fantastic make-up training opportunities
http://www.lond-est.com/introduction_to_make-up/
2. Visit Laura’s facebook page to see her exciting portfolio
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Dexter-Makeup-Artist/105587122806203
3. If you have your success story to share then email us MyLife@lond-est.com
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Thank you Lindsay! Please visit Laura’s facebook page to find out more about her success and see her exciting portfolio http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Dexter-Makeup-Artist/105587122806203
Other students’ success stories to follow, watch this space!
In the meantime please visit our website to find out more about our high-fashion make-up courses http://www.lond-est.com
Remember, if you make a good impression at the school, you may
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