Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Svalstad.
Erin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in a very small town outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. Most of my family and friends are still there. After completing my bachelor’s degree at Miami University in Ohio and a few failed attempts at office life, I went to makeup school in Los Angeles in 2006. It was there that they emphasized sanitation and keeping safe talent while on set. This information that stuck with me has never been more relevant or useful than now!
I began working immediately throughout Southern California once school ended. I had an incredible string of luck in meeting the right producers who kept me on for project after project. Within a few years, I had several pilots with Comedy Central and MTV under my belt as the key makeup artist. After my husband and I started our family in 2009, I tried to stay closer to San Diego with work so that I could balance family and my career. I took enough jobs to keep myself relevant until my youngest daughter was in school and then I began working more and taking more work out of town.
The most high profile work that I’ve done in recent years is for the ESPN Body Issue. I began in 2015. The Body Issue is a print magazine that features about 18 athletes per year in the nude. Believe it or not, it is an incredibly professional environment and the photographers who are chosen are some of the best in the world. It’s a true honor to work on this issue year after year.
I’ve worked on so many spreads for The Body Issue that ESPN actually featured me in the magazine last year. One of the producers nicknamed me “The Fairy Godmother of Body” because I seem to have a way of making the talent feel comfortable. I don’t know what the future holds for any of the projects that I’ve worked on or had to be canceled because of COVID but I’m hopeful that everyone in my industry will get back to work soon.
Has it been a smooth road?
Overall, I’ve had a great time doing hair and makeup. The last recession in 2009 was tough. I had one client in public television who gave me enough work so that I could keep my skills sharp. I took whatever I could get during that time and I’m glad that I was able to hang in there.
There are always those days where you have difficult talent in your chair or a crew member with a terrible attitude. One time I was on a three day commercial shoot and it was my first time wearing a surveillance earpiece to keep in touch with my other crew members. I didn’t hear the Assistant Director say “Quiet on the set,” and I said something to one of my coworkers. The AD stopped the shoot and screamed at me in front of the entire crew. It was mortifying and he later apologized. Months later, I had an opportunity to work with him and declined. There is absolutely no reason to berate anyone on a set. It’s the ultimate team sport. As we say over and over, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
One of the other challenges that we, as a crew, face are the elements! A lot of the time, it’s either really cold or (more often) really, really hot since we shoot outside all the time here in Southern California. Keeping my talent looking good and warm or cool enough is a big part of our job. I’ve only been on one shoot where members of our crew got heatstroke. It was in the desert and thank goodness we had a medic on set.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My makeup aesthetic is simple. I want to make people look like the best versions of themselves. Of course, I can do very glam, going out, going on stage makeup but I enjoy a natural look the most.
I think that I also have an ability to make most people feel comfortable in a very strange situation. I’ve gotten more than a few emails from athletes after we shoot The ESPN Body Issue who say that they were expecting it to be the most awkward day of their lives since they were nude but instead, they were completely comfortable (because of me!) I never leave the talent’s side while shooting Body. I am always there with a towel or robe or whatever they need to feel comfortable.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I really love all things, San Diego. I’ve been here for 17 years and I’ve found that people are happy and fun to be around. The scenery is gorgeous. Because where I grew up in Indiana is so flat, I really love all of the hills and valleys. Also, fish tacos.
Aside from the obvious problems here – homelessness, income inequality, etc… I wish that the water temperature in the ocean was warmer, like the Atlantic Ocean. I always feel terrible for the models who have to splash around on the beach in January and February and make it look like the water is really warm.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.erinsvalstad.com
- Email: makeup@erinsvalstad.com
- Instagram: @erinsvalstad
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