Trying to be a professional makeup artist. Some challenges that beginner makeup artist can face in L

The Makeup industry in one of the fastest growing industries nowadays. More and more new makeup brands appear and more and more people want to work in this industry. All mass media is about makeup, especially YouTube. There are so many makeup bloggers and you-tubers sharing their skills and information about makeup which attracts more people every day. That’s what happened to me three years ago when I moved to LA. Because I spent a lot of time at home( I did not have job at that moment), I was watching YouTube. The first makeup you-tuber I started watching was Lisa Eldridge. She really inspired me, I have watched all her videos about makeup and beauty and of course I decided to do makeup myself. I started buying some new makeup products, before I did not even know how to fill in my brows. I started from drugstore makeup. At that point even this was something new for me. Of course right now I shop all the time in Sephora, and other professional makeup stores like Nigel's. But back than drugstore makeup was a good start. My husband saw my interested in makeup and suggested why not to do makeup as a career. He thought and still thinks I have good skills for this and makeup passion etc. Well, I decided why not, since we are in Los Angeles, biggest movie industry place, I will find job easily. There are so many makeup schools here and celebrity makeup artists who give lessons , there is always a choice.

Of course I did some research and decided to choose one of the best makeup schools and also one of the most affordable Cinema makeup school. I thought my dreams about makeup artist career will come true, and I would easily become a famous makeup artist here in Hollywood, since there are so many opportunities. I did not have any background in makeup, that’s why the makeup school gave me a great insight into the industry and craft itself. I understood a lot about hygiene and makeup storage; however in school they did not teach a lot about beauty makeup technique it was more about basic makeup. Definitely YouTube was my friend, I have learned a lot from it. But I am still very grateful that I went to makeup school in Hollywood, it was a great experience for me, just meeting teachers and other students (some of them were already well established artists in their countries, they just needed a Hollywood degree), made my experience so awesome.

What happened after graduation? All full of hopes and dreams I thought here I come, now all doors are opened and I will find a good job. But you know there is a saying it is not about what you know it is about who u know. In this specific industry this rule works pretty much accurate. Even to get a job in Sephora or MAC you need to know someone. Well in the beginning I thought I could find a job myself, just by using Craigslist. Believe me or not this did not work in the end. Since I did not have any experience working on the set and my portfolio was very poor, I have tried to get any job, working for free just to build my portfolio. Not only it was hard to find a job working even for free, everyone also wanted you to drive to the specific locations, spend your time and money on gas, and sometimes they did not even give pictures in good resolution or photo shopped. This is very frustrating experience. After some time those photographers started reaching me themselves, but they still wanted me to work for free. Well I did not have other option as to agree. But during one photo shoot where I came, spent my time, used my materials etc, I saw that everyone was drinking coffee or iced tea and it was a really hot day, no one suggested me even water. I was dripping with sweat, working hard for two hours on the heat for free, but not even water for a poor makeup artist. After this I decided no jobs for free, no one appreciates this; no one even cares to invite you to the next photo shoot even though they liked your work. The main reason is that they will find another beginner naive makeup artist who will do the same job for free, they do not need to care about you.

As I said more and more people are interested in makeup now because of YouTube. You can see that even girls working in regular cafeterias have nicely done makeup. This is this trend nowadays. Everyone wants to know how to do makeup. That’s why there are so many makeup schools, so many students graduate from them every month with no experience and no portfolio. Ten years ago only a couple people worked in this industry. Now of course they are celebrity makeup artists, they made their way through. But what should all those beginners do today, all photographers are so spoiled today, they do not want you to pay, to buy you even a coffee, they want you to drive to their location, spend your time and makeup and everything for free. This does not makeup much sense. Good luck to you guys who still want to do makeup not having any connections in the industry. Maybe some of you will be lucky and will get a paid job, but as I said before it is all about whom you know even if it is one person in the industry, you still might have a chance.

I do not encourage anyone to not pursue their dreams. If you work hard one day you will reach your goal. If you have a talent one day you might meet someone who will appreciate it. But the main thing is not about talent is about your personality and how well you get along with people and make friends. That’s the key to success in this industry. Talent also develops with practice. If you do makeup 5 times per day, of course you will finally learn how to do it. So dear friend this is my look on the makeup industry in Los Angeles. Of course I would be more than happy to hear your thoughts maybe some of you have similar experience. For now, I will finish this article because it is already a lot to read. Good luck to everyone and despite all stay positive. That’s the key.