How To Gain Experience As A Freelancer Makeup Artist?

Experience is one asset that will always make you better, Let be a good experience or a nasty work experience you always learn from it and become a better person. The big question is how do you get a break-through as a Professional Makeup artist?

How do you gain that kind of makeup experience that settles you in the makeup industry with confidence?

Let me try to answer these wearing shoes of a fresher or a newly certified makeup artist who has just started the business. Remember we are talking about experience here and not lead conversions and earning money. That will only happen when you have some decent experience in your pocket.

Just not the makeup industry, if you go anywhere and in any profession, everyone wants to hire an experienced person because stakes are high and no one wants to take a chance with an inexperienced person. Similarly a new makeup artist will initially struggle to get makeup projects just like anyone else.

Let us take a look at ways how you can gain experience as a professional makeup artist and get in action.

1. Portfolio Building

Your makeup experience will literally show in number of photographs you have in your portfolio. Just not the numbers but the quality, composition etc.

In this world of collaboration and connectivity, I advise you to tag photographers and models who are fresher like you. Both beauty model and photographers (Portrait) need to build their own portfolio. This is where you will make an excellent combination.

Do your collaborative shoots and do it continuously. This is where you need to be super active and if you lag behind and too shy or lazy to explore then you are responsible for your makeup career. Don’t blame the world for it.

2. Friends & Relatives

Another great way to gain makeup experience quickly is to provide makeup services to your friends and relatives. You can either do it for free or if it’s a serious function charge a nominal fees. Remember this is not about money but facing the heat on the ground. This works really well as you get to practice, get the experience and the feedback. That is what friends are there for right?

3. Use Technology

No one today can afford to be non-technical and still run any line of business at ease. You have to understand the Internet at least. You should play around with the social media. Makeup artistry is a glam world and you must learn how to come in front of the camera showcase your work through various social media channels, Make videos, Reels and experiment. In the end you will get your leads from Internet, Better experience it now!

4. Business Card & e-Posters

Print your business card and drop them anywhere you think may help you get work or a lead. Always be ready!

Create digital posters and distribute it to your friends and family groups and in social media. Do not hesitate it’s perfectly okay to market yourself everywhere.

Places where you can drop your business cards can be a bridal wear shops, Bridal jewelry shops, Beauty stores, Wedding planners etc.

5. Internship

We have less of internship opportunities in India as a makeup artist however if you do get an opportunity to work with a senior makeup artist don’t leave it. Work for free if that brings you the experience that is needed but do not let that opportunity go. Usually senior makeup artists will only take you as an intern when you are really good and do not expect to get makeup projects. You may be asked to call clients or do admin work which is perfectly fine as that is a major experience for a professional makeup artist as well.

Do it yourself

If nothing works, Practice makeup on yourself. No excuses means no excuses and you must practice on yourself frequently. Imagine an art and create it on yourself. This will bring lot of confidence in you trust me.

So there you have it. We get students asking this question

“Mam there are so many makeup artists in the market, how will we survive in this makeup career?”

Answer: There is no profession and no business without competition. Be it a school or a candy we have several players in the market. The one who will survive is the one who is passionate and wastes no time. Changes according to time and most importantly is highly skilled. If you have got it you will be unstoppable, DO NOT GIVE UP!