Everyone thinks that men’s grooming is easy. You know, a little powder, some concealer and if things are
really bad, maybe a hairbrush or a shot of Aqua net. Wrong. What looks easy is often not, and photographers are on the lookout for experienced and trained artists who know the difference between makeup and grooming.
In the last 7 years I have built up a men’s grooming portfolio that represents 40% of my income. Some of the men I have groomed include Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Dick Clark and Ronald Reagan as well as countless models for editorial and advertising clients. As with other gigs, every job is different,
and communication with the photographer or director is key when deciding what grooming needs to be done.
Some men need piles of paint to cover up late nights and too many margaritas, while others are so genetically perfect, I have had to do mock grooming just to look like I am earning my $800 a day. Now a word about male mannequins. Male models are notorious for not taking care of their moneymakers––skin and hair. It never ceases to amaze me when a model who commands $10,000 a day shows up with a sunburned face,
tan lines from sunglasses and hair that hasn’t seen a pair of scissors in months. Never one to mince
words, I often look them straight in the eyes and utter, “How much are you making on this job––and you show up like this.” Continue reading »