This collection of studio and on location images represent the scope of the ongoing work I do daily as an advertising and editorial makeup artist. Beauty photo of Wihelmina model Melanie by Dorothy Shi.



I am veteran makeup designer Bruce Hawkins, also known as "Upon Special Request". My career as a makeup artist spans over 30 years of studio, location, editorial and advertising work. I create classic, timeless looks for photography, film and video. I love studio work.

As any photographer of quality will attest, good clean makeup can make or break a presentation. Too much retouching can leave your finished photos looking flat and lifeless. Before you decide to use photoshop, a good clean makeup can even out the discoloration in flawed skin and help enhance your appearance in front of the camera. Models, photographers, celebrities and publicists have used my services with great results.

My work can easily go from clean and natural to glamorous and extreme. My niche is makeup design and grooming for advertising, catalog and cosmetic campaigns and I have over twenty five years of working and agency experience both in front of and behind the camera. Each job and each photographer have a different approach to their work and I try to tailor and adjust my skills to the specifics of their lighting set up and their studio. Beauty portrait by Dorothy Shi.

I will only do specific makeup testing with working, agency models, dancers and reputable, working fashion and beauty photographers. I am also more than willing to collaborate with professional hair stylists, barbers and fashion stylists with established credits. Portrait of Ailey dancer Fana Minea Tesfagiorgis by  Dorothy Shi.



I understand that the text of my profile is quite long but it will give you current examples of my work and detailed information about my services.
I learned my craft through countless hours of practice and application working onstage, in public forums and in photo studios. As a former dance performer and model, I had to quickly learn to groom myself and others in front of the camera. I now use these skills to transform others in front of the camera.

These are raw, unretouched samples of my recent work as an experienced, New York editorial and celebity makeup artist. I prefer to show unretouched images so you can see the quality of my work. I work regularly with celebrities, models, actors and photographers on advertising, fashion, look books, editorial and theatrical photography. Beauty photo by Dorothy Shi.




I am always happy to work with celebrities, photographers, models, hairstylists and those that are traveling through the New York area that are seeking to find new creative ways to express themselves through the lens of a camera. I am most requested by my clients for doing clean, simple makeup and hair for advertising, catalog, theatrical headshots and editorial work, but I can also do extreme and dramatic cosmetic work as well, when requested. Makeup involves imagination and creativity. I enjoy working with clients and collaborating to make someone look their absolute best.

Welcome to my newly updated makeup page. Here you will find current images from my current makeup portfolio.

Agency references and represntation upon request. These are recent, raw, unretouched images of models with whom I have worked. To me, beauty comes in all ages, sizes and colors. Studio portrait of 2010 Ailey II by Eduardo Patino.



I am a veteran makeup artist, having worked with celebrities, dancers, actresses, models and professional clients on stage and in photo studios for over thirty years. I enjoy working with new models helping them to create new images for portfolio development, lookbooks and advertising campaigns. Lookbook image by James Holder.



This page showcases recent images that I have created with various New York based professional photographers. I first try to find out what the job requires, the needs of the client and then I endeavor to provide the service. Extreme makeup can be fun to do, it is exciting and it looks great in presentations, however, it is rarely used in advertising and editorial shoots. Clean, understated makeup is far more specific and harder to do. The true test of a makeup person is their ability to translate clean, natural beauty through the lens of a camera. I specialize in doing clean photographic beauty work on women and men of all colors.



Working photographers want makeup artists that can do both extremes. I base the definition of my work on the look of the model and demands of the photographer and client for whom I am working.

Over the years I have also worked with many celebrity clients, managers and model agencies in helping to groom the image of new talent and I have done film, Broadway, adverstising campaigns and editorial work. Over the years, some of my celebrity clientele has included Beverly Johnson, Diana Ross, Jerry Hall, Christie Brinkley, Maya Angelou, Roseanne Vela, Peggy Dillard, Suzanne Pleshette, Iman, Karen Bjornsen, Madeleine Mono and many others.
I specialize in makeup design for people of color, bridal design and detailed grooming for both men and children.

I have also worked with photographers to help style and create conservative corporate images for publication.

My work requires me to work with people of all ages, colors and sizes. I am not particularly fond of the "elite" crowd...I am willing to work on anyone that walks through the studio door. I truly believe there is beauty to be found in everyone.

My work frequently involves working with professional, agency represented children and teens.

A lot of my time is spent testing with professional photographers using New York agency models from Wilhelmina, Ford, Click, Images, FunnyFace Today and Product. I am also now requested frequently by model managements to help develop a new commercial look for aspiring young models.



I love collaborating with hairstylists and wardrobe stylists on specific beauty shoots. I prefer just to do makeup but I can do light hair. I am also a published author and I regularly do model seminars and coaching because as a former model, I know my craft really well both in front of and behind the camera.

Because of the scheduling of my regular studio commitments I just cannot afford to do TFP/TFCD. Most of my studio time is taken by paid work. While I'd love to shoot with everyone, I have now got to be very selective about whom I work with. This has nothing to do with you as much as it does with my need to develop my skills and an amazing portfolio. Beauty photo of NK by Eric Von Lockhart.



I am also available for styling, creative direction & portfolio development at reasonable rates; please contact me for details. My rates for portfolio development and photographic projects are fair and reasonable, considering I supply you with everything. If my transportation and accomodations are paid in advance, I am more than willing to travel for work. For information on my current my agency representation, please scroll down to the end of my credits.
Photo by Dorothy Shi.



For photographers and models who are interested in working with me, a cash makeup kit fee per model and cash transportation fee will apply to all shoots in advance unless otherwise stated. I also require a disc with all of the images at the end of the shoot.

You may also want to request a copy of my makeup card that gives a broad overview of all of my commercial and editorial work.

I provide everything needed for your shoot. My day rates are low, fair and always negotiable. I am more than willing to work with new clients on getting the best results from your shoot within your budget. I do understand our economy and the recession. However, my services and equipment are never offered for free.

Let me help you develop the polished look you desire for your client.

I am not here often but I do get e-mail alerts when I get messages, so feel free to drop me a line. I promise to answer in a timely fashion. I live close to the fashion district in New York City and I work there regularly.

I am very sensitive to the individual needs of my clients and I like to help young models and actors create new, innovative looks that will best sell their abilities. I frequently offer affordable grooming packages. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to work with you and your team in the near future.

Ad Campaigns

Avon
Revlon
Chanel
Flori Roberts Cosmetics
Madeleine Mono Cosmetics
Bloomingdale's
Soul Scizzors
Seligman and Latz
Fashion Fair Cosmetics
Lily Australia
Diane Von Furstenberg
Harlem 125
Best Collection
CBS News/Cooking Channel.com
Ailey 2
Outre
It's A Wig!
Shake 'N Go
Janet Wigs
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Chimpanzee Productions
Milky Way
First Hair USA





Editorial Credits



Essence Magazine
Bride's Magazine
Black Enterprise Magazine
Black Hair Care
Encore Magazine
Glamour Magazine
Mademoiselle Magazine
Nuestros Magazine
KidStyleSource
GDS International
Supermodel Magazine



Corporate Video and Film

The Cooking Channel
Ailey 2
Harlem 125
Chimpanzee Productions

CD Covers



I have worked with many top New York fashion and commercial photographers including Roger Prigent, Patrice Casanova, Hal Oringer, Jack Mitchell, Nancy Brown, Gary Bernstein, Kenn Duncan, Richard Blinkoff, Ron Harris, Bill Price, Dorothy Shi, Michael Keel, Keith Major, Dennis Chalkin, Dallas J Logan. George Ligon, James Kriegsmann, Josh Sailor, Steve Azzara, Eduardo Patino, E. Lee White, Melissa Hamburg, Joanne Levey, James Kiazdou Holder, Ken Jones, Yamil and Prudence Paez, Chayo Mata and Stephan Glathe.



My work has also been featured in several beauty books, advertising campaigns, corporate video and in salon related instructional editorial profiles.

My makeup card and full portfolio of tear sheets and recent shoots are available for viewing upon request.

The photographers on Model Mayhem I love to work with are:

Dorothy Shi  MM#1075511
Alexander Blaise MM#558883
Steve Azzara  MM#15842
Josh Sailor    MM#468718
Dallas J Logan    MM#504697
Stephan Glathe  MM#11924992
Eric von Lockhart  MM#99393
Barrington Chambers  MM#389657  RIP Barrington
Keith Major  MM#130741
Michael Keel  MM#1037870

I highly reccomend all of them as photographers. I have worked with all of them over the years both as a makeup artist and as a commercial print model. They all have an interesting and different point of view on how to shoot a subject and they are all quite experienced professionals and know how to capture the very best from a model. In my opinion from behind the scenes, they are the best in the business.

They have taught me so much about current industry standards and techniques for working behind the camera. I owe my career to them and their ongoing advice.



I am also a commercial print model and I still work freelance with several agencies in a senior category doing commercials and print. I have many years of experience in front of and behind the camera working with models and celebrities and I really know and understand lighting and art direction well.

When making a request to work with me, please include the following information in your message:

Name of photographer
Date and time of shoot
In studio or on location
Location
Concept and direction
Approximate duration of your shoot
Number of models I will be working with
Hairstylist and fashion stylist 

This information will help me to prepare for our work together in advance.

I am currently represented as a freelance makeup artist by two of the best, Adrianne Washington of Wave Creative Mangement, 917.656.0763 and by Linda Strobert of Model Service Management, 917.743.1953

You can also view some of my vintage photos from my own model career in my personal model profile # 672437 http://www.ModelMayhem.com/BruceHawkins

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