Big Changes

My most recent post explained that I would unfortunately be cutting back on make-up to ensure my family needs were met after going back to work full time at the office...

As of yesterday I drummed up the strength and quit.my.job... pause for reaction...

I am now officially a full time mom/make-up artist ready to get things moving. Being lucky enough to have such a supportive husband, family and friends, I will get to journey into a adventure I thought would always be out of my reach. A good friend gave me some advice, "no one got anywhere standing still." This, among with many other great points, lead me to the decision that I've made. I am only going to live once. My kids will only be little once. If I want to do something, now is the time.

The reason I made this huge decision after seven years at my job, was almost as if I had an epiphany. As corny as that sounds. I had just come back from maternity leave a little over a year ago and since then I have been in four different positions. Great that my boss and coworkers felt I could do anything that needed to be done, but it really put a damper on how I felt about working there. I was unable to get comfortable in any position before I was again moved. I would also like to point out, none of these moves were done because I couldn't do the job at hand, it was more so my boss having a better "plan" for our company as a whole. Being the perfectionist that I am, these changes caused me unhappiness. I was not happy where I was and needed to make a change. I was bringing home a bad attitude each day and when you only have a few hours with your children before bed they don't deserve a lesser version of you. They deserve all of you. Happy mommy. Not grumpy, crabby, stressed out mommy.

Now, I get to do what I truly love. Makeup. It feels as good to write it as it does to say it.

I will be able to work from home during the day and do jobs on the road in the evenings and on weekends. I can dedicate more time to building my business. I look forward to meeting new people and working with repeat clients. This is such an exciting time in my life and I can't exactly "shout it from the roof tops" but I can blog about it :)

If anyone is in need of a makeup artist or hair stylist (as in styling, not cutting or dyeing) I'm your girl!

Feel free to check out my website for up to date pricing and information here.

Thank you to all my supporters out there, you are amazing and I couldn't do this without you.

-Caitlin J

Facing Challenges

As many of you all know, makeup isn't my only job.

It is my passion, and my joy. Although I also work in an office Monday to Friday to help support my family.

With life comes responsibilities, as we can all relate. Which makes doing makeup solely not an option at the moment. As much as I would love to commit all of myself into my own business I have to think of my family first and what is best for us right now.

That being said, I will only be taking on a maximum of two weddings a month and a few single clients for either consultations or a special occasion.  This will allow me to juggle my full time job, my family and my hobby with more ease.

I absolutely love doing makeup and meeting new people and it hurts me to have to possibly deny a client due to this but at this time it is the best decision. With this limited availability it only makes me stress more to please book early to avoid disappointment.  I have been booking up to a year in advance with some clients. They have begun snatching up 2015 summer dates already.

Feel free to email me at caitlinjmakeup@gmail.com or contact me via Facebook regarding available dates. I will not black out any dates at this time. Basically, once I hit two wedding bookings for a single month I will stop accepting any new dates.

I apologize in advance for this change. This will be in affect starting now for any new bookings that come in. Once I have settled into my new role at my office job I may easily open up some additional dates if time allows.

I really appreciate all of the support from past and future clients. I have made many new friends through my business and I look forward to meeting many more. Thank you for reading.

Cheers,
Caitlin J

To Kick Off the Wedding Season

Well, it is safe to say that Wedding Season is here!

Not only have my Saturday's been full of wedding hair and makeup, but it has also taken up some Sundays, weekdays and weeknights in between. I'm not complaining, I love it!

My first wedding of the season started off with the wonderful Shelby...
Not only did I get to do Shelby's makeup for her big day, I also got to make her over for a pre-wedding photo-shoot she did with Amber Leigh Photography. Needless to say, Shelby is a true sweetheart and looked stunning on her wedding day. From her gorgeous gown down to all the tiny details of her dress, she looked like a true fairytale princess. Her wedding day photos were captured by Amanda, of Pink Lotus Photography.

After getting my groove back into wedding season I was ready for my next Bride!

Then came Michelle, a girl who knew what she wanted and didn't wear a whole lot of makeup on a regular basis. Michelle was fun and funny, and I love that she wasn't afraid to tell it like it is. She put her full trust in me and allowed me to make her into the blushing bride she was meant to be. Soft colors and some dramatic lashes really made her beautiful eyes pop. She didn't overdo anything and it all came together so nicely. She had a beautiful May day for her wedding, sunshine and all.

The following weekend I head downtown early for Laurence's big day!

This hair and makeup was located at the Loden Hotel, where I received complimentary valet parking (spoiled). We had an amazing view from a gorgeous hotel room, where herself, her mother and a friend with two young girls had plenty of room to get ready in. Laurence is originally from Quebec and has a beautiful French accent. Her mother only spoke French, so there was a slight language barrier, but with the help of Laurence and some hand gestures we were able to communicate just fine. Laurence chose a romantic updo and a classic bridal makeup look. Both suited her well, and paired with her fun/flirty short wedding dress and pink pumps she looked amazing! She emailed me a few days later with the most heartwarming words and I am so happy I got to be apart of her day.

Stopping to think about past Brides and clients has me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!

I did finally take a Saturday to myself in between all the hustle and bustle of wedding season, not that I needed a break, but it was my 10 year high school graduation I was celebrating. My best friend flew down from Fort McMurray and we stayed at the Signature Sandman in Richmond for the night. Let's just say, my feet hurt for a week afterwards and it has been many a year that I have seen Denny's at 2am... and back to the makeup...

To change the scene a little I was booked for a Boudoir Marathon the next weekend. Or should I say, a "Girls Night Out, Lets Get Some Sexy Photos Done" evening.

Insert three best friends, a beautiful hotel room and champagne. What better way to spend a girls night out. These ladies were fun, outgoing and kept me laughing. With photos taken by Amber Leigh Photography they were sure to get some steamy shots. I curled up their hair with volume and made sure to add in false lashes. No boudoir session is complete with out the lashes. Each girl had her very own style and every one of them looked super hot. I am sure their husbands and boyfriends are excited to see the finished product.

Jumping back into weddings, I spent the next weekend with Sabriena. Sabriena had me do her makeup for a pre-wedding photo-shoot as well at an earlier date. A wedding gift for her new hubby ;)
After working with her I created a makeup addict. Sabriena is a tall, blonde, bombshell...who likes to hunt and ride motorcycles. Sorry guys, she's taken.  But Sabriena never favoured makeup. Until I came into her life that is. She is now emailing me with my recommendations and also wants me to take her shopping for makeup as well. This, my readers, is called Makeup Artist Heaven! On her wedding day she wore suttle makeup to enhance all her gorgeous features and we did her hair in a side swept braided do. To fit the rustic theme of her wedding. I had Jen, of Dames and Dolls Make Up by Jen Vanderzalm help me out with some hairstyling for Sabriena's maid of honor, mother and junior bridesmaid. We were high up in the New Westminster Quay hotel room with an amazing view. The day wasn't all sunshine but the fog and mist looked romantic none the less. I was happy to be apart of her day and look forward to working together again.

I always feel so lucky to travel around the lower mainland for weddings, see all the magnificent sites of Vancouver. We live in one beautiful Province. The following weekend I got to venture a little more East then normal. Out toward Harrison Mills to be exact.

At a quaint, stunning and breathtaking little venue called Rowena's Inn on the River in Harrison Mills was the location of Brenna's wedding. After getting lost in the bush, driving with no cell signal, I finally found it! Yet, it wasn't hidden at all...I just completely missed the sign. Never again will I trust my phone to get me to my location. The room  I used to do the girls hair and makeup had a patio overlooking the ceremony site and pool. As well as, in the background, the river and mountains. Not too shabby a location to spend my day! After doing some of her Bridesmaid hair, one in an intricate updo, one with a waterfall braid and curls, then other with a low messy bun, I got to do Brenna's makeup. This girl does not need makeup. The minute I showed up she looked great. We did some copper browns and underlined her eyes with a pop of gold to bring out the beautiful blues. Her lips were a light pink and of course she wore some false lashes. That was all she needed. Hayley, of Hayley Rae Photography was there snapping some gorgeous photos of everything going on. I definitely want to go back to this location myself.

The last weekend in June. Instead of booking a wedding, I had a one on one booking with a return client for hair and makeup. Michelle H was going to a friends wedding and wanted to get made up. She chose a side messy bun to keep the hair out of her face and off her neck. Her makeup was suttle and she really loved the overall look of it. I have worked for Michelle on a few separate occasions. We have both come along way from our Brownie years back when we were kids!

After all these bookings and just get more and more excited for the next one. Just Monday I worked with another return client for her engagement photos, this evening I have a Bridal Consultation and next weekend I will be heading into Langley for another bridal party.

You are good to me wedding season!

Thank you for stopping by,

Caitlin J


Here are a few photos of my work...

The view from Rowena's Inn...

Little Hearts Make Up Big Dreams Fundraiser

Every day that passes I try to do something bigger, something better...


I have been known to organize and create collaboration photo shoots often. Gathering together local vendors to contribute their creative skills and talents to make amazing photos and advertisements for each and everyone involved.


This time, I have decided to do something that will benefit those in need.


My big idea includes creating, organizing, planning and putting together an event to donate money to a charity that I feel is extremely important. I had a hard time narrowing down which charity I wanted to fundraise for, and after a lot of thinking I have decided to donate to the BC Children's Hospital Foundation.


I am a mother of two young boys, whom are both healthy, but you never know what life may bring. I support a facility that dedicates its time to making any ill child or baby well. The powerful men and women that work in this hospital do some much and since I have the enthusiasm to help out, why wouldn't I?! The children in our lives deserve the best. Our kids are our futures, we can create a great one for them.


My goal is not a number. I do not have an amount that I wish to raise. All I want from this is to feel like I have helped. Any dollar amount will and can help those in need. If I have the ability to organize such an event I hope I inspire others to do the same.


I have decided to organize an evening event at a downtown club/pub location. An evening to get out of the house for some eats, treats, drinks, raffle prizes, silent auction, dancing and a show. A way to have fun and do good all in one.


Since I am only one person, I ask that anyone who wishes to help to contact me. Please email me with your name, number and how you can help. caitlinjmakeup@gmail.com


This entire event is completely non-profit and all proceeds will be going to the charity.


Some volunteers I am looking for include:

• Sponsors (Silent Auction Donations)
• DJ
• Greeters
• Videographers
• Décor Rental
• Ticket Printing

I kindly ask that if you know anyone that may be able to help out, please pass this along.
There will be letters to sponsors available explaining what their donations are going to.


To top it off, I will be donating my make-up service earnings directly to making this event a success. From now until the event, any weddings or bookings I make will be put towards the support of this charity. Tickets for the event will go on sale closer to the date that is chosen. Please anticipate that it may be up to one year from now that this event will take place, as the planning process will be quite intense.


I thank all of you for taking the time to read this post and I hope to hear from you on how you can help make this a bigger and better event. It is appreciated!

UPDATE: The name of this fundraiser is: Little Hearts "Make-Up" Big Dreams
With the help from my husband and good friend, this name has a lot of meaning :)
The event will be geared towards a "when we were little" theme. Things that make you think back to your childhood like treats, bright colors, classic 70's and 80's music that we all heard through our radios and so on.

Sincerely,


Caitlin J Make-Up


~~They Make Believe, We "Make-Up" a Reality~~

Because We Love our Mother's

This Mother's Day was one to remember...

Since having to say goodbye to our grandmother in early January, we knew that this Mother's day would be a hard one for our family.

My mom, along with her two sisters and brother, had lost one of the most amazing women I know. Being only 80 years old, we thought we had much more time with her. Sadly, she was taken from us unexpectedly. She is now in a better place and is no longer in any pain, which we are all thankful for.

My last conversation with my grandma was in the hospital on Christmas Eve. I was able to chat with her and help her eat her lunch, since this easy task to many was quite challenging in her state. I got to hug her and kiss her. As I said goodbye, I didn't know that was the last time I'd see her... "I'm just going to lay on this patch of grass and have a rest", was what she said to me. It puts me at peace now to think back on it. Even though at the time I thought she was a little nutty. That is just grandma for you, always saying the silliest things. I'm really going to miss that, and her.

I thought that for this particular Mother's Day I would plan a photo-shoot to show our love and appreciation to our own mom's. So with myself, my mom, my two aunts and two cousins we color coordinated our outfits and set out in the rain for a memorable and cherished photo session with Pink Lotus Photography.

The rain did not let up, it even reached records in some parts of the lower mainland that day. This did not stop us from enjoying our time. Yes, it was cold. Yes, it was wet. None the less, we all had each other to keep us warm and came out with some beautiful photos of us all.

Thank you, Amanda, for venturing out in the rain with us :)

Thank you to my mom and aunts for being the strongest people I know, and thank you to my cousins for going along with my crazy ideas. Love you all!

RIP Grandma

Collaboration Shoot @ TRK Helicopters

I am speechless...so I type.


Every now and then I come up with the idea for a photo-shoot to show off my make-up abilities. These shoots started out small with some friends and sometimes a borrowed camera. I have been the creator, director, producer, photographer, stylist and make-up artist in many past shoots. Knowing that one person can't do everything, I decided it was best to start reaching out to others for help. I wanted people that were just as enthusiastic and excited about the shoot as I was. I needed people with talent but didn't mind doing something for the fun of it. These shoots are all un-paid. Every person involved has donated their time to make these a reality for me. For that, I am unbelievably thankful!


All of these individuals have as much passion for their line of work as I do mine.


This particular shoot was something I did not do a lot of pre-planning for. By that I mean, I did not have a dead set idea going into it. I just went with it. First being offered a location to use for the photos...


TRK Helicopters at the Langley airport reached out to me and offered the use of their facility for our upcoming photo-shoot. My reaction was more or less, "HECK YES!". Who turns down the opportunity to use a helicopter as a prop in a photo...no one. TRK was generous in allowing me to stop by before the scheduled shoot and scope out some places for the photos and have a better idea what I would be working with the day of. They were even kind enough to let my son sit inside one of the helicopters, he was a pretty happy camper. Not only did they open their hangar to us, they even had people onsite to move helicopters around to more ideal locations, inside and outside the hangar. One was pushed with man strength alone, or should I say two men and one woman strength. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself. TRK offers adventures such as city tours, helicopter fishing, mountain tours, helicopter golfing and special occasion tours to name a few. Their pilots are highly experienced. Their slogan and motto is "Raising standards...from the ground up", what a perfect sentence to sum up the experience we had with them this past weekend.


Since we were offered such an amazing location for the photos it then became real. I began my search for other businesses that would be interested in contributing to the shoot.


Of course, my first person to contact was, and probably always will be, Hayley Rae Photography. I can always count on Hayley to be "down" for anything. Watching her talent and career in photography take off has made me so proud, and always excited to see what photos she comes up with. An extremely passionate photographer and an even greater person, she always has my back. It just wouldn't be a collaboration shoot without her.


Next, I decided to contact another familiar face. Kelsey. She has modeled for me in the past and is the easiest person to work with. Very professional and such a sweetheart. Her natural beauty makes my job easy. She has great confidence in front of a camera and her photos never disappoint. I am so happy that Kelsey was willing to be apart of yet another one of my crazy ideas!


All I could think of at this point was, wow, we will be shooting at a helicopter hanger... this is a pretty big deal. Since it felt so big to me, I knew we would need a second photographer and model. I am so happy that I made this decision, because it added so much more variety to the shoot and covered a wider range of style.


I was contacted on facebook by a mutual friend and was recommended to Kassy Davis. She is currently attending BCIT for Graphic Design. Originally from Kelowna she didn't know any make-up artists in the area and thought this would be a great way to get to know one. I emailed Kassy and she was open to helping out with our shoot. Viewing her website I knew right away that I loved her style and could see she is very talented at what she does. Never actually meeting her until the day of the shoot, she fit in perfectly. Just like we've known her all this time. I appreciate that she took the time from her schooling to be apart of this shoot with us, it was really appreciated and I look forward to working together again in the future.


If you don't know what Model Mayhem is, it is a website that is specifically for models, photographers, make-up artists etc. to create accounts to show off their portfolios and collaborate together to make amazing works of art. I created a casting call for a second model to use in our shoot and was messaged by Jessica showing interest and availability. After viewing her portfolio I saw that she was very stunning and had a bit more of an edgy look that I knew would work perfectly for this type of photo-shoot. Being a new, up and coming model I was happy that these photos can help her expand her portfolio. In the end, this is my goal for every person and business involved.


Hayley has done some Look Books for Privilege Clothing Boutique in the past and mentioned I should contact them regarding outfits for the shoot. They sell designer clothing that is all beautiful and I was very excited when they were more then happy to lend us some outfits. We scheduled a fitting for the models and ended up choosing one casual outfit and one dressed up outfit for each model. Bailey, at Privilege Clothing was a pleasure to work with and made the process go so smoothly. I don't have a great knack for fashion so she was able to guide me in the right direction. All the outfits were stunning. They complimented the location, the models and the style perfectly.


What is an outfit, without your accessories?! I came across a local business that creates handmade jewelry out of wood called Moonshine Dreams. Taking a chance, I emailed them and got a quick response stating they were very interested in lending some pieces and just needed to know which ones I wanted. After choosing two necklaces, a few pairs of earrings and some rings I met up with the maker himself. Learning that from Monday to Friday he works doing demolition, and makes jewelry on the weekends and has a beard, I chalked this up as a very unique individual. I also think it is quite cool and really enjoy these types of stories. Not only did they lend out the jewelry, they kindly allowed us to keep every piece for ourselves. Each girl involved got to go home with their favorite piece. I got the wooden heart earrings and they are gorgeous, thank you for the gracious gifts!


Last, but definitely not least, I thank my good friend Candice. She came out to the shoot to be my third and fourth hands. Ready to hold umbrellas, which luckily we did not need as it turned out to be a beautiful day. Always so generous and willing to help. I appreciate it all!


Here they are, some of the most creative and eye catching photos I have ever seen. I am forever grateful for all the hard work everyone put into this shoot. The photos go to show that dreams really do come true :) Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by my blog and checking out the photos. This won't be the last shoot I plan, but it will sure be hard to top!

 

Sincerely,

 

Caitlin J Make-Up Artistry

 





Doing Make-Up & Having Kids

My full time job is being a mommy.

My part time job is administrative assistant.

My hobby is make-up.

My love lies with the first and third line. Not so much the middle one... many can agree that juggling a job (or two) and children isn't easy. I have found many stressed out evenings that I can only hope to find that my clock is wrong and I really do have an extra hour or two to complete my day...this is not usually the case. To keep my life in check I have to remain extremely organized. So much so, I annoy others. None the less, I still do it, because let's face it I am just an organization junkie at heart. No, I do not color code my clothing, or use a labeling machine until my fingers bleed. I do, however, make sure to keep everything written down. Not in one spot, but usually in three different spots. Phone. Calendar. Computer. These then become my life line.

I find my one big problem would have to be, when to stop! To find a happy medium where I can work, do make-up and be there for my kids at all times is far from realistic. I try to stay as positive as possible. My boys will grow up appreciating that I worked to ensure they were and are taken care of. They will not hold it against me that I spent some weekends doing make-up because they know how much I love it and how much I love them. They will be proud of me for trying and experiencing new things. They will support me through it all because I have already noticed how compassionate they are. My hope is that they will do the same in life, that they will live up to their own potential and try to be better people every day.

Since I was blessed with two boys. Two very energetic, bounce off the wall boys, I will have to be satisfied with only doing "cool" Halloween make-up for them once a year. I do have to admit, I cut and style their hair often and luckily I do not get any complaints. Yet.

Constantly wanting to create, change and plan things in life, I find little time to stop and smell the roses. If I sit and try to "relax" at home I always think of something I could be or should be doing instead. My days tend to start early and I am on the go until I crawl into bed at night. No one to blame but myself. It can be rewarding and stressful all at the same time.

I know I am not the only mommy out there that has decided or needs to work in order to live comfortably. I applaud other moms that work and also the ones that stay home with their children. Both extremely hard, no matter the circumstance.

As hard as it can be to work away from my children and not watch them grow, I do believe that missing them really helps us bond. The feeling I get when I walk in the door and see their smiling faces and hear the "MOMMY" calls, makes it all worth it.

I urge other mom's to do what they love and explore their dreams. Your kids will not hold it against you, I promise. You are a woman and an individual just as much as you are a mother. Having a hobby is a great way to express that individuality. We have to take care of ourselves to be able to take care of the little people in our lives.


It is hard to think that one day my babies will be grown and will no longer need me to take care of them. I hope that all the choices I made as they are young will guide them in the right direction in life. We are so critical of our own parenting skills that we need to sometimes take in the fact that maybe we aren't doing such a bad job after all.


Remind yourself of how hard life could be, and how great you have it. Never take for granted the times you have together, because these moments will get you through the times you are apart. Stay true to what you believe is good work ethic so you can pass it along to your children.


As hard as it can be to leave my little family to make over a Bride on her wedding day, I know that when I come home I will be a more loving mom then ever. I have fun while I work, I know my kids are in good hands, but I look forward to the hugs and kisses.


Pat yourself on the back, you are doing a great job being a mom. A provider in more ways then one. I will continue to work my jobs without guilt...ok maybe a little guilt...but I will remember why I do it and it will make me smile. My boys are my life. Make-up is my passion.


Do what you love...love what you do!