Makeup artists who work in the editorial or print advertising field work with models, photographers, stylists, and editors. Collaboration is everything. Shoots take
place in studios and also on location—sometimes very exotic ones. Work is obtained by sending a portfolio, or book showing your past work, to agencies that
provide representation and to clients. The better the book, the higher the demand and pay rate. Print jobs include work for magazines, advertisers, catalog
companies, corporate in-house publications, movie posters, and album covers.
Video
Music videos are often filmed very quickly and require flexibility, spontaneity, and simple artistry. While many videos are low-budget freelance projects, they
provide opportunities for young artists to build their portfolios. Makeup artists are often hired for music videos because their print work, doing magazine and album
covers, has attracted a music artist’s attention. Educational and industrial video shoots also hire makeup artists and stylists.
Live Performance
This field includes work for theater, dance, and musical theater, as well as for live concerts and road tours. The artist works under time pressure and needs to
maintain continuity. An artist sometimes stays with a production for months or even years.
Fashion Show
Applying makeup for the runway is both adrenaline boosting and exhausting. It involves collaboration with a designer and models. Work begins with a pretest to
discuss and try out the look. On the day of the show, another pretest is completed with the actual runway lighting for final designer notes and approval. Then the
work becomes incredibly hectic and fast-paced as all of the models are made-up. Makeup artists obtain work in this area by sending out their book and through
reputation and connections.
Remember when I said to be nice to everyone? Often assistants become editors-in-chief.the BUSINESS of MAKEUP ARTISTRY
While makeup artists are first and foremost artists, they also need to be businesspeople. Makeup artists need to be talented, confident, and charismatic, as well as
effective entrepreneurs who are able to effectively market their talents. To begin, you will need to find ways to gain experience, develop effective work habits,
create a business system, and build a portfolio and résumé. Eventually, you will want to secure agency representation.
Your success is completely up to you. This means you need to attract and keep clients, develop and maintain several portfolios and a résumé, handle the business
effectively, and stay current.
DEVELOPING A PORTFOLIO
A portfolio is a book in which you keep photographs of all your work as a makeup artist. The book can be low-cost plastic or high-end leather with your name
engraved on it.
The first step in finding work is developing a great portfolio you can show to potential employers. Having professional photographs taken of your work can
be prohibitively expensive and is probably not worth the investment when you are first starting out. Instead, try to find an aspiring photographer who might also like
to have photos for his or her own book, and help each other out. Call every modeling agency and ask if you can do makeup for testing. Testing is when a model,
photographer, hairdresser, and makeup artist all do a shoot for free to show others their work. The payment is a photo for your portfolio. It’s also an excellent way
to learn how to build rapport with a team at a photo shoot—an important lesson, because the same team will often work together repeatedly on jobs.
After the test, getting pictures from the photographer can sometimes be a challenge. It is up to you to confirm when the pictures will be ready to view. Set a
date to pick out your own shots, and crop them if needed. Since most photographs are now digital, you can collect and store them on your computer. Prints can be
made in a lab or with your own printer.
Your book should include at least fifteen amazing test shots before you show it around. Whenever possible, use professional models and photographers.
Amateur work is quickly evident. Once you begin to find paid work, you will be able to include tear sheets (published work) from magazines, book covers,
television commercials, and other jobs. You can begin looking for agency representation when you have at least ten to fifteen tear sheets that show a variety of
work. Building a portfolio takes time. It will take at least six to nine months of consistent work to develop a book that you can show to clients. Once you have the
book together, you need to show it to everyone—photographers, other artists, producers, and art directors. Get their advice, and listen to it. Thank them for their
time and help.