What does a make-up artist do?
Essentially in simple terms a make-up artist applies make-up to people and things.
To answer a few more questions… before I start rambling on about why it’s such a fabulous job!
What is a make-up Artist?
Someone who is professionally trained and possesses specialist skills in applying make-up to people and things.
What is the role of a make-up artist?
The role of a make-up artist is to fulfil a brief in achieving a particular look with make-up.
The Power of a Make-up Artist: Enhancing Beauty, Expressing Creativity
What skills do make-up artists have?
Make-up artist requirements are - great attention to detail, make-up artistry flair to be able to apply make-up perfectly and follow a design, brief or picture. The ability to alter the appearance of something or someone and give illusions using shading and blending techniques perfectly. To have full understanding of the colour palettes and textures of all different skins, and full product knowledge on all products being used and the ability to blend them together. Customer service skills - this job is a service, make-up artists work with people and to work well with people you need to possess an outstanding level of customer service. Organisation - make-up artists need to worked from an organised kit and organise their time wisely. A strong understanding of hygiene, it’s important when working on people’s skins you are using clean tools and products.
Make-up artists also possess a skill to network and market themselves, if you are freelance and self employed you are required to go out and find jobs - this can entail - contacting and reaching out to particular people, being signed to an agency, or promoting their services on social media and other outlets.
What does a makeup artist do on a daily basis?
There are so many different makeup artist work environment that make-up artists work in - TV / Film industry / Music / Theatre - Meaning a make-up artist will be needed on film sets, TV studios, on a music video or designing looks for a theatre production potentially using special effects make-up.
Fashion / editorial - Make-up artists are needed daily on photoshoots for magazines, fashion shows and campaigns.
Celebrity / Red Carpet - Celebrities every day need make-up artists, they could be having a photo shoot, going to an important event, attending an award ceremony or being interviewed.
Brands - There are many makeup artist job descriptions for beauty brands that now have make-up artists as the face of their brands or international make-up artists that travel the globe promoting and representing brands.
Bridal - Weddings happen every day of the week and most brides have a glam squad - hair and make-up team to attend the morning of their wedding to makeover their bridal party.
Private clients - you also have people that require make-up for occasions - this could be any type of occasion down to lunch with friends and wanting to look their best.
As a make-up artist you could be travelling to any of these jobs with your kit in tow ready to create any number of looks.
What makes a good makeup artist?
The best make-up artists have confidence in their skill and ability! A good make-up Artist should ask the client as many questions as possible to understand the desired look this minimises the chances of someone asking to change it or not like the finished look. A strong portfolio - which can now be showcased on social media! A good make-up artist leaves their client with the best experience and wanting to return for repeat appointments.
What can a make-up artist earn?
Photoshoots, TV & Film typically pay around £600 for a full day, however this could really vary depending on whether it’s just you being booked or a team of make-up artists and also the budget of the project.
Weddings - As an example a bride can expect to pay £750 for her and her 5 bridesmaids make-up with travel expenses on top.
Fashion and Editorial - this genre is known for being the lowest paid, the budgets aren’t as big and it takes a lot of working for free and assisting other make-up artists before reaching the top, however when being the make-up artist as vogue this credit on your CV holds a lot of value.
Private clients - Depending on your area, experience and competition, someone can expect to pay anywhere between £40-£100 for their make-up for an occasion. Occasion make-up typically takes 40 mins on a fully booked day you could easily earn up to £1000. However this does tend to be more Fridays and Saturdays.
Being a make-up artist is a fantastic skill to have the world really is your oyster, I love that even if you have a corporate job and wanted to earn some extra money on the side you so easily could! There are so many avenues you can go down with these skills and especially nowadays with the power of social media you can manifest your own success and carve out an extremely successful career and brand!
If you're interested in pursuing a career as a make-up artist, why not consider enrolling in one of my online makeup courses?
I hope I have provided a well rounded view of what a make-up artist does… stay turned for more XOXO