One of the most asked questions I get is, "What are the steps to becoming a makeup artist?" and although I definitely have my steps that I teach my coaching students, these tips will work as a starting point to becoming a makeup artist!
1. Know it’s not as glamorous as it looks
Just know that there will be long hours, long nights, hard work, and lugging around a heavy makeup kit.
2. Learn everything you possibly can
Do makeup on everyone you know, read books, watch videos….practice, practice, practice!
3. Find a mentor
And be willing to pay that mentor! If you find someone who you respect and would love to work with, chances are there are others who feel the same way and when someone is running a business, they cannot possibly work as a free mentor to everyone.
4. Create a clear vision of where you want to go
Create your big picture even if it seems totally out of reach right now.
5. Use goal setting to create your steps
Once you have created your vision use goal setting to break it down into steps. Each year when you accomplish a goal, set a bigger goal, and each goal accomplished will get you closer to your vision.
6. Learn to take risks
You can’t do anything great by staying in your comfort zone. You have to learn to face your fear and know that it’s going to be okay.
7. Buy the best you can afford
You will not attract high end clients with cheap makeup and subpar work! Yes everyone loves a great deal and there are great drugstore products, but if you skimp on your education and on your kit, you are skimping on your clients.
8. Put your money where it counts
It’s imperative that you define your brand. Have a logo designed, build a website that is exactly “you”, and build your brand so that you will attract the clients that are perfect for you.
9. If your clients can’t find you they can’t hire you
Learn SEO and how to use social media to build your brand.
10. Find your niche
It is so important to learn who your client is and why they buy from you. Once you find your niche client, tailor every decision you make with that client in mind.
11. Know your worth
No one starts out getting top dollar but don’t undercut yourself and your industry, it hurts everyone. If you aren’t sure what to charge, it’s better to ask than to take an uneducated guess.
12. Build your community
Find other makeup artists in your area and form relationships with vendors. Also, look outside of your area for others doing the same thing you are, they are great resource to bounce ideas off of and get feedback from.
13. Know that there will be setbacks
You will hear the word “no” and things will not always work out the way you want. At the beginning of my career I had interviews with Stila Cosmetics, with a spa, and with a salon and I didn’t get hired by any of them but it pushed me to keep going. If I had gotten any of those jobs I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.
14. Build your portfolio
Take pictures of your work even if you don’t think it’s so great, you can use the images as a tool to critique your work and improve it. In the beginning do “for trade” work and collaborate with other vendors on styled photo shoots.
15. Own up to your mistakes
Stay humble, know that you aren’t going to know everything all the time, and be willing to take constructive criticism.
16. Stay true to your personal style
Don’t be swayed by the latest trends. Find your style, define it, and perfect it.
17. Give 100% all the time
Be on time, put your clients first, leave your drama at the door, and always put your best face forward. Your clients don’t care if you are having a bad day they have paid for a service and you are there to deliver it.
18. Know your role
Do not walk all over somebody else to get to the front of the line, karma is a bitch. Get into the industry for the right reasons, if your main goal is fame and fortune, you are in for a rude wakeup call. You must be there to serve your clients, your industry, and always remember your character is everything.
19. Be willing to change
Listen to your clients. After doing traditional makeup for 12 years I was listening to the needs (more like demands!!) of my clients when I decided to learn how to airbrush foundation. When the tides are changing, if you aren’t willing to listen and change when needed, you will get left behind.
20. Define your own level of success
Everyone’s ultimate vision is different and you have to define what is best for you. I personally hate to travel without my family so I’m not going to be jet setting across the world for work, but for someone else traveling and seeing the world is a perfect life for them. From the very beginning, design your life to be what is best for you and always keep your ultimate vision in the forefront of your mind.
To be successful in anything you have to have determination, perseverance, and an intense passion. You have to believe that you have something to offer that is different than anybody else. Know that nobody owes you anything and you have to be willing to work for it. Go the extra mile and do what others aren’t willing or don’t want to do.
Success is just doors that lead from one opportunity to another. Keep opening doors and you'll be surprised where you end up!
xo,
Kim
If you are interested in learning more about coaching please go to: https://www.kimportertv.com/workwithme/
(This article was originally posted on my makeup website, Makeup by Kim Porter, on February 19, 2016.)