Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Kraemer.
Hi Nina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From a little child, I was obsessed with all things beauty. From art to nature and especially the way my mom did her makeup. I used to watch her for hours and envision myself doing the very same thing to myself and others. Fast forward to senior year in high school, the obsession continued, but this was the late 90s, and artists were often called “starving,” My parents, who were both super educated, were not about to support that. So I went to our local community college. I majored and minored in many things, but nothing stuck. In early 2000 I walked into Macy’s in Long Island, NY, and started applying at all the counters in hopes someone would give me a chance. Chanel was the first to respond, so I accepted the position as a part-time beauty advisor. I was in my early 20s, and my mom did not have it. I needed a job that made decent money with benefits, so I got a second job working for an eye doctor, which ultimately failed. I stayed with Chanel for a good year and finally found the courage to apply at the MAC Store in the same mall. Mac interviewed me but also wanted to see my artistry firsthand and said I needed a model and a vision. At that moment, I finally felt like I had become my own. I was young, hungry, and ambitious, and if anyone could get me to the top, MAC would surely be it. The manager was so impressed with how I worked my model’s face and how I mixed and matched shades to compliment and contour that she invited me to do her makeup for a party the following weekend! I had my first professional paying gig and was hired as a 30-hour artist in the MAC store with benefits! Mac not only developed me as an artist but as a human being. Our “updates,” also known as training, exposed me to a new world of lifestyle and people.
I was in and out of Manhattan. I would go on to work with several amazing lines, including benefit, Dior, Narz, Imani, Fashion Fair, By Terry, Morphe, and recently Gucci. I worked on editorials, television, and music videos and did a few assistant stunts for the glamorous fashion week! I had finally become cultured, educated, open-minded, and a genuine artist of people. I stayed with MAC for several years before deciding it was time to explore the business side of everything. In late 2007 I accepted a manager position with Benefit Cosmetics in again a Macys near my home, where I would stay for four years. There, I learned about growing a team, talent analysis, and what it would entail making a successful line work.
The later years brought marriage, a family, and other responsibilities that I found more satisfying than just working the retail circuit. I switched to the wonderful world of “freelancer ” or, as you would call it, contractor. This role for the last 13 years has allowed me to create my schedule while still working for the brands I love and expanding outside the traditional department stores. My freelancing work has opened up even more doors and connections, which helped bring me to Jacksonville in May of 2021 from New York and New Jersey. I feel blessed to have explored different states and stores as a support artist. I still love the thrill of being in the store, especially during the holidays. I still love meeting, talking to different people, and watching how makeup and techniques have evolved. This is one industry you will always continue learning in. The last 23 years have taught me so much! I still do bridals and commercials, and even though it’s been 23 years since my first pro makeup job, the excitement and butterflies are still there. I love making people beautiful. I love what makeup has done for my family and me, and I love how makeup, just like music, brings people together. Makeup is for all, and I plan to be doing this for the rest of my days!
Would it have been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It wasn’t always easy. Being in retail, you abide by the retail code; nights, weekends, holidays, etc. As a young mom, it was always a struggle to want to work and stay relevant and be able to be there for my growing young family. Working through the 2008 recession was challenging as well. It was another level of hard work. But my team and I did it. In 2015 my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, what seemed like out of the blue, and a few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I was working all over NJ and struggled with how I could do it while wanting to be near her. The. When she passed in 2018, I remembered her love of beauty and skincare. Being around all that product kept me close to her. It made me want to work even harder. It will always be hard in life, but for me, hard makes it great!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been a makeup artist for the last 23 years and still practicing! I would say I’m known for my special effects artistry and brows! My proudest moment was always doing events for cancer and aids patients. Getting the opportunity to make someone feel magical for a few hours after dealing with something like that is so satisfying. What sets me apart from others, this sounds weird, but I feel the makeup and colors. From the moment I see my client and they sit in my chair, I can feel the brush’s colors and strokes. I would do this for free if I ever won the lottery.
What do you think about luck?
I wish I could say it was luck, but I am not lucky. I had zero connections and no schooling regarding artistic credentials, but I had a lot of heart. I work hard, and when I want something, I get it. It’s not luck. It’s just good old fashion determination!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: __NinaKaterina__
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ninakraemer
