Meet Amy Galloway | Makeup artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Galloway and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Right before I moved to LA I had some serious life decisions to make my father in Ladysmith, B.C. was ill with cancer and I moved back with a back pack full of a weeks worth of clothes. I had recently lost my job in Portland, Oregon and decided to go back home to take care of my Dad. When I arrived I found out I was never issued a social security card so therefore I was unable to work luckily my father had a automotive business where there was tons of metal and scraps, my brain went into flight or fight mode and the idea came along to recycle metal I took a childhood friends truck and spent from dawn until dusk scrapping metal to feed my dad and have gas money to take him to his doctor visits, little did I know I would be gone for an entire year. eventually my father had passed away and I was emotionally, mentally and physically drained I had hit rock bottom. I still had no car, no cell phone and no idea where I was going.

I knew in my heart I loved makeup and had been assisting on photoshoots since I was 16 years old and I loved Los Angeles, my heart was set on LA and there was no turning back. I had enough money to get me there and have a small place find a cheap car and put the pedal to the metal. I took the bus for months to Santa Monica working a min wage job before I had a car that I hated but I still keep pushing I had hope in my heart that everything is temporary I ended up snagging an amazing job educating on one of my favorite luxury beauty brands and finally someone believed in me from there on I gave it my 110% driving my little car across Southern California to educate all the Sephora accounts. I became comfortable in my career and then took the biggest risk of all getting me back to my passion makeup!

I began utilizing my instagram as a business and networking tool to get on photoshoots and perfect my skills. I gave up my days off to work for free on those shoots long days and hours from 2018 to 2021 were sculpting and shaping me as an artist, it was my escape, my happy place where I felt joy. Today I work with Celebrities, top influencers and have had #23 covers published worked with some of my favorite actors and been apart of the growing success of top models and influencers. I am now in the process of creating my own body product line called Maui Beam another risk worth taking!

I hope whoever reads this story that is on the verge of giving up when times are tough to just go take that risk the tough trails I have been given sculpted me into this strong amazing women I never thought I would become, I never graduated high school, I never had money to go to college but I had my hands and my risk taking mind to take me places I never dreamed of. Don’t stop shining and never give up on your dreams. The risk is worth it!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would describe my art as glamour with a twist of high fashion/avant grade. it has been a long journey putting in hours on sets running from A to B from my corporate job to chase this passion I once drove on a flat tire for 20 miles to make it to a shoot that I couldn’t miss and ended up making it right on time but the wheel was totaled so if you ask me if I am dedicated I would say yes!

but if you want something you’ve got to go make it happen.

I am grateful that I’ve worked with some world renown photographers that have tested my ability and limits, I overcame these challenges by trial and error. I never really know what I am getting myself into as an artist I let my heart guide me in my work instead of overthinking and planning the looks. Time after time I am even more pleased with the outcome of my creations, it took me a long time to learn this practice and when I work I try to have a clear mind to focus on each client. if you put your heart into something your clients are going to feel it too!

I am excited to see where I am headed in my career I dedicate my evenings before bed listening to motivational stories and success of others and learning how to practice gratitude. You need to put in hard work dedication and consistency. My favorite quote is “When you want to succeed as much as you want to breathe, that’s when you will be successful”- Eric Thomas

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them up to Palos Verdes to see some scenic views make our way to Long Beach and have lunch on the water at Tantalum then we would head over to take a Gondola ride at sunset through Naples Canals. I love Tantalum restaurant for it’s tiki island vibes. I love to take people out of the elements of Los Angeles and see some real gems!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank these incredible people for believing in me Julie and Vincent Garcia, April & John Annario, Nikki Krause, Sonny Brown, Per Bernal, Rob Tom, Micah Tarrel, Mike Gibb, Sage Desoto, Casey Avolio, Kyle Pederson, Brand & Paula and Mike stone, Kelly Crooks, Brandy Lee, Brandy Bolton Blair, Johnathan Gupta and Denise Irwin, Abby Khan, Christopher Brown, Brittany Mason, Lio Ramiez, Diana Lien, Marina De Mici and all my partners Kovo Essentials Skincare, L’Oreal, Sephora, Ardell Beauty, Ready fit go California, Luxie Beauty, Naya Beauty Salon, Shine Brown By Rokko, NowPR.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/glammedbydex

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-galloway-1891a661

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.galloway.75

Image Credits
Ashley Resch, Katilyn Shepard, Johanna Olsson, Corrie Yee, Hana Blake