Blog Post

How to promote yourself as a makeup artist

You’ve worked hard at your instructional program and aced your exams, so what’s next? To become a successful makeup artist, you need to push yourself forward. This is the business side of the beauty industry that makes all the difference to your career success. It might sound daunting, but with our insider tips, you’ll soon feel confident in promoting your skills. 

1: Create a portfolio of your work

You’ll always be judged by the work you’ve already done, so it’s key to set up a portfolio that shows off your track record. You’ll want to fill it with photographs that showcase your work. Professional photography will always look best, but you can take your own photos,  too. Make sure to zoom in on all the details.

It’s best to have both a hard copy portfolio to show in real life as well as an online portfolio that can be viewed by anyone anywhere once they have the link to your website.

2. Use social media to your advantage

Speaking of online portfolios, one of the best ways to promote yourself is to utilize social media. Learn how to use hashtags to get your posts noticed by more users, tag beauty brands that you use, work with key influencers – there are so many ways to make social media work for you.

 

3. Show off your skills in videos and in real life

 

YouTube and Instagram makeup tutorial videos are so popular, and you can tap into that by uploading some of your own. You can take inspiration from beauty vloggers like NikkieTutorials, and show off how you go about your artistry. Come up with your own style and share your skills in videos.

You can also show off your skills at real-life events. There might be beauty expos and fairs nearby that you can attend as a demonstrator, which is a great way of setting yourself apart from the competition.

 

4. Network and collaborate

 

Networking is one of the best ways to find out about opportunities and make contacts with the people that could employ you. Take your portfolio with you when you attend industry events and put your best self forward. 

You’ll also find it easier to promote yourself if you have more skills to offer. Find your squad in the business and share your skills with each other to keep the learning process going. You never know when learning how to moisturize dry hair from your hair specialist friend is going to come in useful. Write down a list of skills you’d like to add to your resume, from how to moisturize dry hair to how to thread eyebrows and learn them. As a professional makeup artist, you’ll continue to develop your craft, even after you’ve completed your instructional program.

5. Always carry business cards

Even in this digital age, physical business cards are still very relevant to your self-promotion plan. Whenever you’re working, attending an event, studying a course, or just heading out for some lunch, you should have a stash of business cards with you. You never know whom you’re going to meet!  

As for what to include on your business card, make sure your contact details are clear, list the skills you specialize in and include an attention-grabbing design so that your cards will stand out from the crowd.   

With these five tips you can feel confident about promoting yourself as a makeup artist. Let your light shine bright for the rest of the beauty world to see!

Some Images: www.unsplash.com 

By Ashley

Founder & Executive Director of Academy of Make Up Arts

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