In short: Book a make-up artist for drama or beauty work, a special look such as prosthetics, wounds or ageing, six or more people on camera, or a look that has to match over several days. One confident presenter on a short shoot in a normal room can do their own base. Answer the five questions below, and the table gives the call for your shoot.
Start with the shoot, not the budget
The question is what the camera will ask of the face. A close-up under strong light for a long run needs a different plan from a presenter at a desk for ten minutes. Answer the questions in order and stop at the first one that gives a clear answer.
The five questions
The tool asks the same five questions, in this order:
- What are you filming? A presenter or talking head, interviews or testimonials, drama with actors in character, or beauty, fashion or product work with models.
- How many people will be on camera? One, two to five, or six or more.
- How long does the look need to hold? A short session of an hour or so, a full day with touch-ups between setups, or several days or scenes shot out of order. Lamps are hot, so shine comes back faster under them than at home.
- Is there anything special about the set or the look? A normal room and a natural look, green screen or a white cove lit for the shot, or period styling, ageing, prosthetics, wounds or styled hair.
- Would the people on camera be happy to do their own basics? Blotting, concealer, powder, brows and lips from a small kit.
The decision
This is a rule of thumb, not a fixed standard. The tool gives one of four answers.
| Your answers | The call |
|---|---|
| Several days or out-of-order scenes, whoever is on camera | Book a hair and make-up artist, and keep a continuity record |
| Drama, beauty work, a special look or six or more people on camera. Also two to five people on a full day or longer, or anyone on green screen or a white cove who is unsure of doing their own basics | Book a make-up artist |
| One confident presenter, a short session and a normal room | A kit in a bag is enough |
| Anything in between, such as one person on a full day, or a presenter who is unsure on a short shoot | A kit plus a plan for the light: a test, a monitor check and a continuity sheet |
What a basic kit covers
A matte base, powder, a neutral lip, a little eye colour, a comb and a few grips cover most talking-head work. The presenter's five minute make-up kit lists the items. Check the look on the monitor under the actual lights, because the mirror shows a different light.
If you do book one
Ask the artist for a continuity sheet and a test session before the shoot. The make-up continuity sheet gives the columns to record. For cove and green screen work, the make-up for green screen and coves guide covers the light that reaches the face. For the detail of how a sensor shows skin and texture, see make-up for HD and 4K.
Related guides
- Make-up for HD and 4K: what the camera sees
- A presenter's five-minute make-up kit
- Make-up for green screen and coves: what to change
- Make-up continuity sheet: a template for every look
- All guides and tools
The picture at the top of this page is an illustration, not a photograph of a client or a real job.
Questions we get asked
Do you need a make-up artist for a video?
Not always. A confident presenter in a short, single-look piece can often manage with a basic kit. Book an artist for drama or beauty work, a larger group, a look that runs over several days or any special effects.
What does a make-up artist do on a film shoot?
They set and maintain the look for each actor, keep the continuity records, touch up between takes and apply any effects or prosthetics, working with the director of photography on the light.
Does Granary provide a make-up artist?
A make-up artist is not one of the roles on Granary's crew rate card. Ask when you enquire and we will say what can be arranged for your shoot.
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