Delia Parga
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am a freelance Makeup Artist that specializes in beauty, editorial, film and TV makeup. In addition to all that, I am also a Henna Artist. ”
I’ve worked on mostly photoshoots and video shoots as well as bridal and event shoots and occasionally I do some special effects.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I moved away from my hometown of Portland, OR to study Makeup and Special effects at the school of Makeup Designory in Burbank, CA when I was 21 years old. While there I was able to build up a portfolio, working any type of makeup job I could get to gain as much experience as I could.
HOW DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR FIELD?
I believe the way I stand out is through my personality. I am not someone who is afraid to try new and unconventional styles with makeup, if anything, I enjoy those types of challenges because it pushes me to step out of my comfort zone and create something fun and different.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Nothing specific at the moment but I have been putting together a photo series with an all women team that I have titled “Be-YOU-tiful.”
A shoot that showcases the beauty in all shapes, sizes, color, and personality of my closest friends and to encourage that all women are beautiful in their own way. So far I have shot one look for the series but I still have a few more to get through.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I would say that I have a pretty colorful but flexible style. I enjoy doing projects that allow me to step out of the norm when it comes to makeup and be more artistic and avant-garde. Recently I’ve been getting into adding texture and using other mediums with my looks to create more unique visuals.
WE ALL HAVE MULTIPLE SKILLS OR WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD FOCUS ON MORE?
Hairstyling for sure! I know how to do some basic styling but I would love to get better at it and learn more so I could feel more confident about it.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Well, My photographer got pregnant so that definitely put my photo series on hold for a bit, Ha ha..
But more seriously, I would say having being more active on social media has been a struggle and getting myself to post more of my work more frequently.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Clean all my makeup brushes! That is by far the worst thing to have to do after a shoot. That and post to my social media page because I am awful at doing that.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I’d go back to when I was 24 and tell myself to believe in my worth more. Back then I did a lot of work unpaid because I wanted to just get the experience even though I had already been a working Artist for a couple years, but I think I also just didn’t feel as though my work was “good enough” to be paid what I deserved.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
My absolute makeup IDOL is Priscilla Ono, I just love everything about her so if I had the chance I would ask her how she got to where she is in the Makeup Industry and what advice she would give to me to get anywhere near that level of success.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Honestly anything! I’m very open to doing just about any type of makeup job.
I would also really love to do a project that would incorporate my Henna skills just to get more experience and practice with that too though.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal collab is working alongside people who don’t take the job so seriously but also have fun with it! Obviously a job is a job but I find that my best work happens with everyone else is having just as much fun and letting their passion come through.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
My rates usually depend on what the project is, usually between $80-150/ day if it’s for a photoshoot/ video shoot.
For other jobs such as bridal or event type makeup I tend to charge an hourly rate and will factor in other variables such as travel, hairstyling, number of people, etc.
WHO IS A CREATIVE THAT HAS HELPED YOU ELEVATE YOUR WORK?
Marilyn Espitia, My first photographer when I was just getting started, half of my portfolio was photographed by her and I still work with her today, she’s really great and her style is very vintage and soft!
Joe Robles, Another amazing portrait photographer/ friend of mine! He really knows how to capture emotion in a photograph.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Send me a mood/vision board! I love me a good pinterest board of inspiration to get me inspired!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
I would say surrounding myself with other creatives really helps to keep me creating. I also try to spend time with myself and not think so much about what I want to create but instead just have fun with either makeup or art or henna, whatever, but just to really let myself have fun with it as much as possible.
This member profile was originally published in March 2019.