Our guest makeup blogger Jennifer Jane launches her new academy in November, so we asked her for her top tips for aspiring MUAs…
1. Practice. Practice. And then practice some more.
Practice makes perfect no matter which industry you are in and makeup is no exception. If you really want to hone your craft and be booked time and time again as a reliable and talented artist, you really can’t practice enough! Watch as many YouTube videos as you can and read up on all things makeup. Your friends and family will always jump at the chance to have their faces painted, especially if they have an event to attend! Always make sure you document your work with a before and after photo for your files.
Another great way to practice and gain valuable product knowledge is to work on a retail counter. You will literally be working on all sorts of skin tones and types all day long, so it’s the perfect way to hone your craft. You will also be working directly with the public so it’s a great opportunity to brush up on your customer service skills which is vital for a good Makeup Artist.
2. Research the makeup masters.
Have a good look into the industry and figure out who your favourite Makeup Artists are. You may be attracted to their style of work or perhaps how they market themselves. Take a look at the kind of content they’re posting on their social media channels, or Google if they have a book available to buy or a course you could attend. It’s always a good idea to get inspiration from those that have been in the industry for some time. That said, it’s better for you to look, get inspiration and adapt your own looks rather than directly copying another artist’s work. Let your imagination run free!
3. Get a Formal Education
If you’re serious about becoming a professional Makeup Artist, attending a professional course is a great option for you. Many artists I have worked with are self taught, but if you want to work professionally on productions, theatre, film & TV or be a well-respected bridal specialist, a course will give you the credibility that you need. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a vocational qualification, but a professional accredited course will allow you to gain insurance as an artist and start your new career on a professional level.
4. Get online and market yourself.
If you want to be taken seriously as a professional Makeup Artist, you will need to have an up to date web presence. This includes a website and social media channels. The more you promote your work, the more visible you are to others. The most important platform currently is an Instagram account – I would say 90% of my bookings as a Bridal Specialist come through my Instagram account so it really pays to post regular, top quality content to show you’re active.
If you like the idea of doing video tutorials, you can choose YouTube to showcase your talents then repost to your Facebook & Insta accounts. If you’re just starting out this will save you money as you can set all of this up for free. Once you start to get paid jobs in, you can then invest in a website or if you are feeling really brave, you can build your own! There are so many tutorials available on YouTube on how to get started with your own website, you really can’t go wrong!
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