Makeup artists have the opportunity to work in so many different areas. Career options vary from long-term jobs in television, with regular pay and benefits, to freelance jobs working on short-term runway, print, or film projects in a variety of locations and with a wide range of styles.
Artists generally work for a specific makeup line, teaching customers to choose and apply their own makeup. This job involves sales, and the compensation is often commission-based.
Working with brides is both rewarding and very demanding. You need to do consultations and a run- through in addition to the makeup on the day of the wedding. The job usually involves traveling to the bride’s location. Sometimes it will include doing makeup for the rest of the bridal party as well.
Makeup artists working in salons often find themselves in a teaching role. They do makeovers, help clients practice techniques, and are often called to do makeup for special events and weddings. Fashion and media work is sometimes booked through salons.
Working on a set involves creating character looks and might include anything from doing basic makeup to designing looks for elaborate characters, aging the actors, creating the appearance of illness, replicating injuries, and much more. Artists sometimes work for years on one television show. Careers generally begin with assistant positions in the industry. Artists develop books of their work and a resume. After gaining experience, artists are allowed to join a union, which provides opportunities, some job security, medical benefits, and a pension. Most television shows require makeup artists to have union membership.
Shooting a film can take just days or several months, sometimes in multiple locations. The film industry is hard to break into, but not impossible. Any large-budget film requires makeup artists to have union membership. Which union you should join will depend on the area of the country in which you are working.
Artists who work in this field are usually experienced in another aspect of the industry and have built a strong reputation either in print advertising or music videos.
Early in my career, I used to watch famous models correct the makeup I had done on their faces. The result was good-they always looked better, and I learned so much by watching
them.
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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.
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.
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.
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.