We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emma Croft a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Emma, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
For me the best way to overcome creative blocks is to stop what I’m doing. It may seem counterintuitive, but when I’m not feeling creatively inspired and I have deadline approaching, the absolute best thing I can do is to not force. Instead I practice self-care, make sure my nervous system is regulated (am I feeling anxious/unsettled?), do things that lift my spirits and try to reground and reconnect to myself. Usually when I’m not feeling inspired it’s because something else is going on in my life that is blocking me. Even if it’s just taking an hour away from my desk or laptop and doing something nurturing, I always notice I have a little more headspace and room for inspiration to seep in. And if I’m REALLY on a tight deadline, I’ve found that setting my alarm for 20 minutes and committing that 20 minutes to focussing pen to paper or creative research is usually enough to get the cogs going just enough to gain some momentum. 20 minutes always feels doable even if I’m really not feeling inspired!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
With over a decade in my field, I have enjoyed an international career working equally across film/television and fashion/editorial, heading the hair and makeup department on films and primetime TV shows including multi-BAFTA-winner ‘Stath Lets Flats’, and commercials/editorials for brands such as Gucci, Stella McCartney and Rag & Bone. I’ve also had the privilege of working on music videos for some of the world’s biggest musicians including The Weeknd, Fallout Boy, Bad Bunny, Finneas and Years & Years, as well as working with A-list personal clients such as Lebron James, 50 Cent, Bella Thorne and Gayle. As a self-proclaimed film nerd, and having trained in film & TV production for 2 years prior to makeup, I feel so lucky I get to work in the industry that has excited me more than any other. I am originally from London, UK and a member of the Emmy’s Television Academy, and the next and most recent phase of my journey has brought me to live and work in Los Angeles, where you will currently find me.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One of the most important skills I’ve had to learn in my field is to be adaptable: from the moment you step onto set, plans can change on you in a split second. You must be able to problem-solve in record time and present your client with alternate ideas that fit the brief and work within the time constraints. The most important tool I have to enable me to do this, is my ability to remain calm. If I’m stressed by all the changes, I won’t be able to think clearly enough to come up with a viable solution. What helps me remain calm is reminding myself that there is a solution to every problem and also my ability to communicate any issues that can prevent me from solving any problem effectively. Communication with the team is key! Everyone wants the best outcome and remembering that set work is team work helps me to remember that I have the support I need to execute whatever is needed.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
I love a client who is as excited as I am to create something magic together! Whether it’s a director, an actor, a musician, I love to collaborate and share visions and create something unique. Coming up with your own ideas is unique enough, but merging the ideas of yours and your clients’ makes for an even more exciting and nuanced combination of creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emmacroftmakeup.com
- Instagram: @emmacroftmakeup
