Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Chretien .
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve wanted to be a makeup artist since I was a little girl. All I wanted to do with my friends was play “makeover” and put on makeup. I never really had any other options when it came to a career in my mind. When I was 19, I attended the Joe Blasco Makeup Artist Training Center in Orlando, FL. I moved back up north and began trying to get my name out there and work on as many projects as I could. I started off loving fashion and runways and focused on that, but in 2013, I was asked to work on an independent film and I fell in love with watching the entire process come together and decided I wanted to focus on that. I ended up moving out to Los Angeles for a few years and working on some really cool projects out there. I eventually came back to MA and I am currently trying to grow myself back here! I’ve had amazing opportunities in my career, I’ve worked shows at Boston Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week (which had been a goal of mine since I was a child), I’ve gotten to work on amazing film projects with great people, worked with MLR Artist Management in Boston, and been a part of countless special days for people. My career has taken me to places I never thought were possible and I truly am grateful that I was lucky enough to find something I am so in love with. A lot of the industry and makeup, in general, has changed since I first started but my passion and love for being creative and making people feel beautiful has stayed the same!
Has it been a smooth road?
For me, the struggle has been the inconsistency in making money. This is not a 9-5 job where you know you have a steady paycheck every week. I’ve worked many other jobs while also following my dream. I’ve worked in a law firm, I’ve worked retail, I’ve worked 3 or 4 jobs at a time before just to make ends meet. With the internet blowing up the makeup world things have gotten harder because there are more competition and more ideas on how things should be done. I’ve wanted to give up a few times over the years and just “clock in” to a job but I would be miserable without being able to do what I love doing. It’s more than just a hobby to me, it truly is a lifeline. Most recently I’ve struggled with some health issues and that has made me slow down a bit and also made me wonder if I should give up and find something easier on my body but again, I don’t think I could ever do that, I’m just finding different ways to make it work for me! I think the best advice I got when I was just starting out was to give it time. It does not just happen overnight where you wake up and decide you want to do makeup and the next day you’re working in Hollywood. It takes years to build yourself up as an artist. I would also have to say never for a second think that you know everything. You will constantly be learning in this field and I personally think that’s amazing. It’s never stagnant!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Makeup by Amy Chretien story. Tell us more about the business.
Currently, I am working mostly with special event clients. I feel like I can adapt to any environment when it comes to doing makeup, so whether I’m working with a bride, doing makeup in the dark behind the scenes for a fashion show, or making someone bloody on a horror film, I’m pretty well rounded. I’m definitely proud of the fact that I’ve stayed true to myself and my goals and that I have clients who remember me and stay in touch with from years ago. I love the fact that I’ve worked with people throughout stages of their lives. I enjoy building relationships with the people I work with which has to lead to some amazing friendships.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I don’t have a specific woman in mind when I think of this question. I think any woman who is brave enough to fight for what she wants is an inspiration. In this world, it’s hard to get past the idea of what a woman “should” be and what career she “should” have. If a woman is a stay at home Mom or a busy entrepreneur as long as that woman is doing what makes HER happy and what she feels is best for her, then she is an inspiration to me. I think people put a lot of pressure on women to have a timeline of their lives and there’s no timeline! We get one life to do what makes us feel happy and I think all women should do just that!
Pricing:
- Bridal Makeup-$90.00
- Special Occasion Makeup -$65.00
Contact Info:
- Phone: 413-519-8187
- Email: acmakeup2@gmail.com
- Instagram: MakeupByAmy_C
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MakeupByAmyChretien/
Image Credit:
Kyle Daudelin, Shaliece (shaybaebae_), Arun Nevader, Shoot The Moon Films, Natalie Grant, Leigh Hebert, Caroline Kiemele, Chris Pike, Carly Mushinski-Fish
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
