Make Up Artists: What you need to know

Transcription

1 Make Up Artists: What you need to know It has been said that if you find a career you love you will never work a day in your life. Passion is a must when trying to break into the makeup world. In starting out as a professional makeup artist it is important to consider all of the following options: Training & Education Choosing the right course to suit you gives you the opportunity to learn new industry techniques and skills. Hands-on training in your field is essential to becoming a qualified professional in the make-up industry. Work Experience / Career Placement Following in-depth training to become a professional make-up artist the next step is to build on your professional portfolio and work experience credentials. Career placement programmes such as internships and mentorship immerse students in a professional working environment and provide you with the necessary skills to flourish in highly coveted industry positions. Professional Portfolio In starting out as professional makeup artist, clients and employers will ask to see your portfolio. Your portfolio also builds credibility in your work that you can supply.

2 Your portfolio is a visual representation of your work, illustrating your competency in different aspects of makeup such as fashion looks, natural looks, character looks, male looks etc. TRAINING AS A PROFESSIONAL MAKE UP ARTIST? In training as a professional makeup artist the overall objective is securing employment on completion of the course. In choosing the right course, it is important to consider the following: 1. Is the lecturer working in the industry and what experience do they have? It is important that lecturers not only sharing their industry experience but that they are also up to date with the latest techniques to prepare students for industry expectations in their chosen field. 2. What size are the classes? Class sizes should be kept to a small number to ensure that each student receives individual attention, feedback and the necessary assistance required for the highest standard of learning and development available. 3. What student support programmes are offered for career placement opportunities? On completion of your training the next step is to build on your CV and experience. Internship & Mentorship programmes provide invaluable opportunities to apply newly acquired skills and techniques working with some of the industry s key personnel and

3 brands. 4. What support is offered to help build a portfolio? Producing a photoshoot can be costly when you include the cost of the studio hire, photographer, model, hair stylist, props, editing studio etc. It is important to see if this is included as part of your course and if there is support offered in choosing the images for your portfolio. 5. What support is offered on building a kit and are there any discounts offered? It is important to know the core products you will need for your make-up kit to prevent impulsive purchases of products that may not be useful and will only ever look pretty in your kit. It is also important to see if this is covered in your course and if you are eligible for any professional discount schemes on products. 6. What support is offered on completion of my course to keep me up to date with new and updated techniques? In choosing a course, one must consider the student support care available upon completion of your course. Can you resit classes? Can you resit shoots to build on your portfolio? Can you speak with a lecturer about your CV, an upcoming interview or advise on your portfolio?

4 WHAT SKILLS ARE NEEDED / REQUIRED? Essential Skills in becoming a professional make-up artist include: Communication Skills: Communication is one of the most important skills in becoming a professional makeup artist. You must learn to communicate using appropriate tone, language and eye contact with a client at all times. Client Care: Applying makeup is an intimate process and a client trusts you to work within their personal space, therefore considering your client in every movement and brush-stroke is crucial. Hair & Nails: As a professional artist it is important to have a general knowledge in fundamentals of hair styling and basic file and polish. These are additional services that go hand in hand with make-up artistry and offer an advantage to you as makeup artist in being competent to provide all three services: hair, makeup & nails- the triple threat.

5 WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED? International recognised accreditation. Portfolio of your work. CV of live working experience gained from internship and/or mentorship opportunities. HOW TO MAKE MONEY Gaining employment in this is challenging for some but if you are willing to work hard the sky is the limit. Some budding make-up artists begin to offer their services complimentary to clients for a limited time while they build up a reputation and gain a trusted customer base. This way you can ensure the people you meet along the way remember you and you can make an excellent first impression. With hard work, perseverance and an excellent service soon you will establish yourself as the 'go to' person for certain jobs.

6 At the beginning, it is important to build on your credibility as an artist and gain lots of experience to give you an edge over other candidates from an employer s perspective. Once you start making money, there is no limit to what you can earn. There are opportunities to specialise in certain areas or to create a niche market to establish a unique reputation and customer base. Potential Earnings as Professional Make-Up Artist: Per Make-Up Application: Bridal Industry: Per Bridal Trial: Per Bridal Party: Film Industry: Starting from 30k- 300k Fashion Industry: Starting from per day What jobs can I pursue in the industry? As a creative professional in the industry, make-up artistry provides opportunities in a variety of different working environments from film sets to catwalk shows, the choice is yours: Make-Up Artist, Editorial Make-Up Artist, Music Video Artist, Theatre Make-Up Artist, TV & Film Make-Up Artist, Body Paint Artist, Prosthetic Artist, Wigs & Facial Hair Artist, Drag Queen Make-Up Artist, Eye Treatment Specialist tinting and threading, Bridal & Fashion Hair Stylist, Fashion Event Manager, Production management, Props designer, Creative Director. Can I travel abroad and work as a makeup artist? If you want to travel as a make-up artist all you need are your skills, an international qualification, your kit and Bon Voyage!

7 GETTING CERTIFIED There are a variety of awarding bodies in the make-up industry but the key accreditations are those that offer the most practical hands-on experience. The key accreditations available at LA College of Creative Arts are as follows: ITEC: ITEC is the leading international awards organisation for qualifications in customer service, beauty and spa, hairdressing, complementary therapy, and sports and fitness. Founded in 1947, ITEC s impeccable reputation helps graduates secure employment opportunities the world over, thanks to the rigid quality assurance and high standards supporting the qualifications. SQA: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is the national accreditation and awards body for vocational qualifications across Scotland. The SQA works with schools, colleges, universities and commerce to deliver high quality, flexible and relevant qualifications.