Life and Work with Sameera Ahmed

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sameera Ahmed.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My start in this industry was slow and stretched out over a long time. How’s that for an engaging start to a story?

I’ve always been a right and left brain thinker in pretty equal parts. Both science and art, math and color. Doing something purely creatively always felt weird to me – it had to have a story or objective behind it. That might also come from my West-Asian upbringing, where your main career choices are doctor, lawyer, or engineer, else frivolity. So, having a creative career like makeup artist never really felt like a realistic option growing up.

I grew up in the Boulder area as a pretty solid tomboy but was always interested in beauty. I loved watching my mom put lipstick on before we’d go out, and the best way to get me to shut up as a kid was to put lipstick on me. I’d sit still and not say a word for fear I’d smudge my lipstick. Brilliant parenting advice, IMO. I played sports growing up, mostly karate – I’m actually a black belt and had to register as a weapon at one point. Funny random fact about me. Playing sports meant I sweat a lot and got a good deal of acne growing up, which was really where I started dabbling in makeup, hair, and skincare: covering acne, keeping my hair out of my face, and managing breakouts. This was before the internet and YouTube so I went where any teenager would go: to teen magazines and the drug store aisles. The results varied, but my love for products and the power of makeup was born.

From there, I started doing makeup for my friends for homecoming and prom, and then after college for their weddings. One of their weddings was featured in a bridal print publication and the editor reached out asking for the makeup artist’s website, so I rushed to put one together. And I guess that was really the start of my makeup artistry business.

I didn’t really focus on it, though. I went to school for Business Management and delved into the corporate world, bouncing around from the financial industry to mortgages, to wholesale operations for a skincare company to advertising and branding agencies. Branding and advertising was fun for me for a while. I really enjoyed learning about each brand I worked with, and their values and drivers. Figuring out how to differentiate them in a noisy marketplace and effectively communicate that message – to tell that story – authentically to consumers was a really interesting challenge to me. This is an approach I continue to bring to my artistry today – telling a story or removing distractions from a story. But in the end, while it always felt like an exciting challenge, the advertising industry never felt like the right fit. I felt so confined sitting at a desk day in and day out. It felt empty. So, to keep myself entertained and engaged, I’d nerd out on dermatology journals and studies, and ingredient decks, and the science of skin and the glossy pages of fashion magazines. I also freelanced as a makeup artist on the weekends, because I obviously hated free time, but also because it brought me back to life after a dull week at the desk. I supported brands like Bobbi Brown, YSL, and Giorgio Armani. I loved getting to play with luxurious textures and finishes on a broad spectrum of ages, skin types, and styles. It was a great learning opportunity and provided some extra cash and a discount that I put towards slowly building a makeup kit.

It went on like this, working in both fields for about 8 years. I slowly grew my network of photographers, models, and fellow artists, mostly starting in the wedding industry and branching out from there. Colorado then begins requiring that makeup artists be licensed as estheticians, so I decided to put myself through school on the weekends while working full time. That was a miserable year, but I got through it and definitely wouldn’t change a thing. I got laid off from what ended up being my last agency job in 2017 and was so fed up with the experience that I decided to finally give this makeup thing a go. And I’m so glad I did. That was almost three years ago and I’m so proud to say I’m working full time as a freelance makeup artist and lead esthetician and educator for an amazing skincare brand. And loving life.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anyone working in a creative industry, especially as a self-employed artist, has had a super smooth road. Artists tend to be particularly vulnerable to insecurity and I’m certainly no exception. I think that’s a part of why it took me so long to dive into this industry with both feet – I was super worried about how my work would be received, and if it would continue to be enjoyable if I did it full time.

I also think the internet has really changed the industry. We used to look to magazines and designers and brands for inspiration and were offered lots of unique viewpoints and ideas. And then, YouTube and Instagram happened, and influencers started changing the game with hyper glam, filtered looks that would get a gazillion likes and follows, and everyone followed suit, including major brands. I think we’ve seen a pretty large scale homogenization of beauty as a result, although it’s starting to correct now. I know this was a major struggle for me – I’d look at the kind of looks that were getting likes and think that that’s what I should be doing. It made me start questioning my aesthetic, and I definitely lost my creative voice for a while.

My advice to artists just starting out is to not rely solely on social media for information, advertising, or community building. It’s really important to get offline and make in-person connections, practice on different faces, and learn from real practicing artists that have experience working on a multitude of faces, not just their own. Makeup counters are an incredible place to start out! Investing in books and education is truly critical, and when in doubt, put down Instagram. It can make even the most incredible, seasoned artist feel vulnerable and insecure.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
My specialty is enhancement. In response to my work, I typically hear how beautiful the woman (or man!) is that I worked on, not how beautiful the makeup sitting on top of their face is. That’s a huge compliment to me because it means the makeup reads seamlessly with the face – it looks like it should have been there all along. That’s my goal with skin, commercial, and beauty work. Of course, from there, I do love to have fun with color, graphic lines and texture.

I think what sets me apart is my approach. I always get to know my client, whether it’s someone going to an event or a brand putting together a huge commercial shoot. I want to know them and what they find beautiful, how they want to be represented. What their story is. And then I create a look that tells that story or enhances that vibe.

I’m also very unfussy. Less is more with me. I love an undone, cool-girl vibe. Simplicity is key. My looks never look like someone’s trying too hard.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I think the most important thing is to not be afraid to ask! Ask people about their work, their approach, their story. Compliment them! People are generally very willing and excited to talk about themselves – you just have to be excited to learn and willing to be helpful.

Making that connection in person is much more impactful, so I recommend trying to get work at a makeup counter and making connections with the many amazing artists you’ll find around you. It’s much easier to make a connection in person than a random reach out on social media. Most amazing artists are inundated with random requests and won’t always have the time to respond.

Contact Info:

• Website: makeupbysameera.com
• Email: contact@makeupbysameera.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/makeupsammy and instagram.com/denveresthetics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeupbysameeraco/

Image Credit:
Andy Bonura Photography, Cary Jobe, Kirstin Anne, Rebecca Grant
Models: Maddi Silva, Ione, Emi Zerr

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