In studio portraiture, the makeup artist and photographer almost always work together. This tandem has existed in professional model photography for a long time. A makeup artist is not a stylist, not a hairdresser. When photographing models, you simply cannot do without his services. And the better the mutual understanding between the photographer and the makeup artist, the better the result of their work will be. That is why these two specialists need to discuss in advance, even before starting to work with the model, all the details of this work, all the little things and nuances that may arise when photographing.

The model usually chooses her hairdresser herself, and arrives at the photo shoot with a ready-made hairstyle. Many of them even have their so-called “own” hairdresser. But a makeup artist is needed directly in the studio; he must do his work right before the start of shooting, and sometimes even during the photography process. Only in this case the result will be successful.

A good makeup artist will always be able to give a model a unique look.

Many people think that a makeup artist is just a makeup artist, that he can, guided by the rules of color correction, knowledge of skin types, face types and many other professional skills, create a unique, spectacular image for a model. In addition to all this, a good makeup artist can hide defects in the model’s skin and emphasize the characteristic features of the face (and not only the face) of the person being portrayed. A true master of his craft will be able to carefully, in detail work out every little detail, every millimeter of the model’s skin. A highly qualified makeup artist, in addition to everything already said, knows perfectly well the properties of all visualization tools without exception, their textures both in studio light and in the light of photo flashes.

Naturally, a good makeup artist is not just a person who has completed a month-long makeup artist course. A good makeup artist is an experienced specialist. And the courses teach only the very basics, the fundamentals of this most complex profession. Well, for example, only standard makeup application schemes. A good makeup artist, in addition to a huge amount of knowledge, must also have a lot of practice, a skill that comes with age. Only a master with extensive experience will be able to delve into and understand all the nuances of the interaction of light and shadow.

Is a conflict or dispute possible between a makeup artist and a photographer?

In practice, unfortunately, such cases also occur. For what reason can disagreements arise between a photographer and a makeup artist? Well, for example, this is the situation. Makeup artist Ivan spends a lot of time and effort to create a specific image for model Tatyana. And photographer Stepan tells Ivan that this image doesn’t suit Tatyana at all. That you need to do everything completely wrong.

That is why we recommend, in order to avoid such conflicts and mutual misunderstandings, the day before starting work, make at least a few sketches and coordinate them with each other. In such work, visibility is necessary. In words, orally, all the little things cannot be discussed and conveyed. And one more important detail. The photographer must notify the makeup artist in advance about how long the photo shoot will last. This is necessary so that the makeup artist is better prepared for it and properly prepares the model for photography.

When working with a novice makeup artist who has not previously worked on photo shoots, the photographer needs to warn the beginner about some of the features of such work. Well, for example, that the tone should be applied not only to the face and neck, but also to the décolleté area, and even completely to the arms and, moreover, to the legs, if you plan to shoot a full-length model. Otherwise, the photographer will have to spend a very long time correcting the color of these areas in graphic editors.

Naturally, the work of a professional makeup artist is expensive. But the amount requested by a makeup artist is not always an indicator of his skill. That’s why, before agreeing to work together, if you don’t know this person, it would be a good idea to ask him to show his own portfolio.

Success means having time to do everything! What does a makeup artist need to do to achieve fame, recognition, and wealth? How to become a sought-after makeup artist, with whom it is difficult to make an appointment even two or three months in advance? Secrets of development in the beauty industry. Read further in the article for 20 practical recommendations!

The profession of a makeup artist can provide earnings no less than that of show business stars.
VIP clients, prestigious makeup courses, master classes, shows, exhibitions...

How to become a famous, successful, rich makeup artist?

1. Study, study and study again. You need to master basic salon makeup techniques at a professional level - this knowledge and skills can provide a stable income for a makeup artist at weddings, graduations, birthdays, and photo shoots. When you want to go beyond the narrow confines of salon makeup, when the need arises to create more complex, interesting, creative works, you need to go through training from 1-2 best makeup artists in your city (country). If makeup courses to improve your professional level are chosen correctly, then you will have the opportunity to create complex conceptual works that can attract famous photographers, magazine publishers, and famous fashion designers.

You need to develop professionally, regularly attend interesting make-up master classes. Even if it seems to you that you are already fluent in all the stated techniques that will be demonstrated at the MK, there may be useful “tricks”, secrets, personal discoveries of the makeup artist-speaker that you can use to add to your knowledge base. Be sure to go to MK with clean makeup templates and colored pencils to record the stages of creating each makeup look, write down important moments, “insights,” ideas, valuable nuggets of knowledge.

Makeup artist Olga Osadchieva, Kharkov. Advanced training in MK on complex makeup schemes using pencil technique with Taisiya Vasilyeva.

2. Lots and lots and lots of practice. If you don’t yet have a large client base that allows you to do at least 3 commercial make-ups a week - invite beautiful models and practice on them, improve your skills, polish your professional skills, develop new ideas and makeup sketches. Why is it best to practice on outside models, and not on sisters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers? Because, firstly, the invited models in the future can become your clients, because they will actually recognize the hand of the master and, when necessary, will use your services. Secondly, beautiful models are the pearls of a professional makeup artist portfolio! Be sure to take photographs or invite photographers to capture your work! To search for models, create an album “Models for Makeup” on your VKontakte page or group and announce it from time to time so that interested girls add their photos there.

Makeup artist Olga Osadchieva. In the photo is model Sofia Martsenyuk, who uploaded the photo to the album “ Looking for models"and was invited to shoot with fashion photographer Svetlana Mikulina.

3. Don’t skimp on cosmetics and brushes, especially at the beginning of your professional journey. It is better to save up and acquire the necessary minimum of high-quality cosmetics and branded brushes than to buy a lot of cheap palettes, mascara that curls up in lumps and crumbles, an inexpensive selection of brushes that do not hold their shape and create dirt on the face, toners of dubious quality (this “sludge” is a foundation) "you can't name it). Remember that professional cosmetics is the image of a makeup artist, it is a good reputation, it is, in the end, peace of mind and a clear conscience that the makeup done will last until the end of the banquet and longer: if the client sleeps with makeup on, she will look the same even on the second day Cool! Cosmetics and the case with which you come, brushes and the case in which the brushes are stored, even your appearance, the cleanliness and neatness of your clothes are very significant in shaping the impression of the client.

A make-up artist's paradise - a lot of professional cosmetics, the Atelier palette, a free choice of colors, shades, various textures and products.

4. Take part in competitions and exhibitions for makeup artists. Believe in yourself, take risks and win. Each competition is a small step towards success and popularity, an incentive to become better, an opportunity to show yourself and look at others. In the preparation of a competition entry, a professional trainer-make-up artist is very important, who helps create an impeccable image, guides, advises, helps correct mistakes, and promotes professional growth. Participation in competitions always involves large financial costs, training, preparing an image, purchasing additional cosmetics, brushes, decorative elements, accessories, outfits, etc. The game is worth the candle if, in addition to awards and diplomas, you take away from the competitive arena new knowledge, experience, useful connections and a high-quality portfolio. Take the trouble to invite a photographer who will photograph the backstage of the preparation of your competition image, and then conduct an individual photo session for your model.

Use the development algorithm below, activate the mechanisms of wealth, success, and financial well-being.

5. How to become a rich makeup artist? You need to engage in financial planning, control your budget, clearly record income from makeup and expenses on cosmetics. After you have invested money in your profession, completed training, bought the necessary cosmetics and brushes for work, follow the algorithm for wealth and development: spend 10% of your total income on advertising, no more than 30% on purchasing materials, and on professional growth ( competitions, advanced training, master classes) 20% of total income. The rest of the income is for living.

Helpful tips: do not buy unnecessary cosmetics that are rarely needed for work. Do not take more money to cosmetics stores than you will need to buy everything you need on the list. It's hard to resist buying something new and cool that you could do without. You need to experiment with the cosmetics that you already have, especially in creating creative images - using lipstick, eyeliner, mascara for other purposes (for example, when creating a creative image, you can paint several curls or part of the face with a bold, bright-colored lipstick or do it with using mascara to create “shaggy” fashion eyebrows).

An example of art makeup in which cosmetics are used for other purposes: lipstick on the hair, glitter on the highlights of the cheekbones. Makeup of a student in class ‘ ‘.

6. Chat, make friends, collaborate with other makeup artists, hairdressers and photographers. Exchange of orders, assistance in force majeure situations, joint planning of a busy work schedule... most importantly, do not forget to thank the partners who “share” orders with you. By maintaining friendly relations with the leading makeup artists of your city, you will be able to pick up new trends, techniques, makeup technologies, share ideas, ask directly “how was this made?”, “where did you buy it?”, “how to find this model?”...

7. Agree to interesting non-commercial projects, especially if you are promised high-quality photographs for your portfolio or publication in magazines or popular blogs. The world is a small place, everything happens for a reason, useful connections are always needed. However, be vigilant when working as a TFP makeup artist for photo shoots. Before giving your consent, carefully review the photographer’s work, style, color rendering, and ability (or inability) to take high-quality portraits. Discuss in advance with the photographer how many processed photos and in what time frame you will expect, how the photos will be signed on social networks (for example, Makeup Artist: First Name Last Name Group Link), whether your logo will be indicated on the photo. Do not allow yourself to be used as free labor, refuse projects where all participants (organizers, photographers) have their own commercial benefit, and they want to leave you without a fee. Respect your work, time and expensive materials as a professional makeup artist.

Fantasy makeup “Pomegranate” with large decorative shapes.
Makeup artist Olga Osadchieva
Photographer Alexey Osadchiev

8. Portfolio - the face of a makeup artist. Properly sort your best works into albums and write descriptions. If you are a beginner makeup artist, then the photographs that will make up your first professional portfolio are educational work done during makeup courses or individual lessons with a makeup stylist. The most prestigious makeup courses provide the service of compiling a basic portfolio of educational work, inviting a professional photographer at the end of each practical lesson.

Update and expand your portfolio. Become a strict judge of what you are going to publish. Instead of posting a series of similar photos of dubious quality for your subscribers to see, choose 1-2 of the best photos and send them to a professional magazine-quality retoucher for professional processing. Add to your portfolio only high-quality work done on attractive, watchable models that you like and admire. Believe me, no one cares what beautiful makeup you did for Baba Klava, but everyone will appreciate your masterpiece performed on the first beauty of the city, even if it was a non-commercial TFP makeup for which you did not receive a penny. On social networks, be sure to tag models in your photos so that their friends can see your work in their news feeds. Ask models to repost from your group.

Makeup M&M’s or Vanilla chickenpox, work from the course ‘ ’
Idea, sketch: Olga Osadchieva, student: Irina Buryakovskaya
Photographer: Alexey Osadchiev
Jewelry: Yana Lynx
Retouching: Oksana Gordienko
Model: Anastasia Shportyak

9. Create an electronic book of reviews. Ask clients to “drop a few words” about you as a master, their impressions of the makeup you have done. Place screenshots of correspondence in which your clients and partners thank you in your reviews book. Feedback with clients is the consolidation of opinions about your work on a verbal level, the establishment of trusting relationships with future clients!

10. Don’t forget to congratulate your clients, partners, subscribers on their birthday, New Year, March 8th. Congratulate the brides on their marital anniversaries. Without spam, unobtrusively remind about yourself, then people will more often need your services as a makeup stylist.

The good thing about working as a makeup artist at a wedding is that your services may be needed for family anniversaries, pregnancy photo shoots, discharge from the maternity hospital...

11. Start teaching. If you are making progress in your work as a makeup artist, then you have probably already accumulated enough knowledge and skills, secrets and “tricks” that you could teach to those who are interested and need it now! Creating an original course and learning makeup techniques is an important stage in your career growth. You should not wait for a favorable moment when the economic situation in the country improves, when you win all possible titles, medals, diplomas at makeup competitions, when you have the means to open your own luxury makeup studio with a European renovation in the city center. Perhaps, when all this happens, your courses will no longer be relevant, because thousands of other bolder and more confident makeup artists will be ahead of you.

Conduct an experiment - when doing commercial makeup before a photo shoot, wedding, graduation, or any other holiday, tell the client, among other things, that you have a very interesting course “Makeup for yourself”, in which you could teach her how to use cosmetics correctly, quickly and beautifully perform day and evening makeup yourself. If she likes your services as a makeup artist, then be sure that soon she will want to take the “Makeup for Herself” training from you - the main thing is to convey the information that there is such a service, that it is not difficult to organize, if she has the desire!

The Village continues to tell how the budget of people of different professions works. In the new issue - a makeup artist. A makeup artist's salary depends on his portfolio, the number of clients and the direction in which he works. Some choose beauty salons, other makeup artists work only at weddings, others conduct master classes or personal lessons, work on shows, filming, and television projects. The cost of makeup in a nude style is on average 2–5 thousand rubles, and you can get an individual consultation and analysis of a cosmetic bag for 5–10 thousand. We found out from a girl who gave up a career in IT for make-up seven years ago how much she earns and what she spends her money on.

Profession

Visagiste

Average income

100,000 rubles

Spending for the whole family

9,000 rubles

communal payments

4,000 rubles

40,000 rubles

products

15,000 rubles

entertainment

40,000 rubles

private kindergarten, tutors and clubs for children

4,000 rubles

cosmetics

12,000 rubles

gym

2,000 rubles

How to become a makeup artist

I graduated from Bauman Moscow State Technical University. After college, I had a good career: I worked in the distribution of computer components. Neither I nor my family considered makeup as a possible profession, but I always liked doing makeup and painting others. When I was on maternity leave, I decided to take a personal lesson from a makeup artist. I was impressed by how complex the science is, and a trip to the USA, where the industry is most developed, helped me finally decide on the choice of occupation.

My husband supported me from the very beginning. Mom and many relatives decided that I was leaving a good position to do “strange things.” After all, at first you have to invest a lot, they don’t take you seriously. But my husband is a golden man. He knows what a highlighter is, and when on a trip I want to buy some million-dollar jar, he says: “Of course, buy it!” Sometimes he watches RBC TV and remarks: “Look how bad her makeup is.” The husbands of makeup artists have no choice: they begin to understand makeup.

I have always approached everything thoroughly, which is why I chose a makeup school with long-term training and practice. The training cost 100 thousand rubles. I did pretty well along the way, but I had to work a lot for free. A blog helped in attracting clients: there I talked about how I was studying and posted my work. Back then Instagram was just gaining momentum, I opened an account and started putting together a portfolio.

I went to New York to study several times. A trip there will be very useful if you want to master the coolest techniques, spy on tricks and work with interesting brands of cosmetics. Even now, after seven years of work, I am constantly learning: reading, watching, going to master classes. Our profession does not allow stagnation: if you slow down, you will fall behind the locomotive.

Carier start

The first year I earned no more than 20–25 thousand rubles a month. The orders came from an announcement from a friend of mine who runs a fairly popular blog. Over time, my Instagram account also became popular. I realized how large a percentage of the audience comes through social networks when I was in the hospital. Then I wrote that I was temporarily not working, and no one called me for some period. Of course, customer recommendations are no less important. If you make up the bride beautifully, she will definitely tell her friend who is getting married about it.

I got my first television projects thanks to contacts from New York. The producer liked my responsibility, and he began to invite me to future projects. Now I recruit makeup artists myself. I don’t take part in photo shoots and commercial shoots very often, but I know makeup artists who almost constantly work in tandem with a photographer. There are also shows and fashion weeks, but this is more for the portfolio and does not bring in money.

After makeup school, it is best to go to work in the corner of some good cosmetic brand - Mac, Bobbi Brown, Nars. Then you immediately have access to a huge amount of cosmetics and a consistently large flow of people. You can test different products, train on people with different appearances, skin types and wishes. This is how your hand fills up in a few months. You can give a client a cool make-up in the store, then he will ask for your contact and become the first client. Another opportunity to start a career is to write to a photographer and, if he likes it, work together on a shoot. You can also become an assistant to an experienced makeup artist, and after a while he will begin to share orders.

Features of work

A makeup artist's day can be super busy if the shoot starts at seven in the morning and ends at three in the morning. Or when at 06:00 - the first bride, at 09:30 - the second, and in the evening there are also private clients. Or prepare 20 people for a corporate event from 10:00 to 17:00, and then conduct a personal lesson.

A makeup artist is the person with whom a wedding or shoot begins. If he is late, everything else will move. You can’t be late, so I always play it safe and leave my country house two hours before.

I had a case when the show was held on a ship, and it sailed at nine in the morning. The day before I was struck down by rotavirus - I couldn’t move away from the toilet, let alone get to the ship. I had to urgently look for one of my colleagues. This is your area of ​​responsibility: if something happens to you, you need to find a specialist no worse than that, otherwise word of mouth will quickly change its tone. Then my friend snapped and went instead of me.

When I first started, I thought that working as a freelancer would allow me to do everything. But now it often happens like this: “Oh, what a good fee,” “Oh, my beloved regular client,” “Oh, what an interesting project.” As a result, I work five days, 12–14 hours, and arrive at the end of the week and hear: “Mom, we forgot what you look like.”

Choosing a Niche

Makeup artists can choose a direction of work for themselves: wedding makeup, TV project, commercial shooting, and so on. Some, for example, position themselves exclusively as makeup artists for brides or work mainly at destination weddings abroad. This kind of work is not for me: I have two small children, but I have been to destination weddings a couple of times. Of course, they are paid better; flights, accommodation and meals are included in the price. In two days you can get at least 30 thousand rubles.

Another part of my work is personal training. I give my students basic knowledge on decorative cosmetics. The girl comes with her makeup bag, we sort it out: we understand what is suitable, what is not suitable, and what needs to be purchased in addition. I try to ensure that the girl leaves not only with an understanding of how to apply foundation correctly, what a makeup base is and how to paint her lips correctly. I want that when a consultant comes up to her in the store and says: “Oh, you don’t have a primer? Take it urgently,” she replied: “Calm! I have moisturizer." I try to adapt to my students. If a client comes with a makeup bag the same size as mine, then we can have time to work on eyeliner, smokey eyes, red lipstick and a bunch of other things. But 80% of clients only have mascara and the wrong foundation in their makeup bag. It happens that my makeup artists themselves “pump up” - a colleague from Finland recently came.

Of course, there is competition in our field, but the stories are different. For example, if I can’t come to a regular client and send a colleague in my place, who in the end the client likes better, then what’s the point of being offended? Competition makes it difficult for customers to choose. Nowadays, a bunch of tools - from Facetune to a ring lamp - allow you to change the final result. Sometimes the work in the photo looks simply magical, but in real life it differs significantly. But be that as it may, makeup artists should not publicly pour negativity on each other. In this sense, we need to take an example from the American community, where everyone praises the work of their colleagues. In our country, it is very rare for a top makeup artist to approach another and mark the work. Although I personally have many friends who are makeup artists: we help each other out, share new products, and sometimes clients.

Difficulties

Freelancing is not always a convenient schedule. This is a frankly heavy suitcase with cosmetics that you carry on yourself. It’s good that I have a car; those who don’t, pour cosmetics into small jars so that it’s not so heavy. But here you need to understand that the client pays not only for the end result, but also for the surroundings. Apply with Tom Ford lipstick, not with a brush from a plastic container.

Sometimes makeup artists think of themselves as artists and condescend to their clients. I try to remember that I work in the service industry. At first, when you are just building up a name and a base, you may come across all sorts of people. Today, all my clients go for makeovers that they see on my social networks, and do not ask to “make an extravaganza”, which I will not do.

Experience comes with the first joints. Often a person has unlearned, found a win-win combination, he is very confident in himself, takes out his favorite shadows - and bam, it no longer looks beautiful on a particular person. The young makeup artist is lost and begins to urgently think about how to fix everything. An experienced makeup artist always analyzes first.

Communication with customers

You need to be able to communicate competently with the client so that he does not see frightened eyes and shaking hands. The better a makeup artist can speak, the easier it is for him to work. It is important not only to paint, but also to tell what you are doing, although if the client does not want to communicate, it is important to shut up in time.

For a bride, the best day of her life begins with me. I can’t let her remember how her aunt came to her with a dirty head and in a bad mood. By the way, in the beauty industry everyone is judged by their clothes. You can't look like an accountant. And one more rule: all cosmetics must be perfectly clean.

There will definitely be those who don’t like the way they were painted. It is important to remember that makeup is still a subjective thing. Let’s say you didn’t manage to feel the client to the end, but this is not a reason to move on to a showdown. Makeup can always be corrected - this is not tattooing or hair coloring.

I had a funny incident when I was painting a designer: she was under substances and perceived colors distorted. Therefore, when I took golden eyeshadow, she said: “Purple doesn’t suit me.” There were actresses with a hangover, but here everything was simpler. When working with celebrities, it is important to remember that these are people who have little time, and during makeup they have a hundred more things to do. Therefore, the task of a makeup artist is to contrive, but crawl up and carefully apply makeup while the person is doing his business. One time my client fell asleep, I put a pillow under her head and finished her makeup.

Income

When I was a product manager, one of my tasks was monitoring prices. If I monitored makeup prices in Moscow, I would have to work hard. There is makeup for both 3 thousand and 20 thousand. There is Gohar Avetisyan for 40 thousand rubles. But Elena Krygina is no longer a makeup artist, she is an entrepreneur and a driving force who has made a great contribution to the popularization of the profession.

Today the cost of my services is slightly higher than the average in Moscow. On-site makeup costs from 5 to 7 thousand rubles, depending on the day of the week. If you also need to do styling - from 8 to 10 thousand rubles.

For a day of filming on TV, my usual rate is 15 thousand rubles. If some projects are very interesting to me, I can give a discount. A personal lesson costs 10 thousand rubles. If I give a master class, my fee varies from 15 to 25 thousand rubles, depending on the number of participants. Previously, I also did eyebrows, but now I have a studio where girls work, whom I taught everything. Eyebrow correction and tinting is a very good skill for a makeup artist. If you don’t have a job, you can do eyebrows and earn a normal amount in a day.

The average income of a makeup artist in Moscow is 100 thousand rubles. Wedding makeup artists can earn up to 300 thousand per month in high season. My income is quite stable and equal to the market average, but sometimes I work less than I could because I try to devote time to my children.

Expenses

We live in the Moscow region, in a three-room apartment. We pay 9–10 thousand rubles a month for utilities. We buy food at “Your House”, sometimes some tasty things at “Azbuka”, something at the Danilovsky market, but at the same time in our house there is “Pyaterochka”, which we also go to. A family of four costs 40 thousand rubles.

A private kindergarten costs 20 thousand rubles per month. A tutor in Russian, mathematics and English, as well as classes with a functional training trainer - about the same amount. There are also computer programming courses for older children and equestrian courses for younger ones. Sometimes a nanny comes to us.

Entertainment is also mainly for children: some parks like KidZania, museums, excursions, although they also love cinema and restaurants. I think I’ll spend at least 15 thousand rubles on this.

We don’t have loans now, we even try to save, but not from my salary, but from my husband’s bonuses. My salary goes to current expenses and family needs.

I don’t have any free time, and when I have a minute, I sleep. Now most of our holidays are sponsored by my husband, but there was a period when my husband was left without work and I supported the family: although I worked very hard, we had enough for everything.

I buy beauty items every month. I can spend a thousand or 15 thousand - it depends.

Today was the first day of New York Fashion Week and I'm working for Maybelline again - I'm painting the Maybelline ambassadors who work in the bus in the main foyer. The work is simple, pleasant and profitable :)))
And I return to the answers to the eternal make-up questions :) This time - a question from Tatyana:

"Nastya, hello! I would like to ask you for advice. I live in Italy, now I have started to develop contacts with local photographers, although everything is somehow complicated here... I think you will understand me, since you also live abroad. Maybe You will think my question is stupid, but still)) How did you meet photographers? What’s better? Write to an email, ask to meet in person, or what?... I’m kind of at a loss. I wrote to agencies, but they don’t even answer. ..
By the way, it’s very common here for photographers to invite a makeup artist to a paid shoot for them, supposedly to evaluate how he works. I'm just at a loss - it's just that every first photographer does this! I just give up..."

Eh, Tanya! How familiar are all these feelings to me! During these four and a half years that I have been living in the USA, only the last year can be considered truly productive. In the sense of career-work. At the same time, let me remind you that I have an additional advantage - I know the technique of body painting, unlike many of my colleagues, so I can carry out unique orders. Therefore, today I will try to tell you with examples from personal experience how to speed up your entry into the industry of a new country. I will try to choose general points that I think will work everywhere. Although there are specifics in each country and there are a lot of differences between Italy and the USA.

The points:

1. You will need three to five years of full-time work in a new country to build a career as a makeup artist. ( my count, no guarantees)
2. Most likely, your portfolio will not correspond to the new market and will need to be almost completely rebuilt.
3. You need web website, meeting the requirements of the new market in the appropriate language + English, for example, Italian + English.
4. It is necessary to explore the possibilities of social Internet activity in a new country. Social networks and some events, parties in “real life”.

To write or not to write to photographers? My answer is yes, write. You can attach several photos of your Internet resolution to your email to show off your work and indicate your website. I also have this trick. I collected several of my works without retouching, mainly beauty and close-ups. I show them to the photographer when I contact him to show my level of work. I absolutely know that many photographers do not like to work with new makeup artists, because they are afraid that they will ruin the shoot. I have already heard such stories - they say, the makeup artist does good work in the book, but on the shoot everything was very bad - uneven tone, crooked lips and eyeliner... Elementary, Watson - what we see in the book and on the website - work after retouching. I heard a story about how one photographer had to retouch his makeup for several months, practically “painting” it all over again - after an unsuccessful meeting with a makeup artist! No wonder photographers are cautious! And more about photographers. Everyone is interested in what you can, as they say in America, put on the table. That is, what are your ideas and do you have a team that will help implement it. Make sure you have prepared versions of mood boards and stories that you can implement as a makeup artist. If in your letter you write that you know a manicurist, hairdresser, etc. - which will help you realize the whole story - this will increase your chances of success. And about the tactics of communicating with the photographer. I write once - I don’t like to impose. Many, of course, do not answer. But there are guys who attack photographers with artillery frequency - they write e-mails, comments on social networks, and are constantly showered with compliments and willingness to work. And this tactic ultimately works - many photographers I know gave in to annoying applicants. True, as a rule, the acquaintance did not last long - such annoying people are given a chance with reluctance, out of necessity, and any mistake is a guarantee that he will not be invited again :) In general, decide for yourself, the main thing is to compare your portfolio, as they say. Don't try to jump too high. Unless...you're willing to pay the photographer! Yes, this is also a method and a very effective one - you pay the photographer for his work, receiving as a result photographs for the portfolio and the image of the makeup artist who worked with the Etakani Photographer (after all, no one knows that you paid). I would love to use a paid method of meeting a photographer, but at the time when I needed it, I simply didn’t have that kind of money :) In the USA, a shoot of this kind can cost from 750-1000 dollars (this, of course, is exclusively the photogaf’s rate) .
You must have yours with you Business Cards. It is not forbidden for a makeup artist to have a card with information on one side and a beautiful picture on the other. Ideally, this should be a graphic closeup; the more interesting the execution, the more intrigue. This picture on the back of Julie Begin’s business card, I know, “catches” many:

About the agency. Of course, it is a huge illusion to hope that you, a new person in a foreign country, will be of interest to the agency. They need professionals with their own client base, this is the main interest of the agency. There is no point in taking on someone unknown but talented; an agent can keep you in mind for several years, watching your growth, and at a certain point - get in touch. But - not before you start earning properly) But you can get a job as an assistant at an agency and work with the makeup artists represented, receiving little money - but this is very interesting! Assisting is the best school for a makeup artist. If I lived in Italy, I would ask to be Linda Cantello's assistant :)
In America it’s like this: every agency has a drop-off clock: at this time, any professional can bring his portfolio and leave it at the agency for review. You can leave a note that you are a job seeker as an assistant for makeup artists in the note on the first page.
Be socially active- go to parties, parties, especially events organized by cosmetics brands - MAS does this, for example. Well, don’t forget the Internet - create a page on Facebook that will be dedicated to your work, comment on your friends and colleagues. Find it. what other resources are available - there are social networks for beauty industry workers. There used to be such a popular site Model Mayhem, but at some point I stopped even going to it - there are too many low-level models, makeup artists, etc., the real pros are getting lost. There are other social networks that are popular in different regions. I've heard many stories about a fashion bank, a social network for stylists. Usually everyone complains that all sorts of spam comes through it and vonnabiz models ask for a photo shoot. So I can tell you that in American networks everything is the same! But sometimes something works.

If you live in Europe, don't limit yourself to one country - you can and should go to all European fashion weeks, work in London and Paris, even if you live in Milan. It's not easy, but the path is still the same, through agencies. Write to agencies that represent famous makeup artists in Paris and London - at some point it will work!

And further. Let's just throw away all illusions. Do you think everything was perfect, rosy and simple for me in New York? As soon as I arrived, clients and magazines came running to me asking me to work for them? How many free shoots have I done and am still doing? Dozens. And I can’t use all the results on the website and portfolio, unfortunately. There are clients who still haven’t and won’t pay me back - I was simply used because of my inexperience. How often did I have to carry heavy suitcases in the subway and along slushy streets, because I needed to earn those damn 200 dollars, and there was no way to spend money on a taxi. Now I can boast about interesting projects and magazines and earn good money from my work. However, all this was not as easy as it might seem to the readers of my LJ :) Let's be realistic - a career requires hard work even in your home country! I can only wish my colleagues who have moved a lot of strength and patience. Just like myself :)

Makeup artist is one of the most popular modern women's professions. How to become a master in the beauty industry and open your own small business? Vladlena Kaminskaya, a wedding makeup artist, will tell us about this. She not only works in the beauty industry herself, but also passes on her knowledge to others in her own courses. How did she start her career and turn from an ordinary master into a teacher and one of the most sought-after specialists in her field?

Main points of the interview

• Type of activity: makeup artist and makeup courses
• Business location: Russia, Kaliningrad
• Occupation before starting a business: bartender-administrator
• Date of start of business activity: 2011
• Organizational and legal form of doing business: individual entrepreneur
• Initial investment amount: RUB 10,000.
• Source of initial capital: own savings
• Payback period: 2 months
• Formula for success: You need to demand an ideal result from yourself, always invest money and time in your training and improve.

Hello, Vladlena! Tell our readers about what you do?

Hello! I deal with beauty in the broadest sense of the word: make-up, body art, hairstyles, hair extensions and straightening, stage makeup, etc. In addition to the fact that I work myself as a makeup artist, I also teach my own courses on makeup.

Who were you before you started working in the beauty industry? What education do you have?

I started working when I was 15 years old. Before becoming a makeup artist, she tried herself in various professions: she was a telephone operator, a waitress, a bartender-administrator, and also studied at college, and then at university. By education I am an accountant-economist. Last job was as a bartender-administrator in a restaurant. Having worked in this position for almost two years, I was already thinking about building a career in public catering - I wanted to become a manager, then a manager. I liked the profession of an administrator: constant contact with people, communication with guests and employees gave me great pleasure. I made every effort, but the bosses did not notice them. This often happens - when you are a hired employee, management takes your work for granted, and for any shortcomings there are fines and angry looks. I lacked encouragement to be seen and appreciated for my efforts. So I began to think about a radical change in activity and accidentally saw an advertisement for makeup courses.

How long ago did you become a makeup artist and did you immediately work for yourself? Tell us how you got started!

I started doing makeup three years ago and immediately started working for myself.

How did you start? First I completed the courses. Then I started practicing - doing free makeup for friends and everyone who wanted it. So I “killed two birds with one stone” - firstly, I got my teeth in and gained experience, and secondly, pretty soon people began to ask about the cost of my services. Word of mouth also kicked in, and just a month after I started, I already had my first fiancée. The more experience I gained and the more famous I became, the greater the demand and cost of my services. That's how I got to where I am now.

How did you find your models for free makeup?

What difficulties did you have at the beginning of your work? What worked right away and what didn’t?

The main difficulties were and remain related to my character. The fact is that by nature I am a perfectionist. I need everything to be perfect. Sometimes there is even such a situation - the client likes everything, but I am not completely satisfied with what I see. I want to achieve the perfect result in everything, and it was this perseverance that helped me achieve success. I see a flaw and correct it. Even if you have to redo everything. Every client is very important and valuable to me.

On the one hand, self-criticism is good, it helps me not to stand still, to develop, but sometimes it gets in the way a little.

Difficulties at the very beginning of the activity were associated with gaining experience. The work of a makeup artist is not as simple as it seems to ignorant people: you cannot do one standard makeup for all people, an individual approach is important. To become a professional, you need a lot of practice and time.

A significant part of your work is creating images for models at photo shoots. How did you get started doing this?

When I did makeup for the brides, they were, of course, photographed by photographers. I became friends with some, exchanged business cards and eventually began collaborating. Many people found me through the Internet. At the very beginning of my activity, I collaborated with beginning photographers - I needed experience, and they needed a free makeup artist. In general, at the beginning of my career, I worked a lot for free, and I still do it sometimes, but I gain experience, fame and a good portfolio.

How much did it cost you to open your business?

I find it difficult to name the exact amount. I remember that when I started I had in my arsenal:

1. Eyeshadow palette of 5 colors.
2. Three makeup brushes.
3. Two foundations.

Judging by today's prices for professional cosmetics, I would call the amount of 10,000 rubles the minimum starting capital.

What does this amount include?

The minimum that a novice makeup artist must purchase is:

1. Two foundations - one dark, the other lighter. All other shades will have to be obtained by mixing in accordance with the client's skin tone.
2. Makeup brushes.
3. At least 10 shades of eye shadow.
4. Base for foundation and eye shadow.
5. Highlighter, concealer and blush.
6. Mascara and eyeliner - regular black and colored.

But this, of course, is the minimum; later, during the work process, you will need to buy a lot more.

How to choose a brand of cosmetics and where to get it? Which one do you personally use?

I use decorative cosmetics from the Inglot and Kriolan brands. My brushes are from the Make-up Forever brand.

I mainly work with the Inglot brand. How did I choose her? I just walked around the city and looked at what was sold in stores and took samples. I settled on this brand because I was pleased with the quality, color saturation and the ability to assemble palettes at my own discretion, rather than buying ready-made ones, in which some items may simply not be needed. I haven’t changed this brand for three years, although I’m ready for experiments.

How quickly did you manage to get back what you spent?

Hard to say. Since I started with a minimal set of cosmetics, I spent all my first fees on replenishing my arsenal of makeup products. If I had immediately bought a suitcase of cosmetics, then I could have said...

We have already talked about what is needed to get started. What can you do without?

You can do without a lot - for example, without a makeup base, without a highlighter... And, for example, you can apply foundation with your fingers, and not with a sponge or brush... In general, you can shorten the list of what you need. But is it necessary? I wouldn’t recommend it, because 50% of a master’s success depends on the material he works with.

Let's talk about the courses you teach. Is it profitable, or is it a hobby?

I would say that it is both profitable and good for the soul. It’s a pleasure for me to pass on my experience to others, to see how my students succeed at something and with what enthusiasm they create... At such moments, I remember how I started myself.

Aren't you afraid to make competitors for yourself - your own students?

Vice versa! I consider them my “calling card”! I want to be proud of them, their successes. Probably my biggest nightmare would be if I heard somewhere: “What a horror! This is Vladlena Kaminskaya’s student!” Conversely, I will be happy if I hear positive feedback about their work.

Do you take everyone as students? In general, can anyone become a makeup artist?

I accept anyone who wants to become a student; I don’t arrange entrance exams. The main thing is desire. Of course, in the process it becomes clear that some people succeed right away, while others need to put in more effort. But “patience and work,” as they say... and everything will work out!

Anyone can become a makeup artist. But a good, professional craftsman is only one who has good taste, artistic abilities, and a strong creativity. But, in principle, with a strong desire, these qualities can be developed.

How did you start teaching? What do you need for this: premises, license, etc.?

When I already became famous in the city, and many clients appeared, some of them began to ask questions: could I teach them makeup, did I teach courses? As they say, “demand creates supply” and I thought - why not?

To conduct courses, you first need a room. I installed it right at home. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of proper lighting, comfortable tables and large mirrors, as well as the presence of high chairs for work. The latter are especially important - with them you do not need to constantly lean towards the model or client. My boyfriend helped me a lot in creating the studio. He, in accordance with my wishes, drew a floor plan and installed everything necessary.

The second thing you need to teach classes is a large assortment of cosmetics and brushes for your students. In my courses, I provide all the required material myself, rather than requiring students to bring their own.

You look great yourself. Tell me, how important is the appearance of a makeup artist for a client?

Thank you! I will say this: the appearance of a makeup artist with the right beautiful makeup is his calling card. But, alas, it is not always possible to look 100%. I believe that the main thing is to be well-groomed. I don’t always come to my clients with make-up and styling - I simply don’t have time for that. Clean hair, facial skin in good condition, neat manicure, stylish but simple clothes - that's all you need to look good. It is more important for me to make my client beautiful!

What does your work week look like?

On weekdays, I am more busy with my students or brides, for whom I do trial makeup and hairstyles (this can take a long time). In the evenings I usually work on photo shoots, creating various looks for models. Sometimes such filming can last until late at night. In general, the schedule for each week is unpredictable!

If from Monday to Thursday I can sleep longer in the morning, then Friday and Saturday mornings consistently begin with wedding makeup and the bride’s hairstyle. Sometimes I manage to serve several clients in one day.

I try to make Sundays a day off so I can spend it with my loved one, and since he is also a talented photographer who founded his own photography school, we often work together on set.

Note from the Moneymaker Factory: We invite you to read the interview with Anna Kondratieva, owner of the professional photo studio Leona Group

What is special about this business? Does it have a seasonality?

Yes, there is seasonality! Summer is the season of weddings, I would even say “wedding boom”! From June to September I am mainly busy with hairstyles and makeup for brides. In the fall, preparations begin for the celebration of Halloween, which is very popular in our city, and therefore during this period, in addition to weddings, I also do makeup and master classes for this day.

At the end of autumn, New Year's corporate events begin, which last until the end of December, and I do holiday hair and makeup for those who attend them. There are also usually various photo projects dedicated to the New Year - they also need a makeup artist, and I also collaborate with several local magazines and photographers when they need a stylist.

In January there is usually little work and I try to take a vacation. After the New Year, people usually have no money, and there are few reasons to do their hair and makeup. From the first days of February I already have students, and I deal mainly with them. In March-April people start getting married and I have brides again.

Are there conflict situations when clients don’t like the results obtained? What do you do in this case?

It is in order to avoid misunderstandings that I insist on doing pre-makeup for brides. I didn’t have any conflict situations with clients as such. If during work I see that a person is upset or doesn’t like something, I ask what’s wrong and try to fix it. It often happens the other way around: the bride says that everything is great, but because of my self-criticism, I see some shortcomings. After this, I have an unpleasant aftertaste in my soul, and I give the client some kind of bonus - for example, I do free hair styling.

A few words about advertising in magazines, including wedding ones. Yes, people see it and even remember it, but they react little. That is, in people’s subconscious my name as a wedding makeup artist remains, but it doesn’t always come to the point of picking up the phone and calling. This advertisement is more for prestige.

Many people find me via the Internet - I have my own group on the social network VKontakte -