Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Ann Callaway.
Sara Ann, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I suppose I truly started to consider being a makeup artist when I was on a completely different career path. I was living in LA, working for PETA-I know, a crazy departure from what I do now. My mother had recently passed away and I was looking for comfort and anything that could bring me happiness-in this case, I found the YouTube beauty community. I’ve always enjoyed and worn makeup, I was a competitive dancer for ten years and a competitive cheerleader throughout high school, with the musical 42nd Street thrown in the mix, so I was no stranger to makeup, however, leaning into makeup as a form of therapy was indeed new to me. I began as I suppose a lot of young girls do, trying to create a YouTube channel. Luckily, that dream didn’t quite pan out but there is some great cringe content of me in my early years if you can find it.
In this transitional period, I also decided to move back home to Colorado to live with my dad as we were both struggling pretty immensely from my mom’s passing. Cut to Halloween. My mom’s birthday was Halloween, so the holiday was a pretty big deal in the house. I decided to try my hand at some creative makeup and found I really enjoyed getting myself and my dad ready; we even won a costume award! From then on, I would use painting myself as a way to self soothe and work through my trauma and any emotions I was feeling. However, I soon wanted more. I decided to try to get a job at Sephora. I mean I was spending enough money there, why not get the discount. In all honesty, my time at Sephora really shaped who I am as an artist, I had an incredible leadership team whom I am still in contact with to this day, and I was able to really push myself.
In Sephora, you do makeup on EVERYONE-every skin color, skin type, age, personality. It is a great place to get started for anyone wishing to pursue artistry, but even with working full time at Sephora, I still wanted more. I decided to invest in my career and sought out some makeup FX courses and I auditioned for a makeup spot at a haunted house. Working at Sephora and the haunted house almost killed me with the schedule but I wouldn’t change that time in my life for a thing. After the haunt season, I decided to pursue an internship with an FX studio, which also almost killed me, but it also gave me my first film opportunity. From there, I can honestly say it is who you know. I was doing low budget films in Colorado and commercials and I was able today play on the biggest film that had come through our state in years, meeting artists who had made a career of film and TV. Their words would stick with me, “if you want to do this, this isn’t where you need to be.”
From there, I had to make a few decisions, did I stay in Colorado where I knew people, had grown up and could continue to work at Sephora, on commercials, and the occasional (very occasional) feature? Or did I want to make a move to grow, and if so, to where? Well lo and behold, I decided to move to the Hollywood of the South, HOTlanta, although New Mexico was on the shortlist, I had an offer to work on a show here in Georgia and I jumped at the opportunity. Has it always been easy? Absolutely not. I came to Georgia with a limited job offer and once that show was over, I would have minimal contacts to continue to work and support myself. I’ve experienced some of my greatest highs and my greatest lows since moving here. I have been able to work alongside some incredible artists and I always feel so lucky when they call and I am able to continue to pursue this dream of mine.
I’ve also traveled outside of the state multiple times for work, and it’s not always glamorous–cut to the multiple times I’ve filmed in the middle of nowhere in Alabama or Mississippi. I’ve day played, keyed, and even department headed some smaller shows in recent years. I’ve done TV, Film, and Music Videos since moving here. I worked my ass off and in 2018, I was able to join the Local 798 Hair and Makeup Artist Union. I am a makeup artist capable of everything from glamour style beauty to multiple pieces prosthetic work and I only hope to continue to get to work on my skillset alongside some incredible artists for years to come. Right now is a weird time in our history and it will take some time for things to get back to a sense of normalcy, but when it does, I can’t wait to get back to work.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Absolutely not. There have been financial hardships, opportunities passed on, friendships and relationships lost. Working in Film and television takes a lot of your time and subsequently, your life. My average day is around 12-14 hours, my longest day was 19 hours and that was just my actual working hours, not my time awake or commute. This career is not for the faint of heart.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a makeup artist part of the local 798. I can do everything from minimal corrective makeup, glamour beauty, light fx, and heavy prosthetic makeup. One of my favorite things to do is mix creative fantasy makeup with prosthetics to create otherworldly creatures and visions.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I feel successful when I can work and put forth my best but when I’m also able to take a step back when not at work and focus time on myself. I think during this time, we’re all learning how to be with ourselves again. I LOVE what I do, and I’ve made a career of it, but success means allowing yourself time to also be who you are outside of your career. Work-life balance is something that was first presented to me as a core value at Sephora but it took me working non-stop and questioning this career path I’d chosen for myself to stop and really put it as a high priority in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SaraAnnStyle.com
- Email: SaraAnnStyle@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @SaraAnnStyle
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