We are so excited to be doing a Featured Artist of the month!! We have some amazingly talented stylists and we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to highlight their story, and some of their accomplishments! Our first Featured Artist of the Month from July-August 2010 is: Janeena Merricks, Professional Key Makeup Artist, who has been with TEAM since 2004!

Here’s what Mar, the creative director of TEAM had to say about Janeena: “Janeena is an asset to our TEAM and we are very proud to have her in our family. I believe, to be a real makeup artist, you need to be able to create any look, on any ethnicity, at a moment’s notice, and Janeena can do that. She is the real deal! Right when you think she can’t get any better, she does.”

Q & A

Q: How long have you been a professional makeup artist?

A: I have been a professional makeup artist for six years, and I have been with TEAM for four years.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years, professionally?

A: In five years, I see myself continuing to work with celebrities, and traveling with TEAM Hair and Makeup, growing and expanding within the company. I may go into becoming a Personal Artist if the right client comes along, and one day, I’m going to create a makeup line for all women.

Makeup by Janeena

Cast of "The Hills" Makeup by Janeena

Whitney from "The City" Makeup by Janeena

Q: What do you like best about working with the bridal community?

A: I love so many things about working in the Bridal industry. I have to be honest though, when I landed a meeting with TEAM Hair and Makeup, I wasn’t sure brides and weddings were for me. Needless to say, I was up for the challenge to work with TEAM, and see if it was going to be a good fit. After my first Wedding, I realized I had found a new passion! Wedding work is a different style of makeup than what I was used to, however, it is similar to being on set. There are time constraints and a bit of pressure, but, when you love what you do, it seems to just flow. In the start of my career, I went straight into working on different productions as a TV/Film makeup artist. Models and actresses were my clientele. I have done a lot of celebrity work, and loved the fast paced action, and people I have worked with. As an artist, I believe it’s vital to be able to work on any type of client doing any type of makeup. Makeup on an actress and makeup on a bride is night and day. When TEAM Hair and Makeup offered me a contract, I knew it was a turning point in my career. Working with brides and the bridal party has proven to be very rewarding. I was quick to learn that working with people on their happiest day ever, is a very positive experience. I saw how much Brides appreciated my work, and how important it was for a Bride to feel and look like herself, on her day. Bridal makeup needs to look great walking down the aisle, and look natural enough up close so her fiancé recognizes the gal he fell for! All in all, I have to say, my favorite wedding moment, is when the Bride says, “Thank you,” and loves her makeup. Now that means a lot!

Makeup by Janeena

Q: How do you like working for TEAM?

A: TEAM has kept me very busy! Working for TEAM has given me a whole new outlook on quite a few things in my life, including family. Now, I don’t believe it necessary to be related, in order to be considered family. At TEAM, we all work together flawlessly, and we are all there for one another. The company has a very high standard for their artists and they are extremely selective with who they work with, so I’m very proud to be part of the TEAM. Plus it’s a blast! Being with TEAM has opened up so many doors for me and my future to come.

Q: Who or what has been your favorite makeup experience?

A: I have been asked this question a lot, and it’s always a very hard question to answer. I would have to say, it would be when I was called to do Rosario Dawson’s makeup. I have always wanted to do work with her. I admire her for being a strong independent woman, who also happens to be very beautiful and very down to earth. The makeup I did on her was to simply enhance her natural beauty, and she loved the way she looked!

Janeena & Rosario Dawson

Q: What is your favorite product?

A: My all time favorite product is a highlighter by, Joe Blasco. The reason why I love it so much is it can be used in many different ways. I love to highlight under the brow bone, highlight on cheekbones, highlight on the inner corner of the eye, use it as a primer for eye shadow, use it for contouring on the nose, and use it for concealing and brightening under the eye. What more can a girl ask for? I love it!

Q: What advice would you give brides to prepare to have their makeup professionally done?

A: My advice to all brides is to know exactly what you want, and if you don’t know what you want, leave it to the artist to help guide you. For inspiration look online. I suggest stylemepretty.com, santabarbaraweddingguide.com and theknot.com. Really think about how you want to look in your photos and walking down the aisle. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the artist questions about their background. Do they specialize in weddings, or it is just filler work? Ask for their portfolio, Google their name, look up reviews. Be sure you have a real professional bridal makeup artist. Most importantly, you need to be able to trust your artist. It’s a very important relationship; after all, they are big part of how you look on your wedding day! As the bride you should feel relaxed and calm while you are getting your makeup done. In the end, once you have looked at yourself in the mirror, see if you feel like yourself. If you do, great, however, if you don’t, let your artist know. As a professional artist it’s our job to listen to our clients, it is all about you, the bride. The feeling at the end of your trial should be the feeling you get when you try on the right wedding dress, you know when it’s “the one.” You should feel this way with your artist too. Oh yea, and have fun!

Q: What is your makeup philosophy?

A: My makeup philosophy is, as much as we love all the latest fancy products, it’s more about how you can use it and enhance one’s natural beauty, which, for me makes a true artist.

Makeup by Janenna