Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn June
Hi Autumn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a German-American makeup artist with 7 years of experience. Raised in Germany by a single mom who worked as a journalist for the American military, I spent my childhood traveling the world with her, often immersed in extracurriculars like theatre while she worked. Theatre is where I found makeup and grew fascinated with the idea of “shapeshifting” into another character, or into an ideal version of one’s self. High school was spent at an international missionary boarding school in Germany, where I became known for breaking norms with my bold makeup and personal style. I loved standing out, even if my peers and teachers would stare at me with confusion. It meant to me that my “art” was working, and that I was someone to remember and to be talked about. After high school, I moved back to the tiny German town my mom was living in. I was still wearing green lipstick and pink eyeshadow, but I was uninspired there. One day I found myself googling ” Makeup schools in English speaking countries”. A sponsored link popped up, it was a makeup school in Sydney, Australia. I had never been to Australia, I did not know anyone there, but I knew it was a big city. All of that added to its appeal. I applied for a student visa and then applied to the school that night and within a few months, I was off to Sydney. Leaving your country and your mom at 19 to move to a country you’ve never been to is scary to most, but to me it felt right and exciting. Living there was transformative. I immersed myself in a world of like-minded creatives, learning, collaborating, and growing. By the end of my first year, I was assisting at Sydney Fashion Week, getting my work published, and living the dream. Then, the pandemic hit. My visa was revoked, and I had to move back to Germany. It was heartbreaking, but being back with my mom was a silver lining. I kept pushing in the industry, getting published in German magazines and working with musicians and models in Munich. It was rewarding to be able to pursue a career in a place I thought it could never exist in, and it made me think to myself – “If I could make it here, I could make it anywhere”. Then, I saw on social media that a childhood friend of mine was living in Los Angeles, chasing her music dreams. We hadn’t spoken in years, but I messaged her anyway. The message stated how proud of her I was, but then ended with a spontaneous question asking if I could move in with her. To which she replied with “absolutely”. There I was again, moving to a place I had never been to to pursue my career – but this time, I knew someone. A few months later, I was sleeping on an air mattress in her Hollywood studio apartment. That was almost four years ago. While juggling a full time job at Sephora, my work has been published in LA magazines, on red carpets, and on major beauty campaigns. Now, I’m finally freelancing full time.
Alright, 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?
Chasing a dream is never smooth – especially a competitive one where there isn’t a step by step manual on how to achieve it. Moving to big cities by yourself may seem glamorous and exciting, and in some ways it is, but having to reinvent yourself and make your work known in each place can be intimidating. Moving to LA was the hardest reinvention of myself. It’s a bigger and more competitive city than Sydney, and I no longer had a school to go to to make me feel productive. I felt like the littlest fish in the biggest pond. I didn’t know where to start, or who to talk to, and everyone here seemed to have a similar dream than mine. It’s easy to compare yourself to other artists and feel like you aren’t doing enough. Wins and achievements in the creative industry aren’t linear. One month you can be booked and busy, and in the next three months you won’t be booked at all. Those three months are usually daunting, and can make you wonder why you’re even in this strange city and if it’s better to just go home. The hardest part for me is leaving my mom in Germany. I often feel a wave of guilt being here, even more so when I’m in my dreaded three month period. It’s easier said than done, but you have to remind yourself to take the discouragement and turn it into motivation. Being away from home is the hardest decision in the world, but if I can be who I moved here to be and make my mom proud – then it’s absolutely worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a makeup artist that specializes in editorial, tv/film, and special effects. I’m mostly known for my “out of the box” and “quick on my feet” techniques on set. What sets me apart is that my work ranges from very natural makeup, to bombshell glam, to realistic and grotesque cuts and bruising. I’m most proud of my ability to master any form of makeup in any field, but also never losing sight of my dream. The sacrifices and big decisions I have made to be where I am now will always be what I am most proud of.
How do you define success?
Of course, the most obvious answer is money and notoriety. However, my personal definition of success is being an inspiration to others. Not necessarily an inspiration in the public eye, but to people I meet and to people who love me. If sharing my story at an event I’m at, or to a crew member on set, or to my best friend who has heard my story a million times can inspire them to move to a new city or even chase their dreams to the fullest – then I’m successful.
Pricing:
- make up – $120
- bridal (trial and day of) – $375
- half day set – $250
- Full day set – $400
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/autumnjuneartistry
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/autumn-june-72715b311/
Image Credits
I have the rights to these images
