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The Most Profitable Services to Offer as a Makeup Artist

By Career Advice, Your Makeup Career No Comments

As a professional MUA, you undoubtedly want to offer your clients the widest range of services possible. With that in mind, it’s also important to focus on specific services that are more likely to attract more clients and generate a higher income for your business.

In this article, we will discuss 8 niche services to offer as a makeup artist this year. So, let’s jump in!

8 Makeup Business Services You NEED to Offer Clients This Year

2022 has only just begun. So, it’s time to start planning your business goals for the year! If you’re looking to attract more clients and increase your income, then you should start focusing on specific services to offer as a makeup artist.

Today, we’re specifically going to look at 8 specific niche services that you can offer your clients this year, to help grow your business:

  1. Bridal and bridal party makeup
  2. Bachelorette party makeup
  3. DIY workshops/makeup classes
  4. Mobile services
  5. Skincare consultations
  6. Hairstyling services
  7. Fashion styling services
  8. Virtual makeup services
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1. Bridal/Bridal Party Services

When it comes to makeup, there’s nothing more important than looking your best on one of the most important days of your life: your wedding day! As a professional MUA, you should absolutely offer bridal and bridal party makeup services.

For starters, you’ll help make sure that all the women in the bride’s party look their best, as well as the bride herself. Secondly, it can also be a lucrative source of income for your business. In fact, many brides are willing to pay a premium for quality services from a professional makeup expert!

Plus, in light of the pandemic, countless weddings will now be taking place this year. In the United States alone, there are over 2.6 million weddings planned for 2022. This means that the demand for bridal MUAs will be extremely high, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

The main takeaway?

If you’re looking to attract more clients and better your bottom line in 2022, start by offering bridal and bridal party makeup services!

2. Bachelorette Parties

While we’re on the topic of weddings, another great opportunity for makeup artists is to offer their services for bachelorette parties.

Nowadays, more and more women are choosing to celebrate their last days as a “single lady” with a party thrown just for them. And what’s the perfect way to complete the festivities? With professional makeup done by an expert!

Not only is it a great way to make some extra cash, but you’ll also be helping the bride and her squad look their best. As an added bonus, you can use these services as a way to get more clients for bridal/bridal party makeup parties. Because chances are, when the bride sees what a great job you did for her bachelorette party, she’ll be inclined to hire you for the big day itself.

So, if you’re looking for something fun to offer your clients this year, why not consider bachelorette parties? It’s sure to be a hit with ALL of your brides-to-be!

Bridal makeup application up close

3. DIY Workshops and Makeup Classes

One of the best ways to attract new clients and grow your business is by offering DIY workshops and makeup classes. Not only are these services a lot of fun for your clients; they’re also a great way for them to learn more about makeup and how to apply it themselves.

Plus, as the host of the workshop/class, you’ll be in a perfect position to market your other services to attendees. They’ll see you as an expert in all things makeup. In turn, they’ll be more likely to trust your recommendations and book future appointments with you.

Not to mention, it’ll increase your chances of class/workshop attendees recommending you to people they know as well! And as you know, word of mouth is one of the best forms of marketing there is. So, if your goal in 2022 is to attract more clients and take your business to the next level, start by offering DIY workshops and makeup classes to your customers!

4. Mobile Services

If you want your success to skyrocket this year, another thing we recommend is to offer mobile services. This means that instead of meeting your clients at a studio or salon, you’ll go directly to their homes!

In addition to being extremely convenient for both yourself and your customers, it’s also a great way to set yourself apart from other makeup artists in your area. After all, let’s face it: there are plenty of MUAs out there who offer similar services as you.

However, many of them might not have (or allow) the same flexibility. By providing this particular type of service, you’ll gain an edge over the competition and garner a lot more attention from potential leads!

The main takeaway? Mobile makeup services is one of many ways that you can provide added value for your customers. In terms of smart business-savvy moves you can make in 2022, this one should definitely be on your list!

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5. Skincare Consultations

One of the most lucrative services that a makeup artist can offer is skincare consultations. In fact, this particular service is so popular that it’s often in high demand, especially among women over 35 years old.

Why?

Because as we get older, our skin changes and requires different care and attention. This is where you come in! As an expert in all things makeup and skincare, you’re perfectly placed to help your clients find the best products and treatments for their individual skin type.

Not only will they appreciate your advice – they’ll also be more likely to book future appointments with you for additional skincare treatments. So, if you want to see a major increase in your income this year, start offering skincare consultations!

Become an International Skincare Consulting Professional (ISCP) in as little as 2-6 months by enrolling in QC Makeup Academy’s self-paced, online Skincare Course today!

6. Hairstyling Services

Another great way to make money as a makeup artist is by offering hairstyling services. After all, what good does it do if you can apply the perfect smoky eye… but your client’s hair looks like an absolute mess?

This is where you can come to the rescue!

With the help of your professional certification training, you’ll be an expert in all things beauty and styling-related. This means you’ll have the know-how needed to offer clients everything from updos for special occasions (such as weddings), to everyday styles that’ll keep their locks looking fabulous all day long!

So, why not add this service into your repertoire today? You’ll be surprised at how much extra cash these simple hairstyles can bring in. Not only that – this added service will also help build trust between yourself and future customers, since they’ll be getting such an amazing deal!

Plus, if they’re looking for someone who can do both makeup and hairstyling? You’ll be their first choice!

Guess what? QC Makeup Academy also offers hairstyling training, too! Learn everything you need to know about our Hair Styling Essentials Course here!

Creation of evening hairstyles fashionable stylish women's hairstyles. Hair styling process. Curls. Courses in hairdressing. Training hairdressing. Braiding hair.

7. Fashion Styling Services

Similar to hairstyling services, fashion styling is another great way to make money as an MUA. In fact, it’s often in high demand among celebrities and other high-profile individuals who need help with dressing for events or photo shoots.

As a professional makeup artist, you’ll have the skills needed to help your clients choose the right outfits that will reflect their personal style – whether they’re going for a classic or more daring look. You’ll also be able to provide helpful tips on how to accessorize their outfits for maximum effect!

So, if you want to expand your business to attract more luxury, high-paying customers this year, start offering fashion styling services! It could be just what you need to take your business to the next level.

You guessed it: QC Makeup Academy can get you internationally-certified as a fashion stylist, too! (Amazing, right?) Discover how our Fashion Styling Course will turn you into a Certified International Styling Professional (CISP™) in just a couple short months!

8. Virtual Makeup Services

The final service on our list is virtual makeup services. In fact, this particular type of offer has seen a major surge in popularity over the last couple of years… and for good reason!

Virtual makeup appointments are perfect for clients who want to try out different looks, without having to leave the comfort and safety of their home. You can even record yourself doing different styles so that your customers can take their time choosing which one they like best – before booking an appointment with you later on, down the line.

An added benefit of this service is that it drastically opens up your potential client reach. Instead of limiting yourself to customers in your local area, you’ll have the unique opportunity to book with people from all around the world! Could there be a better way to make your name a globally-known one and make your bookings go through the roof?!

As a professional makeup artist, virtual makeup services are a great way to show off your skills, attract new customers, and add another stream of income to your business. So, why not start offering them today? You may be surprised at just how popular they become!

In as little as 1 month (yeah, you heard us), learn everything you need to know from QC’s Virtual Makeup Training mini course to take your professional makeup services online!

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So, there you have it: 8 lucrative services that you can offer as a professional makeup artist in 2022. Not only are these services sure to help increase your income this year; they’ll also help build trust between yourself and future clients.

Which one(s) are YOU most excited to add to your business? Can you think of any others to add to this list?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! đź’•

Become an internationally-certified makeup artist in as little as 2-6 months by enrolling with QC Makeup Academy today!

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A Day in the Life of a Makeup Artist

By Education, Makeup Careers, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Dream of working in the beauty industry? Sounds like you’re destined to become a makeup artist! But what does a day in the life of a makeup artist actually look like?

We’re here to tell you!

All you need to do is sit back and relax. By the end of this article, you’ll have a pretty clear idea of what the day-to-day responsibilities of your dream career will look like. As a result, you can decide once and for all if this profession is truly the right one for YOU!

How Do You Train to Be a Makeup Artist?

First thing’s first: we have to talk about proper makeup training. After all, you can’t successfully start life as a makeup artist if you don’t properly know what you’re doing!

Now, the thing is, professional makeup is an unregulated industry – unless you aim to be a cosmetologist. This means that technically, you don’t need a certification or official designation in order to call yourself an MUA and work with clients.

But don’t get it twisted! If you don’t have a legitimate education under your belt, it’s going to be very hard to become successful. Here are just some of the biggest reasons why:

  • The right certification – such as those provided to graduates of QC Makeup Academy – will be internationally-recognized. Meaning, you’ll be able to work anywhere!
  • Proper training is the only true way to get the knowledge and subject-matter expertise needed to perform to the best of your abilities. Once you’ve graduated from your program, you can then elevate your skill-set through hands-on, real-world experience.
  • You’ll have a stronger grasp on the ways you can distinguish yourself from your local competition, which will better your booking ability and land you more clients.
  • Moreover, you’ll acquire an understanding of how to build your brand, hone your niche, set accurate service rates, and launch a functional business.
  • Clients won’t want to hire a makeup artist who isn’t certified (and therefore, credible). At the end of the day, it’s that simple!
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Picking The Right Makeup Course for YOU

Nowadays, you have COUNTLESS options at your disposal, both online and in-person. That said, in light of the ongoing pandemic, many have steered away from brick-and-mortar schools due to the potential health concerns they pose. One of the biggest lessons learned over the past 2 years is that distance learning offers more than a few perks for those wanting to pursue their education in a safe, convenient environment.

Because online schooling is the new normal these days, that’s what we’ll focus on in this article. However, if you’re someone who prefers learning in a physical environment, surrounded by your peers and instructor, that’s okay, too. In that case, we recommend that you do as much research as possible into the brick-and-mortar options available in your area.

Perks of an Online Makeup Course

In general, online schools cater to a wider range of people than in-person schools. For example, you’re granted the flexibility to access the same high-quality education – except you get to be in the comfort of your own home. Furthermore, distance learning is almost always cheaper than brick-and-mortar schools, since there are no physical campuses or buildings to maintain.

Another benefit is that many online schools offer self-paced training. QC Makeup Academy, for instance, gives you 2 full years to complete your makeup artistry program, starting on the date you enroll. That said, during that 2-year timeframe, you can dedicate as much or as little time to your studies as you’d like.

Let me put this into perspective… Many of QC’s graduates have been able to earn their certification and start their life as a makeup artist in as little as 2-6 months – simply be devoting a mere 1-2 hour per week to their studies!

Want to learn more about QC Makeup Academy’s self-paced, online courses? Here’s the full list!

Various makeup products on table, life as a makeup artist

How Many Hours Does a Makeup Artist Work Each Day?

What makeup artists do on a daily basis can vary, based on a number of different factors. For this reason, there’s no “clear cut” standard number of hours you’ll work every single day. One day, you could be swamped from morning to night; another day, you could be super busy just for an afternoon.

The Type of Job Will Affect Your Hours

The job you’ve booked, as well as how many clients you have on the go at a given time, will influence the number of hours that’ll have to go into the work. For instance, if you’ve been hired on as an MUA for a wedding, doing just the bride’s application will take a lot less time than if you were also expected to do the bridal party’s makeup, too.

Moreover, logically, the more clients you book in a day, the longer your workday will be. If you have one booking for just one person, you’ll probably be looking at anywhere from 2-4 hours that day (factoring in travel time, and based on how complex the application is). But if you have several customers booked throughout a single day, you’ll likely be starting early and finishing late.

Other Examples

Working on set can also make for a lengthy day, especially if it’s for a TV show or film production. This is because, in addition to the initial application itself, you’ll likely be expected to remain on set throughout the shoot. That way, you can jump in whenever touch-ups are required.

Now, let’s say that you dream of being an MUA, but would prefer a more predictable, routine schedule. In that case, your best bet will be to join an existing team (e.g. at MAC, Sephora, etc.) and/or work at a beauty bar/counter. In this type of environment, your schedule will be decided by your employer, and you’ll get it in advance.

As such, you’ll know exactly what days you’ll be working, and for how long you’ll be working each day. This can make it much easier for you to plan everything else in your life around your work hours. Of course, for those who wish to have a more proactive role in their makeup career, this route won’t always be ideal. But if this would fit best with your goals and interests, then all the power to you!

A day in the life of a makeup artist image 3, MUA working on client

What Specific Skills Does a Makeup Artist Need?

Obviously, to thrive as a professional makeup artist, you need to have a grasp of proper makeup techniques. Moreover, you need to know how to execute them successfully during an application, in order to deliver the high-quality results your client is expecting.

More to the point: it’s also critical that you have a genuine passion for your craft. Otherwise, this career won’t be the one for you. And, let’s be real, you probably wouldn’t enjoy it at all.

On top of this, though, you’ll also need to possess a handful of other key traits as well. For example, you’ll need to be:

  • A people person (at least, to some degree);
  • Good at both communicating and listening;
  • Creative;
  • Up-to-date on makeup and beauty current trends;
  • Business-savvy;
  • Capable of keeping calm under pressure, while on strict time restraints, etc.;
  • Smart with money and budgeting;
  • Knowledgeable in many different makeup techniques, so you can apply them to many different makeup styles;
  • Approachable and friendly;
  • Flexible;
  • Willing to put the effort into networking;
  • A wizard with emailing, returning phone calls, replying to people on social media, etc.;
  • And so much more!

What Does a Makeup Artist Do On a Daily Basis?

Okay, let’s get to the real reason why you found this article in the first place – you want to know what a day in the life of a makeup artist looks like. Here’s the bad news: much like when we were discussing how many hours you’ll work in a day, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer to this question. What makeup artists do on a daily basis is determined by:

  • The client they’re working for/with;
  • The parameters of the job;
  • Whether the MUA in question works for an established company or runs their own business;
  • And more!

But here’s the GOOD news: I can break down enough information so that you can still walk away with a thorough understanding of what to expect out of this career path. So, let’s delve into that…

Makeup artist holding brush and eyeshadow palette. makeup artist making gorgeous make-up for bride in the morning. beauty and fashion image. set of brushes, powder, eyeshadows on table

What Every Job Has in Common

Regardless of the type of MUA you are, the client you’ve booked, or the length of your day, every makeup job will require you to:

  • Work with people (whether that’s a single person, multiple, or a whole group).
  • Listen to what the client wants, and determine how best to achieve those results in a time-efficient manner.
  • Draw on your professional makeup certification training.
  • Use sanitized, single-use products.
  • Work in a clean environment, and properly clean your work station after each makeup job.
  • Apply your expert knowledge during the application(s).
  • Deliver top-notch customer service.
  • Make the best possible impression for you – and either the business you’re representing, or your personal business itself.

Working for an Existing Makeup Business

Let’s say you wish to land a cosmetic retail job of some sort. This could be in the form of working at a beauty bar, or in a makeup store such as MAC, Sephora, etc. A typical day would first involve you showing up to work at the designated time your employer has set for you. From there, your job will be to man the counter or walk the floor.

You’ll greet everyone who enters the business, and see if you can help answer any questions they may have or assist with their purchasing needs. It won’t be uncommon to have walk-in customers ask for your help testing out a product, do a basic consultation and/or application with them, etc. You’ll also have just as many customers book an application appointment ahead of time, too. So, that can also sometimes be a part of your workday.

One perk of working for an existing company is that 9 times out of 10, your job responsibilities will start and end within each individual shift. There won’t be work you’ll need to do outside of your scheduled shifts, such as social media focus, client acquisition/retention, or marketing efforts. Rather, these companies will already have experts taking care of this.

Thus, once you clock out at the end of your shift, you’re completely done for the day!

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Running Your OWN Makeup Business

Running your very own makeup business will admittedly result in longer days and a lot more job responsibilities. This makes complete sense, since you’ll be responsible for your business’s success! That said, this is the ideal path for many aspiring MUAs, because they find it to be the most rewarding.

There’s a lot more that goes into running a makeup business than simply doing makeup for/on a client. In reality, other tasks you’ll regularly have to complete on a given day can include (but aren’t limited to):

  • Developing and putting into practice client acquisition and retention efforts/strategies;
  • Scheduling and conducting client consultations;
  • Conducting follow-up appointments, if requested/required;
  • Developing air-tight client contracts;
  • Answering emails, returning phone calls, etc.;
  • Doing trial runs, such as for bridal makeup, film makeup, etc.;
  • Running active social media accounts for your business;
  • Maintaining your business website and overall SEO;
  • Marketing your business using a variety of methods (i.e. paid ads, social media advertising, email campaigns, etc.);
  • Collecting payment by the agreed-upon due date;
  • Providing invoices once payment have been received;
  • And more!

There can easily be additional responsibilities, depending on the scope of your career goals. If, for instance, part of your business plan is to develop your own line of products, then you’ll also need to factor in the necessary research and legwork that goes into this endeavor as part of your day-to-day responsibilities.

Another key aspect to consider is where you’re conducting your business from. Say you’re primarily working from home and clients are coming to you. For every application, you’ll also need to factor in time to set up your work station before the job, as well as time to sanitize/clean it after the job is over.

If you travel directly to clients, or own your own business location or salon, you’ll need to factor the time it’ll take to travel to and from work each day. Moreover, if you fall into the latter category, your daily tasks may sometimes involve the overhead work and maintenance that goes into owning or renting a commercial space.

Makeup Artist Applying Corrector On Flawless Fresh Skin Doing Make Up. Female Eye with Long False Eyelashes. Cosmetics, Beauty. Close up. Real People. Perfect Glamorous Evening Makeup

What makeup artists do on a daily basis is a subjective topic. Ultimately, it’ll depend on YOU – your work ethic, your diligence, your drive, and your career goals. The harder you work, and the more effort you put into your craft, the busier your day will be… and the more successful your journey will become!

So, now that you have an idea of what a day in the life of a makeup artist can look like, do you still wish to pursue this career path?

If so, enroll with QC Makeup Academy today and earn your internationally-recognized certification in just 2-6 short months!

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How to Get Clients as a Makeup Artist

By Career Advice, Your Makeup Career 2 Comments

So, you’ve decided to pursue your dreams of becoming a professional MUA. Awesome! As such, one of the first things you might be wondering is how to get clients as a makeup artist.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!

Today, we’re going to break down 6 efficient ways you can market yourself. In turn, this will help you find makeup clients and get your business off the ground.

So, let’s get started!

How Do Makeup Artists Get Noticed?

If you’re serious about pursuing this as a legitimate career, you’re likely researching how to grow as a makeup artist. Moreover, you’re probably exploring the various opportunities at your disposal. Here’s the good news: in today’s day and age, there are all sorts of ways for you to get your name out there and gain exposure!

For starters, there’s the tried-and-true method of word-of-mouth. Referrals have been a staple networking strategy for as far back as we can remember… and with good reason! If a trusted person recommends your services to their friends, family, colleagues, etc., others may be more inclined to look into your business and give you a try.

Plus, there’s also the online world to consider, too. We all live online nowadays. Thus, a large portion of your marketing efforts will need to be tailored to the digital platform. Between business websites, paid advertisements, and social media platforms, there’s a lot of competition out there.

This means that if you want to stand out as a makeup artist and get noticed, you’ll  NEED to maximize your presence online and plan out your strategy wisely.

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The Stats Don’t Lie

HubSpot’sUltimate List of Marketing Statistics for 2021” provides the following data which supports the efficacy of online marketing:

  • “70% of marketers are actively investing in content marketing. (HubSpot, 2020)”
  • “About 64% of marketers actively invest time in search engine optimization (SEO). (HubSpot, 2020)”
  • “51% of shoppers surveyed say they use Google to research a purchase they plan to make online. (Think with Google, 2019)”
  • “59% of shoppers surveyed say that being able to shop on mobile is important when deciding which brand or retailer to buy from. (Think with Google, 2019)”
  • “‘Where to buy’ and ‘near me’ mobile queries have grown by over 200% in the past two years. (Think with Google, 2019)”
  • “60% of smartphone users have contacted a business directly using the search results such as the ‘click to call’ option. (Think with Google, 2019)”
  • “There are 8 million active advertisers on Facebook, the vast majority of which are small and medium-sized businesses. (Facebook Insights, 2020)”
  • “Facebook is the primary content distribution channel for marketers today. (HubSpot, 2020)”
  • “As of January 2021, Pinterest has 459 million global active users every month. (Pinterest, 2021)”
  • “Instagram is the social channel with the second-highest ROI [return on investment] among marketers. (HubSpot, 2020)”
  • “Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter lead the pack as the most common social media platforms used by marketers. (HubSpot, 2020)”
  • “Increased exposure is the most commonly cited advantage of using social media for marketing purposes among global industry professionals. (Statista, 2019)”

How Do You Brand Yourself as a Makeup Artist?

Think of your “brand” as your unique fingerprint in the makeup industry. It’s the thing that’ll set you apart from other MUAs. Your brand is your business’s identity and personality. Moreover, it’ll will make you memorable in the minds of prospective clients and online followers.

A makeup artist who’s developed a solid brand will be much more likely to secure customers than a makeup artist without one.

Consider the following companies, for example:

  • Nike
  • McDonalds
  • MAC Cosmetics
  • Coca-Cola
  • Netflix

Each name alone probably sparks something in your mind, be it a color, a logo, an emotion, a purpose, a belief, etc. This is the case because these companies strategically worked hard to associate those specific things to their brand. That way, whenever someone – such as yourself – sees their company name, their mind will naturally go to the exact place that business wants it to go.

This is proper branding.

Beautiful portrait of makeup artist holding up makeup brush

So, how can YOU achieve this for your own business? Our recommendation is to first sit down, grab a pen and paper, and answer the following questions:

  • Are there any particular colors you’d like to be associated with your makeup business?
  • What mood(s) or emotion(s) do you want people to automatic think of when they think of your business?
  • What makeup (and other beauty services, if applicable) would you like to offer?
  • Who is your target clientele?
  • Do you intend to strictly work locally, or would you also like to offer virtual makeup services as well?
  • Do you have a unique niche/would you like to have a unique niche?
  • Would you like your beauty business to embody a particular message and/or belief that’s near-and-dear to you?
  • Do you want your business to have a unique logo?

Coming up with clear, concise answers to all of these questions will help you brand yourself as a makeup artist. In turn, this will make it even easier to get clients!

Did you know that QC Makeup Academy’s self-paced, online certification training can help you identify your brand and apply it to your business model successfully? It’s true! Check out our full list of courses here!

6 Ways to Get Clients as a Makeup Artist

1. Build Up a Creative Portfolio

Your portfolio will show off high-quality images of makeup applications you’ve done on past clients and/or models. Basically, it’ll be physical proof of the quality of work you can do.

If you don’t have a professional makeup portfolio, you’ll have a hard time getting clients.

This is because, especially these days, prospective customers want to know that you can give them what they want, before they invest any money into your business. Asking potential clients to book you on a leap of faith alone is unrealistic – and frankly, a bad business move.

If it’s between you (without a portfolio) and another MUA (with an impressive portfolio), guess who the person is going to pick?

Not you. 

If you need help getting started, here’s a small handful of our past blog articles that can guide you in the right direction:

Want to develop the ULTIMATE makeup portfolio? Enroll in QC Makeup Academy’s Portfolio Development Workshop and learn everything you need to know in as little as 2-6 months!

How to get clients as a makeup artist, in-post image 3, photoshoot

2. Start Your Own Website

If you want to get clients as a makeup artist, a professional business website will be a MUST! Without your own site, you’ll be missing out on so many booking opportunities. Plus, and I cannot stress this enough, it’ll make you look unprofessional.

If your budget allows for it, you can always hire a professional website developer to create one for you. But if you don’t have the money for this, that’s okay! Luckily, there are all sorts of free website builders and hosts out there with simple, user-friendly templates that you can work off of.

Either way, it’s important to make sure that your business website contains the following key information:

  • An “About Me” page where people can better get to know you and your makeup experience, qualifications, certification(s), etc.;
  • A full list of all makeup/beauty services you currently offer, as well as rates (should you wish to disclose this information upfront);
  • Client reviews/testimonials;
  • Working links to your social media profiles;
  • Accurate contact information;
  • Your professional makeup/beauty portfolio;
  • An option for online booking.

3. Show Off Your Skills on Social Media

As we already established earlier, social media marketing will be one of your BEST friends! After all, literally everyone uses social media these days. It’s undoubtedly one of the single best ways to meet others in the industry and get clients as a makeup artist.

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest are all examples of extremely popular platforms that you can establish a solid presence on.

When the time comes that you’re ready to set up your social media accounts, keep these useful tips in mind:

  • Your social media handles should be the same as your registered business name.
  • Always link viewers back to your website (e.g. through your bio links, written content, etc.).
  • The aesthetic of your social media platforms (such as what you post, the colors you use, how you speak, etc.) should always reflect your brand.
  • Post original content – and post on a regular basis.
    • Pro Tip: If you’re busy, you can utilize scheduling apps (e.g. Later or Hootsuite) to post ahead of time and/or in bulk.
  • Always be fresh and innovative in your posts. You don’t want to be the same as all the other MUAs out there. Otherwise, your channel(s) might be easily forgettable!
  • Follow others in the makeup/beauty industry that you’d like to connect with, and regularly leave encouraging comments on their posts. Chances will be better that they’ll then do the same with you!
  • Whenever someone takes the time to engage with your posts and/or send you a private message, make sure YOU take the time to acknowledge and reply to them.
  • Use your social media channels as yet another way to showcase your makeup portfolio and promote your business!
Professional visage artist applying makeup on woman's face in salon

4. Start a YouTube Channel

Makeup enthusiasts love watching MUAs; be it tutorials, product reviews, makeup challenges, etc. While other popular social media platforms – such as TikTok and Instagram Reels – are great for posting condensed, shortened videos, their time constraints can be limiting.

For that reason, we also recommend launching your very own YouTube channel!

YouTube is a wonderful platform to share your content on, especially for videos exceeding 3 minutes in length. Furthermore, it’s so easy to tie your YouTube content to what you post on other platforms. For instance, you could easily tease at a new video by posting enticing clips on TikTok or Instagram, and then encourage your following to watch the FULL video on your YouTube channel.

Not to mention, if you happen to amass a large following, you could also earn some side coin from the money you’d get paid from YouTube! Either way, more platforms for your business = more opportunities for prospective clients to find your business and book you.

It’s a win-win!

What are some of the most important DO’S and DON’TS of beauty vlogging? Find out here!

5. Network, Network, Network

The beauty industry is quite unique, in that everyone seems to know each other. Indeed, if you establish a positive reputation for both yourself and your business, it’ll get around and other MUAs will know all about you.

(Of course, the same can be said if you develop a bad reputation, too…)

One important thing to understand early on in your career is that other makeup artists are your FRIENDS – and not your enemies. Yes, they’re considered your “competition”. But at the end of the day, you all have the same goal: to transform clients’ lives for the better.

So, get to know the other beauty experts in your town or city! In addition to other makeup artists, connect with photographers, hair stylists, fashion stylists, etc. The benefits of proper networking are endless, and here are just some of the reasons why:

  • If another makeup artist’s schedule is completely booked, they could wind up referring a prospective client to YOUR business!
  • Similarly, if you’re the one totally booked up, you can help out people in need by referring them to talented MUAs that you recommend!
  • You can potentially collaborate with other beauty experts in your area!
  • If you get to know some local photographers, you could work with them on stylized photoshoots – which will help you build your professional makeup portfolio!
  • Others in the general beauty industry (i.e. hair stylists, skin consultants, etc.) could refer clients to you and/or request your help for a client they’re already working with!
Makeup artist and hair stylist working together on a client

6. Ask for Referrals

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? There’s NO harm in straight-up asking for referrals, so long as it’s done tactfully!

Asking Clients

Once you’re done working with a satisfied customer, you can casually let them know that if they know anyone in need of professional makeup services, that you’d be happy to work with them. You can also provide a customer survey for them to fill out, and include that request somewhere in there.

(But also, don’t forget to ask for a testimonial from that particular client. Remember: you can use this for your website and social media channels!)

Asking Friends and Family

Another option is to ask for referrals from the people you know personally. For instance, do you have a friend who’s getting married in the near future? What about a family member about to celebrate their birthday?

YOU can assist them by helping them look and feel their best on their big day!

By maximizing your personal connections, you’ll be able to acquire the materials needed (such as photos and success stories) to develop your professional portfolio and further elevate your website. Plus, your friends and family can also give you positive feedback that can then be added to the testimonials page on your site and social media posts.

And just as importantly, they can help spread word about your makeup business by recommending you to people they know!

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with drawing from your inner circle and getting some help, especially when you’re first getting your makeup career started. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to the people you trust and see if there’s any way you can lend your services to them!

Can you think of other ways to get clients as a makeup artist? Drop them in the comments below!

Attract even more clients by adding a professional, internationally-recognized makeup certification to your resume! Enroll with QC Makeup Academy today and graduate in as little as 2-6 months!

Global Beauty Course Materials

Get 2 QC Makeup Academy Courses for The Price of 1!

By About the School, Education, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Do you dream of working as a professional makeup artist? QC Makeup Academy can help you turn this dream into a reality in as little as 2-6 months!

Look, I’ll level with you: going back to school always feels like a daunting decision for some of us. This is why we’re committed to making the decision to enroll with QC the easiest one you’ll ever have to make!

But before I get into all the reasons why QC Makeup Academy is the makeup school to train with, let me first start by letting you in on some seriously exciting, juicy tea…

Have You Heard About QC Makeup Academy’s Brand-New Promo?

Okay, get ready for some seriously awesome news… Are you ready? Here it is:

Until September 17th, 2021, you can get TWO courses with QC Makeup Academy for the price of ONE!

As a result, you’ll be able to launch your career as a professional makeup artist with a DOUBLE certification. What’s more – both of these qualifications/designations will be internationally recognized! This means you’ll have the freedom to potentially service clients from all over the world if you so choose!

Alright, so now that you’re as excited as I am, let’s take a closer look at this exclusive promotional offer.

Free Global Beauty Promotion Graphic

What You Need to Know

Here’s the promotion in a nutshell: until September 17th, 2021, when you enroll in QC Makeup Academy’s wildly popular Master Makeup Artistry Course, we’ll give you our Global Beauty Workshop at NO additional cost!

To put this into context, the Global Beauty Workshop normally costs $1046.00 USD… But you’ll be able to enroll absolutely FREE. Not only is this the perfect option for someone needing to get their education on a budget; it’s quite literally a steal.

So, now you might be thinking, “Okay, but why these courses? Why will these certification programs help me become a professional makeup artist and have a successful career?”

Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Let’s take a look at this next…

QC Makeup Academy’s Master Makeup Artistry Course

The first thing you need to know is that this is, hands-down, our most popular program. Thousands upon thousands of aspiring and working MUAs alike have graduated from this course and gone on to cultivate thriving, fruitful careers in the beauty industry.

The beauty of the Master Makeup Artistry Course is that it’s craftily tailored towards ANY and ALL skill levels. Yes, this means that even if you’ve never even picked up a makeup brush before, this course will turn you into a makeup expert by the time you’re finished. On the flip side, if you already have some experience under your belt, this course will refine all of those core, fundamental techniques you already know and bring them to the next level!

The Course Breakdown

QC Makeup Academy’s Master Makeup Artistry Course is 7 units long. The first 3 units focus on teaching you the foundation to makeup artistry. Specifically, you’ll learn all about:

  • Career opportunities as a makeup artist;
  • Taking proper photos for your portfolio;
  • Working as a makeup artist and vital tools of the trade;
  • Safe and sanitary makeup practices, as well as brush types and how to clean your tools;
  • How to stock your professional makeup kit;
  • Skin types and conditions;
  • Prepping the skin for a makeup application;
  • How to properly do makeup on your own skin;
  • Color theory;
  • Blending like a pro;
  • Corrective makeup;
  • Blush, highlight, and contour application;
  • Proper makeup removal techniques;
  • Applying false eyelashes;
  • Day and evening looks, as well as how to perfect the smoky eye;
  • How to apply makeup on ALL types of clients, regardless of sex, age, skin type, etc.;
  • Makeup for mature skin;
  • And MUCH more!

From there, you’ll move onto the next 3 units, which delve into the more advanced stuff you’ve been dying to master! Here are the sort of skills you’ll acquire during this section of the course:

  • How to do bridal and celebrity-inspired makeup;
  • Advanced makeup artistry techniques – such as fantasy makeup, runway makeup, Avant-Garde makeup, editorial, and photoshoot makeup, etc.;
  • Makeup for film, television, theater, and other live performances;
  • And more!
QC Makeup Academy Sept promo article in-post image 2

Business Training

You’ll discover how to work at a makeup counter or get your own business off the ground if that’s the career path you’d prefer to take. Moreover, you’ll learn how to market and promote yourself, find your target clientele, conduct competitor research, develop your brand, provide top-notch customer service, and so much more.

After all, in order to have a successful business, you need to know how to actually run one. This final unit will ensure to teach you everything you need to know in order to do just that!

Finally, you’ll arrive at the last unit of the Master Makeup Artistry Course, which is all about business training. Though this unit is optional, we STRONGLY recommend taking full advantage of it. In fact, the countless graduates who’ve come out of QC Makeup Academy have attributed their career success to the business knowledge they obtained in this very unit.

Essentially, the Master Makeup Artistry Course – as a full, all-encompassing course – goes full circle. It not only teaches you how to do makeup like a true expert; it also teaches you how to conquer the business side of things, thus making you a total powerhouse!

QC Makeup Academy’s Master Makeup Artistry Certification

Once you graduate from this course, you’ll be mailed a physical copy of QC Makeup Academy’s exclusive Master International Makeup Professional (MIMP) certification. This certification, as I mentioned earlier, is internationally recognized and will be sure to impress all your future clients!

And don’t forget: this title also serves as your official designation, too. Your resume will look mighty impressive with this reputable qualification added to it!

Want to hear what past QC Makeup Academy graduates have had to say about the Master Makeup Artistry Course? Check out their course reviews here!

QC’s Global Beauty Workshop

QC Makeup Academy’s Global Beauty Workshop is an Advanced Course, meant to complement your foundational training. While you can enroll in this program without any prior training, we highly recommend taking a Foundation Course and laying down the groundwork of your skill-set first.

So, why will taking QC’s Global Beauty Workshop set your career up for even greater success?

Because this 4-unit course will diversify your makeup knowledge and open you up to clients from ALL around the world! 

The Course Breakdown

If I tried to list all of the valuable lessons you’ll learn in this program, we’d be here all day. However, these are just some of the amazing skills you’ll gain from this training:

  • A solid understanding of various skin tones and undertones;
  • Knowing how to work with these different skin tones;
  • Corrective makeup for deeper skin tones, fairer skin tones, golden skin tones, etc.
  • How to specialize in everyday makeup, evening looks, and bridal applications for East Asian clients;
  • Media makeup and editorial looks for global skin tones;
  • How to build your global makeup kit;
  • Makeup for South Asian and Indian clients;
  • Bollywood glamor;
  • Middle Eastern makeup techniques and applications;
  • How to work with Henna;
  • And more!

QC Makeup Academy’s Global Beauty Workshop Certificate

Upon graduation, QC Makeup Academy will send you your internationally recognized Global Beauty Workshop certificate, which you can proudly add to your portfolio and resume. This certification shows top industry clientele that you’ve received professional training in working with clients from all sorts of diverse backgrounds.

Pro Tip: Setting yourself apart from the competition is HUGE in the beauty industry, as well as a key factor in your success. This level of diverse training will be sure to make yours a memorable name!

Want to see living proof of how QC Makeup Academy’s Global Beauty Workshop can get you more bookings?

What to Expect as a Student of QC Makeup Academy

Okay, so now you have a better idea of these two courses and why our current promotional offer is so amazing. But what can you actually expect as a student, once you’ve enrolled with QC Makeup Academy?

Self-Paced, Online Learning Environment

This is probably the best place to start since it’s easily the top reason why students and alumni completely love QC Makeup Academy’s training.

All of our courses are done 100% online and at your preferred pace. We don’t impose any deadlines on you, nor do you need to follow any rigid, set schedules. Starting on the date you enroll, you get a full 2 years to complete your program. That said, the course itself is less than 40 years long.

As such – and since you have full control over when and how much you focus on your studies – you can use as much or as little of that 2-year timeframe as you need. To put this into perspective: many of our grads found that by working on their course for a mere 1-2 hours per week, they were able to graduate in as little as 2-6 months!

Tons of Hands-On Training

Yes, while our courses are done online (rather than a brick-and-mortar class), we still understand the need for real-world experience. This is why all of QC Makeup Academy’s courses provide an abundance of practical assignments that’ll give you all sorts of eye-opening, hands-on training.

Furthermore, these assignments will push you to find models of different ages and sexes, as well as with different skin tones and types. As a result, you’ll hone your skill-set and be completely prepared to book legit, paying clients as soon as you graduate!

Real Industry Expert Tutors

At QC Makeup Academy, we firmly believe that you can only become the best by learning from the best! This is why all of our tutors and instructors are real-world makeup artists and beauty experts with years of experience under their belts.

Once you enroll in your courses, you’ll be assigned your personal tutor. Since our learning environment is one-on-one style, we guarantee that your training experience will be 100% tailored to you, your work, and your goals. Furthermore, after every unit, your tutor will go over your work with a fine-toothed comb and then provide thorough audio feedback to help you identify your current strengths and weaknesses.

Physical AND Digital Course Materials

Once enrolled, you’ll receive your login details for QC Makeup Academy’s Online Student Center within 1-2 business days. As soon as you can access the OSC, you’ll have access to the digital copy of all of your textbooks, instructional videos, quizzes, work sheets, and assignments. Thus, you’ll be able to begin your course as soon as you want!

However, we’ll also be mailing you a physical copy of your course materials as well – right to your front door at no extra charge. Plus, since the Master Makeup Artistry also comes with a complimentary starter makeup kit, you’ll also receive that from us, too!

Competitive Tuition Rates

But it’s not enough for us to simply be more affordable than brick-and-mortar schools… After all, we want to make your decision to pursue your dream career as easy as possible! And this is exactly why we pride ourselves on our low monthly payments plans.

In general, QC Makeup Academy – like all other online schools – will offer cheaper tuition than what you’d find in an in-person makeup school. This is because we don’t have a physical campus to maintain or any of the additional overhead costs that would come with that.

Now, you absolutely can pay the full amount at the time of enrollment (which will get you a pretty nice Pay-in-Full discount). But you also have the option to pay a small deposit at the time of enrollment, followed by easily affordable payments for a set number of months afterward.

This way, ANY person with ANY budget can get QC’s top-quality education!

Read over 200 5-star reviews on QC Makeup Academy’s Facebook page!

BONUS: Join QC Makeup Academy’s Free Virtual Classroom on Facebook!

So, what are you waiting for? Come join us in the Virtual Classroom today! We look forward to seeing you there!

And just as importantly, you’ll get the best possible idea of whether QC Makeup Academy is the best fit for YOU!

This is why we offer a no-strings-attached 2-week trial for prospective students in our Virtual Classroom on Facebook. In this private group, you can connect with real QC students, graduates, and tutors. You’ll get to see the sort of things students are currently learning in their courses, gain access to top industry tips and insights, and begin networking with other beauty professionals.

There are very few schools out there (especially online ones) that’ll give you a chance to get a proper feel of the school before committing. But we understand that this is a big decision for you – and we certainly want you to get your money’s worth!

Oh, and did I mention that QC Makeup Academy also offers a 21-Day Money-Back Guarantee? Learn more about this here!

Ready to become a professional makeup artist? Take advantage of QC Makeup Academy’s exciting, limited-time promotional offer today and book your first client in as little as 2-6 months!

Online makeup classes article, Aug 26 2021, Feature Image

5 Industry Secrets I Learned from QC’s Online Makeup Classes

By About the School, Career Advice, Education, QC Student Ambassador, Your Makeup Career 2 Comments

Dream of being a professional makeup artist and thinking of pursuing your training through online makeup classes? Then look no further, because you’ve come to the right place! QC Makeup Academy Student Ambassador, Veronika Kelle, is here to reveal 5 industry secrets SHE learned through her online training!

About Me

Hi, everyone! My name is Veronika and I’m a Student Ambassador for QC Makeup Academy. I’ve graduated from 3 of QC’s online makeup classes:

  1. Master Makeup Artistry Course;
  2. Pro Makeup Workshop;
  3. And the Special FX Makeup Course.

I ran my own modeling agency for 15 years. During this time, I organized beauty contests and fashion shows. Additionally, I worked alongside models, photographers, and makeup artists. I also organized photoshoots, castings, and modeling courses.

Obviously, professional makeup was a key factor in all of these. It’s no surprise that it was during this time I fell in love with makeup artistry. So, eventually I decided to learn about it myself and become a certified MUA!

Pursuing Online Makeup Classes with QC Makeup Academy

I began studying professional makeup at QC Makeup Academy back in 2018. Looking back, I can honestly say that without the knowledge I gained through QC’s online makeup courses, I wouldn’t have been able to build my own makeup business.

I feel happy and lucky to have found QC Makeup Academy because they literally changed my life!

The key to success is proper professional knowledge. Plus, of course, you also need a touch of courage. After all, diving into the beauty industry and launching your own business is a big deal! But it’s definitely an endeavor you should not shy away from, because pursuing your dream career is such a rewarding experience.

In this article, I’m going to discuss 5 of the most important industry secrets and skills I’ve learned, thanks to my online makeup classes and professional training with QC Makeup Academy.

So, let’s get started!

Online makeup classes article, Aug 26 2021, Veronika portfolio image 1

Much More Than Makeup

If you’re brand-new to the idea of professional training, you might mistakenly believe that you are ONLY learning how to do makeup through online makeup classes. This, however, is false!

In reality, a proper course from a reputable makeup institution will also arm you with additional, equally-as-critical skills. As a whole, these skills will help you have a truly successful career for the long-term.

Some of these skills I’m talking about include (but are not limited to):

  • Business skills;
  • Customer service skills;
  • Negotiation/contracting skills;
  • Networking skills;
  • Marketing skills;
  • And SO much more!

It’s very important that a professional makeup artist has an extremely rounded-out skill-set. While you absolutely do need to know how to execute flawless applications, the skills mentioned above are just as critical. Without them, you’ll find it difficult to be successful and competitive in the beauty industry.

Luckily, QC Makeup Academy provides you with all of these additional skills! As a result, you’ll gain a huge advantage over your competitors and have a better chance of successfully achieving your career goals!

Each of QC’s online makeup classes has a full business and marketing unit. In this unit, you’ll find all sorts of useful, practical exercises, templates, and marketing/promotion tips. Moreover, you’ll discover how to manage yourself, how to launch your own makeup business, and how to develop your portfolio.

In summary: on top of learning the fundamental makeup theory and core techniques, you’ll also receive plenty of business training. With all of these things combined, you’ll be able to hit the ground running right after you finish your program and earn your internationally-recognized certification!

Want to learn all about the wide variety of online makeup classes currently offered by QC Makeup Academy? Here’s the full list!

5 Industry Secrets My Online Makeup Courses Taught Me

Okay, I know – you’ve been eagerly waiting long enough! Now let’s finally take a look at 5 of the most important industry secrets and skills I learned through my online training with QC Makeup Academy…

Secret #1: What’s needed to launch a makeup business of your very own!

Starting your own makeup business is an exciting experience… but it’s also a very challenging one, too. You’ll need perseverance, dedication, confidence, and a lots of planning!

If you want to launch your own business, you’ll need to master the logistics of business operations. Logically, this only makes perfect sense. If you don’t know how to run a business in a savvy, fruitful, and cost-effective way, how likely are you, really, to be truly successful?

My online makeup classes with QC Makeup Academy taught me how to set up my business, manage my finances, and build relationships with vendors. Furthermore, I also learned how to write my business plan from scratch, set up my business, establish my brand, and market my services properly!

Veronika Kelle portfolio image 2

Secret #2: The value of professional networking with other makeup and beauty experts!

Professional networking is an essential thing in this industry! During my online makeup courses, I was taught how to find local vendors that I could collaborate with in my area. Such vendors included photographers, videographers, hair stylists, models, etc.

When you pursue your education with QC, you’ll discover how to locate and contact the vendors in your area, too! This is extremely important because working with these vendors will help you build your portfolio, connections, and booking potential. When you’re first starting out, you can involve vendors into your projects and collaborate with them – and I highly recommend doing so.

Networking is a perfect opportunity to build your professional relationships, get more contacts, and increase your likelihood of getting referrals!

Secret #3: Online makeup classes will teach you how to properly set your rates!

How you price your makeup artistry services will depend on many factors, such as:

  • Your location;
  • The demand in your area;
  • Competitors’ prices;
  • Industry standards in your country/city/town;
  • Your level of experience;
  • Whether or not you have professional certification training, etc.

As I worked through my online makeup classes with QC, I learned all the secrets of pricing. I discovered how to estimate professional fees for booking. As part of my courses, I was also provided with loads of useful advice that help me calculate my rates properly.

As a result, I was able to start my career at a distinct advantage!

Want more tips for accurately pricing your makeup services? Check out this blog article (and video) by professional MUA, Azzi Williams!

Secret #4: How to build your makeup portfolio (and the benefits of stylized photoshoots)!

A styled photoshoot is usually designed to inspire creativity in the participants. Moreover, taking part in one helps you to build networks – and importantly, your professional makeup portfolio.

While styled photoshoot are often unpaid, the benefits you’ll reap are still well worth your time and effort. Often, in exchange for your work, you’ll receive high-quality photos from the shoot. In turn, you can use these images in your portfolio, on your business website, for advertising, and to promote yourself.

Thanks to QC’s online makeup classes, I learned a lot about how to build my portfolio. I also learned how to organize stylized photoshoots, which was a HUGE help for me when it came to boosting my makeup business.

QC Makeup Academy’s Portfolio Development Workshop

In particular, I have to take a moment to highlight QC Makeup Academy’s Portfolio Development Workshop. In my opinion, this is one of THE most helpful courses you could ever possibly take! This 2-unit Advanced Course will teach you exactly how to build a professional makeup artistry portfolio that shows potential clients your talent and skills!

Furthermore, you’ll learn how to organize and execute styled shoots, take high-quality photos, and connect with industry contacts as you participate in a series of hands-on, practical assignments.

Read the full course breakdown for QC’s Portfolio Development Workshop here!

Online makeup classes article Aug 26 2021, Veronika Kelle portfolio image 3

Secret #5: How to find makeup clients!

If you’re new in the professional makeup industry, you might have a lot of questions and concerns about how to get started. Specifically, you’re likely wondering how to find clients, get bookings, and earn money.

QC Makeup Academy’s online makeup classes will provide the answers to ALL of these questions – and so much more! They’ll guide you through the maze of job searching, so that getting started and filling up your client book is an easy feat!

How QC’s Online Makeup Classes Have Skyrocketed My Career

Speaking from experience, I can say that enrolling in QC’s online makeup certification courses has been one of the best decisions of my life! Firstly, I acquired all the knowledge and skills needed to do any sort of makeup application on any kind of client.

Secondly, their vast range of classes allow you to hone niches and discover your specialties. For instance, I’ve always been interested in the exciting world of circus, theater, and movie makeup. That’s why I’d also chosen to enroll in the Special FX Makeup Course after completing my Master Makeup Artistry and Pro Makeup programs.

To build on this, I also wanted the possibility of working in the backstage of a theatrical or movie production. Thanks to QC, this dream has actually since come true! I’ve now worked as a makeup artist for more than one movie production, as well as commercials, passion productions, and countless photoshoots.

QC Makeup Academy’s online makeup classes and certification training helped me land these dream jobs. They taught me everything I needed to know to start my own makeup business and launch an amazing, prosperous career. I was armed with all the professional knowledge and makeup techniques I needed to do what I love for a living!

Online makeup classes article, Aug 26 2021, Veronika Kelle portfolio, last in-post image

The Top 3 Reasons I Recommend QC’s Online Makeup Courses

1. You’ll receive the exact same top-quality education as you would in a brick-and-mortar institution – but from the comfort of home!

The whole learning system of the school – such as their Online Student Center – is remarkably professional and extremely well-organized. Plus, your tutor is a guaranteed working industry expert! You’ll reap the many benefits of having a true expert as your instructor when you receive all of their extensive audio feedback after each course unit!

Learning with QC Makeup Academy is an easy and joyful experience. Believe me, you won’t ever be able to wait to dive in the next unit!

2. QC’s tuition fees are way more affordable than in-person makeup classes!

The fee for online makeup classes is a LOT more reasonable than what you’d find in a brick-and-mortar school. Online education is cheaper simply because there are no overhead costs or campuses to maintain. QC also offers awesome payment options, thereby allowing you to select the payment plan that best suits your budget.

So basically, you’re getting the exact same quality training, but at a fraction of the price!

Not to mention, online schools tend to offer better promotions and discounts. Every month, QC Makeup Academy always has an exclusive offer that you can take advantage of, for both prospective and current students alike!

Have you heard about QC’s current Back-to-School Promotional Offer? Read about it here and take advantage of it until Friday, August 27th!

3. QC Makeup Academy is more than a makeup school – it’s a community!

QC Makeup Academy is a family, a community, and an overall lovely, safe place to learn and make friends. In my experience, I’ve also found it to be a business training and a lifelong learning opportunity. QC offers amazing Student Support services, an easy-to-navigate Online Student Center, and a FREE Virtual Classroom on Facebook.

In this private group, you can connect with current students, past grads, and even QC’s executive instructor and celebrity MUA, Nathan Johnson! If you’re not a student, you can still join for a no-strings-attached 2-week trial.

Become a member today and connect with my directly!

Final Thoughts

What do YOU think are the most important industry secrets as a professional makeup artist? I’d love to know your thoughts, so share them in the comments below!

Thank you for reading!

Enroll in QC Makeup Academy’s online makeup classes today and earn your internationally-recognized certification(s) in as little as 2-6 months!

Makeup Academy article, Aug 19 2021, Feature Image

6 Reasons to Train with QC Makeup Academy This Fall!

By Career Advice, Education, From the Experts, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Thinking of enrolling with QC Makeup Academy? Want to pursue your dream career as a professional makeup artist? QC graduate and industry expert, Gabrielle Rivera, breaks down 6 key reasons why you NEED to start your training this upcoming fall season!

Makeup academy article, Aug 19 2021, in-post image 1, Gabrielle Rivera portfolio

Start The Career of Your Dreams This Upcoming Fall!

Fall is quickly approaching! This means back to school – and for many of us, back to work, instead of working from home. Returning to our normal (but busy) routines can be a big adjustment.

However, with autumn just around the corner, this can also be a great opportunity for you to make some much-needed change in your life, too! Specifically, you can use this new season as an opportunity to practice a bit of self-care and work towards the career of your dreams.

Here’s the good news: QC Makeup Academy can help you achieve this goal, all from the comfort of your own home!

Why should you enroll with QC Makeup Academy over other online makeup schools this fall? I’ve got 6 killer reasons, so let’s take at look at them together!

6 Reasons to Enroll with QC Makeup Academy

Reason #1: Total Flexibility = Less Stress

The great thing about taking a course with QC Makeup Academy – unlike attending other online or in-person schools – is that you really do have the freedom to customize your schedule!

With many of us returning to in-person jobs, having the freedom to learn at your own pace is invaluable. Since QC’s learning environment works around your availability (rather than the other way around), you can find time to study and build your skill-set whenever it’s convenient for you.

The best part? There are NO strict deadlines! Once you enroll, you have 2 full years to complete your course. However, during this time, when and how often you focus on your studies is entirely up to you. As a result, you’re granted a stress-free learning environment, which is proven to get you the most out of your education!

Fun Fact: Many of QC’s graduates have found that by devoting a mere 1-2 hours per week to their studies, they were able to graduate and earn their internationally-recognized certification(s) in as little as 2-6 months!

Makeup academy article, Aug 19 2021, in-post image 2

Reason #2: QC Makeup Academy is Affordable for ANY Budget

You might be wondering, “How much does QC Makeup Academy cost?”

Don’t worry, I’m covering this for you, too!

Course tuition varies, depending on which program you want to enroll in and where you live. That said, QC ensures that every course is fairly priced. While the tuition reflects the high quality of the training provided, they also don’t want their students to go broke in the process.

This is why – on top of their already affordable rates – they offer payment options that best suit your budget. When you enroll with QC, you have the option to either:

  1. Pay the full amount upfront, which will earn you a sweet little “pay in full” discount.
  2. Or pay a small deposit at the time of enrollment, followed by low monthly payments. Thanks to this option in particular, countless QC students on a tight budget have been able to pursue their makeup training without worrying about any financial burden.

Reason #3: Advanced, Thorough Education

I just so happen to be a graduate of QC Makeup Academy myself. For me, one of the most important takeaways was how thorough this school is in delivering a high-quality, advanced education. Something that separates this makeup academy from others is that they supply you with all of the tools you need to excel – and I don’t just mean makeup.

QC goes above and beyond other schools by providing instructional videos for each section of your course. Moreover, you’re given academic booklets (both digital and physical), as well as makeup products and/or tools that would be required for the training.

Additionally, you’re also assigned an instructor who’s a legitimate expert in the makeup and beauty world. This tutor is there to assist you and give comprehensive feedback on your assignments. Speaking from experience, I can assure you that your tutor feedback will be anything but generic!

When I was completing my own course, I found that the responses given to me where always exceptionally thorough, detailed, and mindful. QC Makeup Academy’s instructors truly take the time to review your work with a fine-tooth comb. This way, they can offer constructive feedback to help you grow and perfect your artistry.

Man doing makeup on female client in beauty salon

Reason #4: Special FX and The Halloween Season

Not only does QC Makeup Academy offer beauty makeup certifications – they also offer a Special FX Makeup Course, too! This 4-unit certification program delves into makeup for theater, fantasy, gore, and classic SFX looks. What better time to become a master of special effects makeup than for the upcoming Halloween season?

Obtaining an International Special FX Makeup Professional (ISMP) certification with QC Makeup Academy is a great asset to add to your resume. Firstly, because it’ll help you land more clients for the upcoming fall season. Secondly, because having this training will open up SO many career opportunities and paths for you.

For example, it’ll make you more marketable to work as a makeup artist for haunted houses. Additionally, it’ll help you network with photographers for a variety of autumn-themed shoots. Not to mention, SFX training can get your foot in the door for movies, television shows, and live theater gigs!

Did you know that my SFX makeup knowledge has helped ME land a sweet seasonal job for a haunted house? Read my full story here!

Reason #5: QC Makeup Academy Will Get You Certified in Time for The Wedding Season Craze

For MUAs who specialize in bridal makeup, the 2021 wedding season has been a nonstop whirlwind! Even though we’re all still in the midst of a global pandemic, life is beginning to open up again. As a result, weddings that were once put on pause are now in full effect.

From my own personal experience, I can attest to the wedding craziness. I’m already booking bridal parties well into 2022! So, believe me when I tell you that NOW is the optimal time for you to maximize the upcoming fall season by gaining a professional certification that’ll really impact your business.

Unlike other makeup schools, QC Makeup Academy offers all sorts of certifications that can take your bridal services to the next level. For starters, they offer an entire course devoted to airbrushing (which has become extremely popular in the bridal industry).

Furthermore, QC also offers a Skincare Course, Hair Styling Essentials Course, Global Beauty Workshop, and so much more! Their most popular program, the Master Makeup Artistry Course, also focuses on bridal applications. You can then further this knowledge through the Pro Makeup Workshop, which explores advanced bridal makeup artistry.

In a nutshell: getting certified NOW will mean you’ll be ready to book bridal clients this upcoming Fall. And when it comes to where you should obtain this training, QC Makeup Academy is the way to go. Their in-depth programs will truly help your artistry and career flourish!

Makeup academy article, Aug 19 2021, in-post image 4, bridal makeup application

Reason #6: Professional Benefits

A final benefit of enrolling with QC Makeup Academy this upcoming fall is that you’ll automatically become eligible for SO many discounts from reputable big-named brands! For example, depending on where you live, you’ll be able to save money on products from MAC, Temptu, Urban Decay, Mehron, and many others!

Learn more by checking out QC Makeup Academy’s full list of partner discounts!

So, what are you waiting for? Enroll with QC Makeup Academy today and become a professionally certified MUA in just a couple short months!

Makeup courses article, Aug 18 2021, Feature Image

What Are The BEST Online Makeup Courses?

By Education, From the Experts, QC Student Ambassador, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Wondering what the BEST online makeup courses out there are? Join QC Makeup Academy Student Ambassador, Luisa De Pietra, as she reveals 4 critical criteria that all makeup courses NEED to have in order to be worth your money!

Makeup courses article, Aug 18 2021, Luisa De Pietra headshot

Introduction

Pursuing a career in makeup artistry is currently in high demand. Over the years, more and more people have become drawn to this career path. As a result, more promotions of supposed “makeup courses” have started emerging from the depths of the online world.

It’s of utmost importance that you’re fully aware of the shifty tricks and crafty techniques these sites will pull, in order to try and obtain your money.

My name is Luisa de Pietra and I’m an Ambassador of QC Makeup Academy. I am a graduate of both the Master Makeup Artistry Course and Pro Makeup Workshop. Moreover, I’m currently working my way through the Portfolio Development Workshop.

If you are an aspiring makeup artist, perhaps you dream of kick-starting your makeup career – but you’re not quite sure where to start. If so, this article is exactly what you’re looking for! My goal today is to help you in your pursuit of becoming a professional makeup artist. And, of course, that all starts by better understanding what you should be looking for in proper online makeup courses.

So, let’s jump right into it!

First Thing’s First: How to Avoid Shady Online “Makeup Courses”

In an online world that’s increasingly rife with fraudulent schemes and shady dealings, one must have their wits about them when conducting research on the best online makeup course. Vague information, dubious customer reviews, and an overall lack of professionalism should all raise red flags when doing your research.

In many cases, these “makeup courses” will lack the quality of content, research, and development normally invested in a high-quality program. The best makeup courses are not cheap (even though they can can absolutely be affordable). Thus, being thorough and meticulous in your research is essential!

Scamming websites will not hesitate in taking advantage of you. The excitement and eagerness to embark on your makeup course, only to later discover that you’ve been cheated, would frankly be awful. So, in order to avoid such a circumstance, I’d highly recommend forgoing reviews from the company’s own website.

Why? Because scammer companies will more often than not present “customer reviews” written under fake profiles names.

Personally, I did a considerable amount of research before I chose to sign up with QC Makeup Academy. I researched their tutors and made sure that their staff (particularly their Student Support Team) were actual, real people. In fact, I even made contact with a few QC students, so I could ask them about their own experiences learning with QC Makeup Academy.

A faceless woman watches online training from a professional makeup artist on a laptop. Distance learning

4 Criteria Your Online Makeup Course Should Meet

Now that we know what to avoid, it’s time to better understand what you should be gravitating towards. These are the top 4 criteria that, in my opinion, all online makeup courses need to meet in order to be worth your time, effort, and money…

1. The tutors/instructors are all legitimate beauty experts who work in the makeup industry.

One of the biggest advantages of becoming an accredited makeup artist with QC Makeup Academy is that you get to be taught by real industry professionals. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of ensuring that the people who are training and guiding you are legitimate beauty experts!

Otherwise, you won’t be learning from the best. It’s that simple.

At QC Makeup Academy, students are under the careful tutelage of reputable names in the beauty world. These tutors are highly experienced. Furthermore, they all have expansive, rich knowledge of the makeup industry.

Whether you’re interested in SFX makeup, editorial, or perfecting your bridal looks – QC Makeup Academy caters to ALL student needs!

Want to learn more about the wide variety of professional beauty and makeup courses offered by QC? Check out our full course breakdowns here!

2. You’re provided with thorough, constructive feedback throughout the entire makeup course.

As a student of QC Makeup Academy, your tutor will give you personalized audio feedback on all of your assignments. I would wager that this form of online learning is even better than the conventional means of teaching, typically found in a group classroom setting.

Why? Because you’re able to receive the personalized attention that can only be provided through one-on-one training! The critiques you receive will be coming from a highly reputable makeup artist. More importantly, all critiques will be tailored to your work, and your work alone.

In my own experience with QC, my tutor was industry veteran and celebrity MUA, Nathan Johnson. Nathan is deeply involved in the beauty industry and has worked diligently to make an unforgettable name for himself. Through his expansive knowledge and experience of the beauty world, I was able to receive comprehensive, invaluable feedback after each and every unit I submitted!

Quite simply: being associated with a makeup school that teaches the core, timeless, and fundamental techniques – rather than “trends” or “hacks” found solely on social media – is what ultimately gives an accredited school like QC Makeup Academy the educational prestige over other online makeup courses.

Makeup courses article, Aug 18 2021, in-post image 3. Happy woman staring at laptop while wearing headphones.

3. There’s some level of business training included in the makeup courses, as well as real-world, hands-on training.

Business Training

As a makeup student, you’re going to be immersed in a creative sphere – full of core techniques, color wheels, brush sizes, complementary lip shades, glitters, and bases. But at QC Makeup Academy, they go to even greater lengths than other institutions to enhance the quality of your learning experience.

You’ll also receive business training, brand-building knowledge, and marketing skills, too!

Lesser-quality makeup courses are unlikely to include this broader education. Instead, they’ll tend to focus only on the creative side of makeup artistry. QC Makeup Academy, on the other hand, recognizes the need to turn out students who are business-savvy professionals.

After all, only with proper business training can you truly succeed in a such highly competitive industry!

Once you earn your internationally-recognized QC certification, you’ll be thrown into a labor market that can be rather tricky to navigate. This is particularly the case if you have no prior experience as a professional MUA. Demand and earnings vary widely. As such, you’ll need basic business skills if you want to be well-established.

QC Makeup Academy equips their students with all the business and marketing skills that are key to success in any field – including the beauty and makeup industry!

Hands-On Experience

You won’t be getting your money’s worth if you enroll in a makeup course that provides no hands-on training. Moreover, you definitely won’t be doing your skill-set any favors either. After all, being a makeup artist is all about actually knowing how to do proper makeup.

Do you see a makeup course where the “training” is limited to nothing but written assignments and/or multiple choice quizzes? If so, then taking this kind of course is a huge mistake. In doing so, you’d be starting your career at a DRASTIC disadvantage.

All of QC’s online makeup courses provide ample real-world practice. You’ll be tasked with completing a wide variety of looks on models with different skin tones and types. Furthermore, you’ll be challenged to do applications on models of different ages and genders as well.

Firstly, these practical assignments will teach you how to correctly apply core makeup techniques. Secondly, they’ll also make you a master of countless makeup styles. As a result, by the time you graduate, you’ll know how to create any look for any type of client!

4. The makeup course provides a variety of learning methods – such as textbook readings, instructional videos, quizzes, and practical assignments.

Top-rated makeup courses will almost ALWAYS include a variety of learning materials. This often includes course textbooks, instructional videos, quizzes, and practical assignments. Luckily, QC Makeup Academy makes all of this accessible to you directly through their Online Student Center!

Trust me: you will derive very little value from a low-quality makeup course that relies solely on passive learning. You may as well be watching tutorials on YouTube.

QC, however, provides an enriched learning experience that relies on tangible, high-quality learning materials. They do this because building a foundation to grow your knowledge and wisdom in the makeup world requires theoretical learning. This is just as important as the practical knowledge you’ll receive, and this institution recognizes that.

Woman standing at counter, writing in notebook while watching video on laptop at home

How QC Makeup Academy’s Online Makeup Courses Have Met MY Criteria

I strongly believe that the value of an educational institution is reflected in the quality of their students’ work. Before I made the decision to enroll in QC’s Master Makeup Artistry Course, I did thorough research.

Student Testimonials

As part of this research, I appraised the work of past and current QC students work. Additionally, I made direct contact with a handful them and asked them to shed some light on their learning experience with QC Makeup Academy. The responses I received were all overwhelmingly positive.

Brand Parternships

I was also extremely impressed with QC’s strong network and social media presence. As well, I was amazed by the partnerships they have with countless big-name brands in the beauty industry. For instance, they’re a MAC Pro eligible school!

On top of this, they also have 21 other esteemed brand partners across North America, the UK, and Australia. The best part of this? Once you become a QC student, you’re automatically eligible for major discounts with all of these companies!

Community Culture

Everything I saw while conducting my research assured me that QC’s makeup courses are truly the best of the best. Ultimately, this was why I decided to pursue my certification training with them. No other beauty school (at least, that I could find) provides such an all-inclusive, tangible approach to quality learning.

They’ve also cultivated a tight-knit student community, which is a major bonus. For example, they run an active Virtual Classroom on Facebook that currently has 2,000 members. This group encouraging you to build your professional relationships and connect with other QC students/grads.

Moreover, their social media pages, Beauty Buzz blog, and exclusive webinars placed them far above any other makeup schools I looked into. To put it simply: QC Makeup Academy provides a legitimate, quality learning experience.

If you’re looking for a school that truly prioritizes their students’ needs and puts YOUR interests first, you need look no further!

Want to see what others have been saying about their experience with QC Makeup Academy? Here are 200+ raving reviews on our Facebook page!

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, choosing an online makeup course can be tricky. The internet can be a difficult place to navigate when you’re frequently exposed to fraudulent schemes and dodgy companies.

Here’s the point: you MUST do your due diligence by conducting thorough research!

Find a makeup school that provides their students with quality learning and feedback from legitimate professionals. This school must offer a range of learning methods, as well as provides students with professional business and networking tools.

With this, my fellow artists, you’ll be well on your way to success in conquering the professional makeup industry!

Enroll in QC Makeup Academy’s online makeup courses today and start your dream career in as little as 2-6 months!

How to Showcase Your Makeup Portfolio On Your Website!

By Career Advice, QC Student Ambassador, Your Makeup Career 3 Comments

In this day and age, having a physical makeup portfolio won’t be enough – no matter how gorgeous it is! Since we all live online now, it’s critical to showcase your work on digital platforms as well. One prime example is on your business website!

Not sure how to do this? QC Makeup Academy Student Ambassador, Katie Stegeman, has 4 tips to get you started in the right direction!

Katie is a certified Master International Makeup Professional and International Skincare Consulting, Professional. Moreover, she’s a graduate of QC’s Virtual Makeup Training and is currently enrolled in 5 other courses!

Makeup portfolio article, July 23 2021, Katie Stegeman headshot

A Little About Me

Hi, everyone! My name is Katie Stegeman. I’m a graduate and Student Ambassador of QC Makeup Academy. I’ve graduated from QC’s Master Makeup Artistry, Skincare Course, and Virtual Makeup Training Course. Additionally, I am also enrolled in the:

  • Pro Makeup Workshop
  • Airbrush Makeup Workshop
  • Global Beauty Course
  • Hair Styling Essentials Course
  • Portfolio Development Workshop

Today, I want to discuss the importance of a makeup portfolio. My goal is to teach YOU a few handy ways to showcase it properly, so that you can help transform your business and brand. So, let’s jump right into it!

Marketing Your Makeup Portfolio Online: Where to Focus

Sharing your work across a wide variety of online platforms is sort of like a big funnel. The more places you showcase your photos, the more people will be looking at your work. This, in turn, will raise awareness of your business and get it seen by prospective, target clients. As a result, you’ll be able to drastically increase your bookings!

If you don’t market your makeup portfolio online, however, then there are no two ways about it: you’re going to be limiting your brand’s potential. You’ll shrink the circle of prospective clients that see your work, which will negatively impact your booking ability.

Firstly, you need to make sure that you have a makeup portfolio that demonstrates your very best work. From there, one of the BEST ways to promote it online is by sharing it on your business website. By doing this, you’ll help potentials clients find you more easily and conveniently!

In a nutshell: the more your makeup portfolio is shared, the more prospective clients will see you. So, ensure you have a professional website and share your work there! This will dramatically increase your chances for a massive presence, following, and public interest.

Asian model with bold eye makeup

4 Tips for Showcasing Your Portfolio on Your Website

Tip #1: Make sure your makeup portfolio is easily accessible on your website!

When including your makeup portfolio on your business website, the first thing to keep in mind is its accessibility. Is it simple and straightforward to find? Or will people need to jump through hoops just to figure out where it is?

If potential clients are struggling to find your photos (or struggling to navigate your site in general), they’ll quickly lose interest and move on. We definitely don’t want that! As such, it’s extremely important to look at all of your options. Which photos from your portfolio do you want to use on your site? Where do you want to display them? What can you do to make sure viewers know exactly where your portfolio is within the first few seconds of landing on your site?

Do some research! Look up other MUAs in your area and check out their websites. How have they showcased their portfolios? How long did it take you to find them? Can you see all of their photos? Are they easy to scroll through? Can you access everything without trouble?

The easier the process is, the more likely people will continue to look at your work. This can make a HUGE difference on whether potential clients want to book with you or not!

Tip #2: Make sure your makeup portfolio is cohesive and visually appealing!

This next tip goes hand-in-hand with tip #1. You want a makeup portfolio that’s visually appealing. Moreover, its flow needs to make sense. Personally, when I’m looking at someone else’s portfolio, aesthetics plays a big role in my first impression of that business. If I can’t find the photos easily on the site, or the photos are not laid out nicely, I’m probably not going to stay on that website for much longer.

There are so many programs nowadays that can help you format images so that they all look similar and are all the same size. By simply making them all the same size and/or keeping a theme or color going throughout, you can easily create visual similarities in your portfolio. This will please the eye of potential clients and create a natural flow from one photo to the next. Typically, once I get photos back from a professional photographer, I try to lay out my photos in an order that looks best and is truly eye-catching.

Blonde model makeup fashion photoshoot

Tip #3: Only showcase your BEST work!

There are plenty of photos I’ve taken of the work that I have pulled out of my makeup portfolio. Why? Because I have BETTER quality photos, or my skills have improved since a certain photo was taken. The better I get as an artist, the higher-quality photos I have to put out there as my best work.

Plus, the longer I’m working in the industry, the more diversity of projects I’ve worked on. Therefore, I can add these to my portfolio and showcase more of my skills. For my photos, I always make sure that I have:

  • Good lighting
  • No filters
  • Cropped dimensions to better show makeup techniques
  • Clear resolution (rather than a fuzzy or grainy photo)

If you keep the above in mind, this will all lead to you having the best portfolio possible!

Want to learn more about what NOT to do in your makeup portfolio? Here are 4 rookie mistakes to avoid!

Tip #4: Show a wide range of diversity!

No two clients will be the same. After all, people have different skin tones, types, concerns, style preferences, and visions. If your makeup portfolio only showcases your skills on one skin tone or type, you could be alienating a lot of potential clients who don’t necessarily fall into that category. Furthermore, if you only demonstrate a tiny handful of styles, it could inadvertently tell people that that’s all you know how to do.

In order to be the best of the best, and attract as many interested parties as possible, make sure that your portfolio is diverse. Ideally, you should showcase models that:

  • Have different skin tones
  • Have different skin types
  • Are of varying ages
  • Are of different genders
  • Wear varying makeup styles and/or techniques

Speaking from experience, I’ve been able to work on all sorts of models, thanks to my comprehensive certification training with QC Makeup Academy. For example, I’ve done makeup for senior portraits, maternity shoots, Renaissance-styled shoots, and bridal editorial. Because my makeup portfolio shows a wide range of makeup styles, prospective clients have a clear understanding of what I’m capable of!

Makeup portfolio male model shoot

The Benefits of Professional Makeup Training

What professional makeup training has given me has been truly invaluable. QC Makeup Academy’s Master Makeup Artistry Course was the foundation of my education. It taught me everything I needed to know about makeup artistry in order to work at an expert level. Since then, adding more QC courses to my repertoire has been the best decision I could’ve possibly made for my career!

QC Makeup Academy’s Portfolio Development Workshop

In particular, QC’s Portfolio Development Workshop has really helped me. This 2-unit program will teach you everything you need to know about:

  • The importance of makeup portfolios for professional makeup artists;
  • Researching industry standards;
  • Planning and conducting your very own photoshoot;
  • The presentation of your makeup portfolio;
  • Basic photo editing;
  • How to market your portfolio;
  • Distributing and submitting your images for publishing;
  • Marketing your business services;
  • And more!

How This Workshop Has Helped Me

Putting my best foot forward and showcasing the skills I have to offer clients are huge! This is especially important when considering the competition of other makeup artists in the area. Most of the artists in my are only using social media as a means of sharing their portfolio. However, relying on social media alone can make things tricky to navigate, depending on how the platform is laid out.

Understanding the importance of having my makeup portfolio on my website, as well as how to display it there, are all things that QC’s Portfolio Development Workshop helped me, master. Furthermore, this course also taught me how to plan a shoot on my own, and choose how I wanted to showcase that work. I enrolled in this program to have a better understanding of how I needed to develop my portfolio… and I can DEFINITELY say this course delivered on that in spades!

Final Thoughts

And don’t forget: if you want to connect with me directly, or have questions about QC Makeup Academy, you can always find me in the free Virtual Classroom on Facebook. Thank you so much for taking the time to read.

If you’re debating on becoming a professional makeup artist, or you just want to expand the knowledge you already have, you need QC Makeup Academy! Leave a comment down below to let me know what you think. Do you have any other tips on how to showcase your makeup portfolio on a website? I’d love to hear them!

Enroll in QC’s Portfolio Development Workshop today and learn everything you need to create the best makeup portfolio possible!

Makeup artist salary article, July 16 2021, Feature Image

6 Niches That’ll Increase Your Makeup Artist Salary

By Career Advice, From the Experts, Your Makeup Career One Comment

Want to increase your makeup artist salary? You’ve come to the right place! Today, QC Makeup Academy alumnus, Gabrielle Rivera, is here to reveal 6 awesome niches that can help you book more clients and boost your income!

How Education Will Impact Your Makeup Artist Salary

The professional makeup industry is one that is highly saturated. As a makeup artist, you may question which steps you can take to increase your salary, keep a consistent cash flow, and maintain steady client bookings.

For starters, it’s important to understand that proper education is a key niche that’ll help you to increase your rates! When clients or companies are looking to book a makeup artist, the fact that you have a reputable certification will put you far ahead of your competition. Similarly, having the right credentials to your name will help you build client to trust a whole lot easier. After all, they’ll be able to feel confident that you truly are the best of the best! Furthermore, they’ll be able to see this through the time and work you’ve put into becoming a legitimate subject-matter expert.

The Value of a Niche

Another excellent way you can increase your makeup artist’s salary is by honing one or more niches. A niche is a specialized area of the market that’s considered rare. Niches are often things that are in high demand but are not as regularly offered. Furthermore, it’s also that special something that can make you unique from the other MUAs in your area!

Below are some Advanced and Specialty Courses offered by QC Makeup Academy. I guarantee that any of these niches will help you boost your makeup artist salary. So, continue reading to see what each of these training programs have to offer!

Makeup artist salary article, July 16 2021, airbrush makeup

Niches That’ll Increase Your Makeup Artist Salary

1. Airbrush Makeup

Aside from knowing how to apply traditional makeup, airbrush makeup is a popular technique in both the bridal and Special FX worlds. The benefits of airbrush makeup are that it can be long-lasting and quickly applied. Moreover, this type of makeup creates a natural, seamless finish. Adding airbrush makeup to your skills is a fantastic way to gain more clientele, increase your bookings, and boost your makeup artist salary!

Helpful Resources

Here are some resources/articles on airbrush makeup that will provide you with even more information, guidance, and tips:

2. Hair Styling

Hairstyling is another skill set that easily goes hand-in-hand with makeup artistry. When clients are looking to book an MUA, more often than not they’re also looking for a hairstylist. What better way to increase your makeup artist salary and build your clientele than by providing both of these services under one roof?

QC Makeup Academy’s Hair Styling Essentials Course teaches you how to create studio hairstyles that you can use to work in the bridal, studio or editorial settings. Knowing how to create hairstyles alongside makeup applications will allow you to create a full, finished product!

Helpful Resources

Here are some resources/articles on hair styling that will provide you with even more information, guidance, and tips:

Hair stylist curling client's hair at salon

3 More Niches To Boost Your Makeup Artist Salary!

3. Global Beauty

Beauty makeup truly goes beyond knowing the latest social media trends – especially those only popular in your area of the world. Something that can help you stand out, work with a larger range of clients, and increase your makeup artist salary is to know how to apply global beauty makeup!

QC’s Global Beauty Workshop will teach you how to create applications that are international. You can refine your skills in order to address a range of cultures and religions. Furthermore, you’ll discover how to properly apply makeup on all skin tones and types!

Helpful Resources

Here are some resources/articles on global beauty makeup that will provide you with even more information, guidance, and tips:

4. Special FX Makeup

When you think of special effects makeup, you might only think of Halloween-style makeup. However, SFX makeup goes FAR beyond that! This area of makeup can be created for movie sets, TV shows, theater, and so much more. In terms of bumping up your makeup artist salary, learning special effects makeup is a solid strategy!

QC Makeup Academy’s Special FX Makeup Course will teach you the basics of color theory, bruising, applying bald caps, working with prosthetics, and much more. Through this program, you’ll learn how to apply crepe hair, develop unique characters, create cuts and fantasy makeup – just to name a few things! Knowing this range of skills is guaranteed to make you a more valuable asset to agencies, as well as clients.

Helpful Resources

Here are some resources/articles on special effects makeup that will provide you with even more information, guidance, and tips:

Beautiful tender girl in the ornaments of feathers. Tender girl in the form of a bird. Girl bird Very beautiful young girl. Fairy makeup. Fantasy makeup.

5. Fashion Styling

As a professional makeup artist, you need to be able to see your client in the entire picture: hair, makeup, and fashion. When working on-set for a photoshoot, film, or television, it’s important to understand how the fashion aspect will fit into your makeup and hair applications.

Think of makeup, hair, and fashion as the ultimate holy trinity. Together, they create the most rounded-out, completed look – and this is exactly why QC Makeup Academy offers a Fashion Styling Course! This way – alongside your makeup and hair training – you truly learn how to master all three fields.

Once enrolled in this program, you’ll discover how to conduct fashion consultations with clients, work with textures and tones, and determine what works best for each individual’s body type. This skill-set pairs great with makeup and hairstyling to help you create the perfect look, from head to toe!

Helpful Resources

Here are some resources/articles on fashion styling that will provide you with even more information, guidance, and tips:

Bonus Niche: Virtual Makeup Services

Lastly, another option that can help increase your makeup artist salary is to consider signing up for QC’s Virtual Makeup Training mini-course. By offering clients virtual makeup and/or skin care services, you’d be able to consult and work with clients from all over the world!

These days, it’s easy for individuals to turn to social media for answers or advice regarding makeup or skincare. But imagine the benefits of having YOU as a consultant to provide factual, professional expertise instead! This course will allow you to work from home, make additional money for your business, and connect you with more clientele than you could ever imagine.

Here are some resources/articles on virtual makeup and skincare that will provide you with even more information, guidance, and tips:

Now that we’ve reached the end, my only question to you is: What are you waiting for? You have the power to increase your makeup artist salary by investing in yourself and your skill-set. So, don’t wait a second longer to make the future happen for you, today!

Earn your internationally recognized certification in as little as 2-6 months and start on the path towards a higher makeup artist salary! Enroll with QC Makeup Academy today!

Makeup artist jobs article, July 15 2021, Feature Image

The Ultimate List of DOS and DON’TS for Makeup Artist Jobs!

By Career Advice, From the Experts, Your Makeup Career 2 Comments

Want to rock your makeup artist jobs each and every time? Then this list of DOs and DON’Ts was made especially for YOU!

Charlotte Ravet is the proud owner of her very own hair and makeup business, A Date with Charlotte. Her extensive resume includes working for Prada, L’Oreal, and even the cast of the hit show, Glee! A developer of educational programs, Charlotte has even been awarded Best Makeup Educator of the Year by the Australian Industry Makeup Awards.

From Makeup Training to Makeup Artist Jobs

After completing your makeup certification training with QC Makeup Academy, you’ll have learned all the skills and techniques needed to succeed in your dream career! From there, it’ll be time to find clients and start booking professional makeup artist jobs!

As much as you might feel confident in your makeup skills, you’re going to feel quite a bit of pressure when you go to your very first job. Don’t worry, this kind of anxiety is totally normal and to be expected. For instance, you might be wondering:

  • What should I wear?
  • Who should I talk to?
  • How should I speak with my clients?
  • What can I do to ensure a great first impression?

Professionalism is a universal concept. But when it comes to a creative industry like makeup, the rules can be slightly different. It can be tricky to understand what the right etiquette is when you’re on a job.

Luckily, I’ve got you covered! Here are 3 things you should never do during makeup artist jobs – and the 3 things you need to do instead!

Makeup artist jobs article, July 15 2021, in-post image

3 DOs and DON’Ts for Makeup Artist Jobs

DON’T: Be late, wearing inappropriate clothing, and/or have a lousy attitude!

Let’s be real… Do I really need to explain why doing ANY of these things can majorly hurt your reputation?

DO: Arrive on time and make the best possible first impression at your makeup artist jobs!

Start with the basics! Arrive on time, with clean clothes and a clean makeup kit. Ensure that your breath is fresh, your nails are clean, and that there’s a smile on your face! It sounds simple, but these things alone make up a LOT of what people will expect from you right off the bat. First impressions always matter!

Firstly (and I can never stress this enough): always make hygiene your top priority! Looking professionally groomed and having a clean makeup artist kit is mandatory to ensure a successful start to your career. For example, imagine that you made an appointment at a hair salon, only to show up and discover that the place is filthy. Chances are, you’ll have a bad opinion of their services!

In the same way, both your kit and your appearance are the windows of your business. Since you’re working in an artistic industry, tattoos and colored hair are tolerated (sometimes, even common). However, personal hygiene is still a must!

Next, arriving on time is also extremely important. This is because the makeup artist is always the first one to kick off the day’s events, whatever they may be. Arriving late can delay a whole production or put the bride under pressure on her most important day. Moreover, showing up late will definitely make you appear unprofessional. In turn, this can negatively impact your ability to book future makeup artist jobs.

Last, but definitely not least, always remember to put a smile on! No one will want to work with a Negative Nelly. If, however, you’re known for your infectious smile, your friendly demeanor, and your positive outlook, everyone will want to collaborate and benefit from your expertise.

Makeup artist and hair stylist working on client at the same time in salon

DON’T: Show up to makeup artist jobs unprepared!

Because you put the time and effort into your professional certification training, you’ll have learned everything you need to know about being properly prepared for makeup artist jobs. After all, if you arrive at a booking and don’t know what you’re doing, it’s going to be obvious to everyone around you. In turn, this is bound to make you seem unprofessional.

An unprofessional makeup artist isn’t a makeup artist that others will want to work with again. So, if you’re goal is to book as many clients as possible and sustain a thriving career, always ensure that you do everything you can to be as in the know as possible!

DO: Be as prepared as possible!

As part of your makeup training, you created face charts, conducted research, and explored the depths of your own creativity. The exact same goes when working on makeup artist jobs! Knowing who you should talk with, as well as who you will be applying makeup on, is very important.

Studio Makeup Artist Jobs

If you’ll be working in a studio, you’ll receive a call sheet with all the names of the talents and crew. Don’t simply take the call sheet and put it aside. Rather, go over it thoroughly and familiarize yourself as much as you can with everyone’s names! And if you haven’t been provided with that information? Research the previous work of the director and/or photographer! This will help you better understand the lighting, who the talents are, etc.

No, you won’t be expected to know everyone – but making a bit of conversation with the talents is always appreciated. Having a bit of history about them always makes it easier. Plus, by doing some research, you can also see previous examples of their makeup looks. Knowing the previous work from the photographer or the director will also help you to better understand the artistic direction of the project.

Private Makeup Artist Jobs

If you’re doing makeup for a private client, try setting up a client consultation before the appointment. This consultation will allow you to thoroughly know and prepare for the exact types of look your client is after. Do not hesitate to ask all the necessary questions prior to the makeup job! The more prepared you are, the smoother the day will be.

Moreover, always confirm with the team or the client that there are lighting and power sockets accessible in your workspace. Also, check the weather if you are doing hair in addition to makeup. Rain or humidity can ruin a hairstyle or makeup application all too easily! So, take it into consideration when creating the looks.

Makeup artist working from contour palette

DON’T: Rely on a verbal agreement when deciding the budget for your services!

We are sometimes shy when it comes to talking about money. However, this is an absolute must! Of course, as a freelancer, the fear of losing a client because of the quote is very common. It’s always hard to know what your client is expecting to pay. Furthermore, if you’re bookings have been a little quiet, the pressure of not having upcoming work coming can make the temptation of working for less money that much stronger.

But that being said, it’s important to know your value and stick to your guns. Sure, some flexibility can be granted on a client-by-client basis – so long as you’re still getting fairly compensated for the work expected of you. Ultimately, though, your rates are set as they are for a reason: because they reflect your advanced skill-set, professional brand, and time spent getting trained to that high standard. The right clients will understand your value and be willing to pay for what you’re worth.

Lastly, never make the mistake of assuming all parties agree to your rates and rely solely on a verbal agreement.  Otherwise, things can potentially get messy and/or complicated later on in the process.

DO: Get your budget approved in writing!

Once it has been determined what amount your client should be paying you for your work, ALWAYS get it in writing. Moreover, have the client read it over and sign it. That way, there’s a paper trail of the terms all parties have agreed upon. This will give you security in the unfortunate event that the client ever tries to pay you less when the time comes.

How to Negotiate the Budget During Makeup Artist Jobs

The truth is, negotiating is part of the job. If you don’t believe in yourself and set your prices with confidence, no one else is going to do it for you! So, here are a few tips to negotiate smoothly with your clients and secure your prices:

  • Always look busy. It doesn’t matter whether you’re totally booked, or you have no makeup jobs planned for the next 3 weeks. Always say, “Let me have a look at my calendar,” when someone calls you! Being busy tells others that you’re in high demand. As a result, people will want to work with you! From there, then you can negotiate…
  • Set your prices. Stop asking yourself what your client is willing to pay! Set your prices based on your experience, area, and the quality of the products you use. Then it’s just a matter of sticking with it! Whether you wish to list your service rates on your business website or not is up to you. But you should have a half-day and a full-day rate, along with individual prices for private clients. That’s it! If your client has a set price for the job which he/she communicates to you directly, it’ll then be up to you to take it, negotiate a higher rate, or decline the makeup artist job.
  • Again, confirm all agreements in writing. Once you’ve agreed on the makeup job requirements and fees, confirm everything by email. When the job is completed, send the invoice right away. What’s more – don’t forget to include terms and conditions for late payments in your contract. Unfortunately, the odd client will try to swindle you from time to time. Protecting yourself and being organized will avoid disappointments.
Professional female makeup artist applying cosmetics on model face use brush working at beauty salon. Woman visagist make up master dyeing facial visage to client appearance makeover

When you work as a freelance makeup artist, you are your own boss! While that is fantastic, it admittedly requires organization and professionalism at all times. Of course, we all learn from our mistakes – but setting up the correct rules from the start will help to start your dream job safely, navigate makeup artist jobs with success, and enjoy the experience to its fullest extent!

Prepare yourself to rock any and all makeup artist jobs by first getting professionally trained and certified! Enroll with QC Makeup Academy today and graduate in as little as 2-6 months!