OMA Graduate Case Study: Gabrielle’s road to a successful SFX client base
Gabrielle Katehis @gaby_kat
Freelance Makeup Artist / OMA Special Effects Makeup Artist Course Graduate
Before OMA Course
- More than 6 years in the makeup industry
- Worked in cosmetic retail with e.l.f. Cosmetics, Morphe, and Mac
After OMA Course
Gabrielle is no stranger to the beauty industry. Being a manager at Morphe and e.l.f Cosmetics has helped our graduate develop the essential skills required by any professional makeup artist. But even after years of hands-on experience with countless beauty products and famous clients, Gabrielle could have never predicted the high Halloween client demand she received after completing our online course. Here is the story of how one Special Effects Makeup Artist course transformed Gabrielle’s client inquiries for the better.
As a beauty manager at world-famous brands, Gabrielle mastered the responsibilities of leading and educating an MUA team. Whether it was proper communication and engagement with clients or choosing optimal beauty products for picky clients, Gabrielle knew it all. Well, almost all. It was her impressive background in the makeup industry that helped our graduate maximize her expertise and knowledge from our online SFX course.
Gabrielle is a great example of an artist who is brave, expressive, confident and ambitious. Her professionalism, personality and passion have helped her land projects with international superstars! Did we mention she was the personal/production assistant for Todrick Hall?! This unique opportunity helped prep her for music video shoots and assist Todrick with his day-to-day needs and everything in between.
“It really happened by chance. He posted on his Instagram page that he was looking for his dream team and I immediately jumped on the opportunity. I had been a fan of his for years and always wished to work for him. I ended up meeting up with him and we instantly connected. Luckily, he offered me to work for him in Los Angeles! This experience gave me great insight into the “Hollywood” industry, how to act on set, presence around celebrities, etc.”
Makeup artistry is a profession of never-ending improvement, enthusiasm and creativity. Gabrielle had a clear goal — to build her knowledge and expand her skills to make herself a versatile artist. This is why she started the Special Effects Makeup Artist course without any doubts. “I have been wanting this for so long I was just so excited to start!” — Gabrielle says.
Like many of our students, joining from different parts of the world, Gabrielle was looking for a makeup course that was accessible everywhere and provided flexibility and comfort. A course that could be successfully completed from her own home, with her own schedule and pace. Luckily, Online Makeup Academy courses include all of these incredible benefits! Thanks to the flexible arrangement of our course, Gabrielle found the best of both worlds. She began her studies in the Special Effects Makeup Course , while continuing her full-time job as a manager at Morphe. “In a positive way it forced me to hustle on my days off because I knew what doors it could open for me, it gave me a glimpse of my future.” — she says.
In today’s age, mostly everything is available online. Although convenient to many, sometimes students are apprehensive about receiving online education or training. However, graduates of the Online Makeup Academy, including Gabrielle, are convinced that our makeup courses are the hidden gems of online learning. “Online makeup education is so progressive. It gives you the chance to sit down and focus on every detail. I feel like a lot of things are missed when you are in a class because of possible time constrictions or the amount of students in a class.” — Gabrielle shared with us. Perhaps, this success is generated by the personalized video feedbacks that are provided by our expert mentors. Gabrielle notes: “My mentor analyzed my work and told me what I did very well and where I could adjust. It was constructive criticism and it empowered me to keep practicing. What I found most interesting about the course and process was the fact there were no deadlines for homework assignments!” Most importantly, OMA is always open to communication with students, even after they graduate from our courses! From professional advice to simple application tips or even technical issues, our OMA team is ready to help you tackle any obstacle.
Now that we know Gabrielle’s journey from student to graduate, let’s explore what our Special Effects Makeup Artist Course curriculum offers. Included in our comprehensive class curriculum are 9 extensive modules that form the fundamentals of Special Effects Makeup Artistry: creating simulated injuries, illness-based makeup application, fake tattoos and prosthetics. But that’s not the best part! After receiving the newfound knowledge and skill from these fundamental modules, our students are able to create their individual takes on character creations! Gabrielle shared that the most interesting aspects of the course for her were the modules on creating illnesses and aging: “They both require so much attention to detail.” So, how exactly can these effects be created flawlessly each and every time? The answer is the Special Effects Makeup Kit that is included in the course! Included in the professional kits are products from world-class makeup brands, such as Graftobian, Mehron, and Cinema Secrets.
Let’s explore Gabrielle’s artistic improvement helped her reach a new client base with just a couple of online lectures.
“I am extremely proud of my character application “Zombie Victim”. I wanted to showcase a little of everything I learned from my course and I think the final product shows it beautifully.” — Gabrielle says. We were also delighted with the results that Gabrielle shows after completing the course. She displayed excellent application techniques that looked very realistic and creative. It's no wonder why people rushed to book her for Halloween looks!
Talking about inspiration, Gabrielle shared that she gets a lot of inspiration from other makeup artists: “Knowing what’s trending is important to keep up with the times.”
Gabrielle is convinced that no matter what you do in life, learning is essential: “Especially if you have that spark and desire to do something it’s so important to dive in and learn everything you can.” Her ultimate goals in the makeup industry are to lead and educate. “I want people to think of me when they want to learn or want a specific look created, knowing people value my opinion and my art in this field would be everything to me.” — Gabrielle says.
Our graduate’s advice for aspiring students and makeup artists is to never stop hustling and networking!
Dedicate your time and energy to what truly inspires and motivates you. Connect with fellow MUAs, attend makeup events, and create memorable friendships. Network with fashion designers, photographers, videographers, and models to expand your horizons and achieve your wildest dreams!
Lastly, Gabrielle would like to share her parting words for anyone that reads our blog “It’s never too late to start your dream, Online Makeup Academy really gave me the opportunity to achieve one of my goals while doing it at my own pace.”