Everything in life starts with an idea. If you believe it is possible and put all your determination into it, things will happen for you. Everything takes time so try not to get disheartened. Starting off you will get little to no money and it will seem like a thankless job. However if you love the job you are doing all the pain will be worth it right?
Do your research, find make-up artists you like and that inspire you. Tear sheets out of magazines, look at websites, read blogs and watch youtube videos. Then practise practise practise. Try and get as many of your unsuspecting friends, girlfriends, moms or sisters to sit down and practise on them! It’s one thing being able to do make-up on yourself, its another to apply it on someone else. Try and get as many different looking people as you can, with different eyeshapes, lipshapes, skin tones etc. This will prepare you for any eventuality that you may come across when you start working as a professional make-up artist.
2) GET SOME TRAINING:
I trained in the LA Make-Up Academy in Ireland, which I think is a good private course. If I was to do it all over again however I would attend the two year full time course in IADT, it is much more comprehensive and prepares you for every aspect of the Make-Up Industry.
I would have loved to go abroad and study, but at the time I never really considered it as an option. There are a few courses that really stand out in my mind, they are the Make-up Forever Course in Paris, Blanche Macdonald course in Canada, London College of Fashion and Brushstrokes which are both in the UK.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how good or bad a course is that you choose, you will learn only as much as you are willing. No one can teach you to be a fantastic Make-Up Artist, it is a combination of learning the technique, practising your skills and a bit of raw talent, then even that isn’t enough…if you are going to work freelance you have to have a business acumen to boot.
3) GET SOME EXPERIENCE:
Probably the fastest way to get experience and learn the trade is by getting a job on a make-up counter. They have great training programmes as well as some of the counters will give you the opportunity to do fashion shows and shoots if you are with them long enough. The only thing about this is that it is very sales focused, so if like me you are rubbish at selling people things, then this route is not for you. Another option is to test with photographers and models. Work for local theatre productions for free. Work on short films. They don’t pay and they can be very hard work, but the experience is invaluable. The best way to get in contact with people is on the many great websites out there. For fashion testing try Model Mayhem or Folio32, if you are keen to get into film and tv try the Film Makers Network, also place your own adverts saying that you would like to practise and are willing to work for free. I am sure that you will get loads of people willing to take you up on your offer.
Another great way to get experience and learn to tread the boards is by assisting a Make-Up Artist. Make sure that you do your research before hand, remember they probably get requests for assistants all the time so you have to make your request stand out from the crowd. The best way to make sure that you are not even considered is by not even addressing the person by name. It amazes me how many requests I get from people saying “hi there” or “to whom it may concern”, you just know they have sent the same email to 100 other make-up artists. Make sure that you make it known that you have seen their work and have done a bit of homework first.
4) BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO:
The most important thing that a Make-Up Artist will own is not the best foundation or the brightest eyeshadow. It is in fact your portfolio. It is the one thing that will get you jobs and shows people what you are capable of. In a beauty driven industry it is imperitive that your posrtfolio looks the part. Make sure that the prints are impeccable in large format and bound in a professional way. I like the books by House of Portfolios. If you can’t find anyone to test with, it may even be an idea to pay a photographer to take good shots of your work. Nothing screams amateur more than badly taken photos! Linked into your portfolio is your website and business cards. Again these should be really well designed, if you can’t do it well enough yourself, then pay someone to do it for you, after all you can’t be brilliant at everything! I once went to a talk given by Sarah Newman of “The Dragons Den”, in which she said you have to learn what you are good at and when to call in the professionals.
5) CONTACTS
In the beginning you will find yourself working for free alot, but don’t worry, this is not in vain, you are not a charity case. Not only is it to build experience, but it is also to build invaluable contacts. There have been many occasions that I have worked for free and people have brought me back for paid assignments. As people’s careers build and grow so will yours. You will soon learn to weed the time wasters and users from the genuine professionals just trying to make a break.
6.) BELIEVE
I know I said this at the first point, but I think it is really important to stress again…you are going to have loads of times of self doubt, where you think: “What am I doing, maybe I’m not cut out for this” Just believe in yourself and know that your big break could be right around the corner. Also enjoy the journey, life is an adventure with ups and downs, if it was too easy it wouldn’t be worth doing.
That’s all for now 
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me: emma@emmafarrellmakeup.com or 0863274449
J
Jean Paul Gaultier
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