Rachel Goodwin Makeup

My first post from my new iPhone! One of my inspiration boards.

I spent the last two days holed up inside Smashbox Studios shooting the most AMAZING photos with one of my favorite beauty photographers in the world, Donna Trope. I’ve always adored Donna’s sensibility, her photos are arresting and sometimes totally bizarre—in the very best way. The worlds she creates are razor sharp, slightly skewed and you can’t help but be totally drawn into them. Donna has such a unique eye and her view of the world is completely and totally her own. To me, that’s the mark of a true artist.

As a makeup artist I’ve been so inspired by her work that I can’t begin to describe how exciting it was to finally get to collaborate with her. I had so much fun I forgot it was supposed to be considered work!

I can’t wait to post the finished photos but sadly they won’t be out until May 2010. Until then, here are some of my behind the scenes moments and a link to Donna’s incredible book Beauty Shots. If you don’t already know her work check it out, it really is fantastic!

Well, yesterday was my first day back to work after spending almost two weeks with my family in one of my favorite places on earth Tomales Bay. It was a glorious 10 whole days of reading, playing, cooking, eating, drinking and laughing (mostly eating of course). I honestly thought that my re-entry to the real world was going to be a difficult one, but luckily my pain was eased by an amazing and talented team and the fact that we were shooting at Milk Studios, which just happens to be right around the corner from my house. God how I LOVE when that happens! It was a really fun shoot and a great start to what I believe will be a fantastic year. Wishing everyone tons of love and creativity in 2010!

I  finished my last day of work for 2009 yesterday (on a high note might I add) and am already plotting and scheming how to to spend my delicious time off—and believe me I plan on relishing every second! So today I’m heading to one of my favorite L.A. haunts the Hollywood History Museum.

The building is an incredible deco masterpiece on Highland Blvd. that everyone seems to pass but never thinks to go into. The building belonged to the legendary make-up king Max Factor and opened as his headquarters in 1935. The rooms where he transformed startlets such as Rita Hayworth, Marlene Deitrich, Clara Bow and countless others into leading ladies are all totally restored and make me crazy happy. Seriously, it’s like a make-up artists Valhalla in there! Not to mention where else in the world can you view Greta Garbo’s make-up kit, Marilyn Monroe’s refrigerator, Hedda Hopper’s address book and Roddy McDowall’s bathroom all under one roof? This place is an L.A. treasure.