Have you ever felt there was something great you needed to do? I started out as a makeup artist on April 26, 2011 after completing an 8-week course at the Face Place Institute. I then did my first wedding on June 13, 2011, my co-worker.
Fast forward to seven years and I've been doing so much retrospection.
Am I supposed to be farther along in my journey? How can Nadz Makeup be set apart from the other #jamaicanmakeupartists?
Here's what I have realized that nobody tells you:
1. You need to know that makeup artistry is what you really want to do #makeuplove #makeuppassion
It should never be about the money but because you love it. It helps if its your passion. I was asked why makeup? I remember growing up and I loved the glitz and glamour and all things girly. From high school, my aunt had this cosmetology book that I would bury myself in when I would visit her. I would skip through with images of 90s makeup and hair. I was like wow how do they get the makeup to look like that? From then I knew it was something I wanted to do. What is driving you?
2. Have a plan #beabossbabe
Looking back, I started because it was something I loved but after having increased my knowledge I see the value of planning. It is a business you should treat it as such. Sit and develop a business plan to incorporate important issues such as: where you are, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what are the opportunities and threats that exists, who are my competitors, how do I market my business, will I be able to make money - what do my financial projections look like?
3. You need to be emotionally and physically ready for the entrepreneurship journey
Dealing with clients can be daunting. There are some who are lovely, others are downright difficult. If you are not grounded it is quite easy to step off the line and into the unprofessional zone. Patience is a virtue and is critical to build a reputation of professionalism. There are days when you will literally need to bite your tongue.
4. Marketing is serious business
Gone are the days when you relied only on your physical branding materials such as your business cards and flyers. Certainly when I started in 2011 business cards and flyers were good to have. Today, you become irrelevant and lost in the sea of makeup artists if you don't make an effort to ensure a presence on social media. Facebook pages, Instagram, Twitter and Snap Chat are all needed to be relevant. If you are a bridal artist it would be good to have a website, get listed on sites like Wedding Wire or linked with wedding planners who have a great presence in the industry.
Did I mention the need for branding? Yass honey.... did you know that having a logo, colour palette, typography and how you display images consistently creates an image in the minds of your target market? The next thing to know is to know who you are targeting.
5. Time Management (insert crickets chirping here)
How many times have you scheduled a bridal party and yet there wasn't enough time to complete all the 5 faces on time? Here's an easy tip: Allot at least 45 minutes to bridesmaids and maximum 1 hour and 15 minutes for the bride. Arrive an half hour before the start time. Over 5 faces, bring an additional artist with you
6. Do you - never compare yourself
I sometimes fall in the trap...and still do. You scroll through Instagram and see everybody living their best life and booked a year in advance. You sink into a pity party about where you are and how your work should look. Girl you are right where you need to be. Slow progress is still progress. The right people will find you. What you need to do is practice and hone your skills. Focus on what you think needs to be improved and work on it until you get it right. Take additional masterclasses with the makeup artists you admire. There's no written rule that your work must look like everybody else's though. Carve your own path, make your own lane, create that signature look. After all there is no traffic in the lane you create. The pics below show my progress over the 7 years in business. The first picture was my very first bride so you you get my gist? Do you, every expert was once an amateur.
What other things have you discovered about makeup artistry in your journey? Leave me a comment below and don't forget to share!