Today we’d like to introduce you to Riku Campo
Hi Riku, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Helsinki Finland . I was a child actor and played many plays at the local theatre and summer theatres as well. I wanted to be an actor but when I was 18 years old my plans changed when I started to be more interested in fashion. I couldn’t draw ( still can’t ) at all, so my plans to become a designer stopped right away. So I tried makeup…I signed up at the local makeup beauty school but I quit after 3 months because I didn’t like the way they were teaching the makeup in old concervative ways. Well it was the 80’s…
But I loved doing makeup and I got hired the very next week after leaving the school by Stendhal Paris skincare and makeup line to be their demonstration makeup artist at the Stockmann department store in Helsinki. The next 2 years I was doing hundreds of makeups for women between ages 18-80 years old and I had the best makeup school right there ! And oh boy did I make lots of beauty mistakes at the beginning : totally wrong foundation colors, too much powder…but I learned quick what was right and wrong and I had this flame inside me to become better and better ! I was always interested in skincare because I had atopic skin and was taking care of my skin almost religiously.
After that I was ready to spread my wings.
I moved to Montreal Canada in 1990 where I started to do makeup and hair for tests for different agencies. That is how I built my portfolio. I was fearless and ambitious and I wanted to succeed. After I came back from Canada I was fully booked in Finland but I wanted more. More challenges.
I moved to NYC.
I continued testing and I got an agency that gave me some small jobs. That time I also was a club kid in NYC club scenes, partying and meeting incredible creative individuals. Very inspiring. Finally I wasn’t a misfit , I didn’t feel like an alien.
From NYC I moved to Athens Greece and I also worked in Milan. Lots of editorial work and in 2000 I had a job in LA and decided fo move there . Because LA was so different than any other city in this world : exciting , competitive but the same time calming and spiritual.
I started to work right away and my turning point was the Guess campaign images with the new swedish model Elsa Hosk. The images were everywhere around the world.
I was working every day and I felt that I finally had made it, somehow what I was dreaming off.
I got a book deal in 2009 at Simon&Schuster and my first US beauty book came out the next year “ The Best In Beauty “.
The 2nd book “ I Am Beauty “ came out in 2020 by Harper Collins USA and it was #1 at Amazon UK.
I am currently working on my 3rd book…more to come !
I have done makeups for Hollywood A-list actors , musicians , athletes. Big ad campaigns , magazine covers. I do private clients and weddings too.
I love my work .
After 36 years in the business I am still learning. Every day. I am inspired by other artists , art, designs , nature and people…art history , photographers and painters. And just every day life . Every minute.
Life is beautiful ,
And my motto is “ Kindness Reveals The Real Beauty .”
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?
At the beginning I had no money and I was testing with models to get some new photos in my portfolios. The model agencies paid me 75 usd / model.
One point I was so skinny in NYC because I didn’t have enough money to eat that a model scout asked if I would like to become a male model . I was thinking that if I need to be this skinny and starving then it’s a firm no.
Also I had lots of rejections in LA with all the agencies. I am not a celebrity makeup artist so it was a red flag to 90% of the agencies in LA.
I started with Celestine Agency and went from there to Jed Root that was, at that time , one of the best global makeup, hair , styling and photography agency in the business.
When it went down , I have been with couple of different agencies.
I have my own clients so what the agency does , it’s more managing me, do the bookings , billings and travel arrangements.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Doing makeups and also hair ( for combo jobs ), but 70% of my booking are just doing the makeup,
I am also trained hair stylist so I know how to blow dry and do the perfect pony tail ! Lol
I would say I am quite creative artist . I work lots of creative editorials that I can really bring out my ideas. And working with really talented photographers, stylists and hair stylists really make it a great photo along a great model.
It’s a 100% team work.
I am proud of that I have been able to work in this industry this long. And I will continue another 20 years. “ I have some news for you , I am here to stay “ lol
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If you wanna become a makeup artist , you can contact me . I do private consultation for individuals who are interested in this business.
You can email me @ [email protected]
Pricing:
- Private clients from 750 usd and up
- Bridal makeups 2500 usd and up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rikucampobeauty.com
- Instagram: @makeupbyrikucampo
