Before you set up a business as a bridal makeup artist, make sure there is a market for your services. Carefully check out the competition in your area. This can be done by searching the internet to find other makeup artists in your region (and outside), in particular those specializing in bridal makeup artistry. You can then enquire about their rates, albeit this may be better coming from a friend's email rather than your own, as it will look rather obvious and they may not want to share their info! This is a great way for you to gauge how much you can charge in your area without under or over-pricing yourself.
Look out for wedding planners, dress shops, florists, and wedding photographers/videographers. All can be approached with your company information, business cards, or a polite introduction email. All referencing your work.
It is also a good idea to check on wedding venues in and around your area such as cathedrals, churches, chapels, hotels, manor houses, barns, and historical houses– even some garden centers offer themselves as a wedding venue! You could visit many of these venues personally in order to drop off a flyer or card. Most venues have a preferred suppliers list, you can enquire about this and see if your work would be up to the standard they require to put you forward to potential brides.
Attend as many Wedding Exhibitions and Fairs as possible. Meet and network with other industry professionals and potentially distribute your flyers, business cards, and price lists. It is important to show an interest in their company first however as nobody likes to be sold to when they have paid good money to exhibit at the event, be respectful and ask the right questions before talking about yourself.
It is also a good idea to list your business in a wedding directory as well as local business directories. These can often be in the form of a blog or website and can be found quite easily via a Google search.
Advertise your services in county magazines and/or local newspapers. Sometimes this can be expensive but if you can submit some editorial about yourself as part of the deal that makes it more worthwhile.
Ensure when setting up your website, it appears on the first page of Google. This is achieved by using carefully selected keywords. Keywords such as 'bridal makeup' and your area, 'makeup artist' and your area, 'wedding makeup' etc. It can easily be done on your introduction page, i.e. About Me. Try and introduce as many keywords as you can think of bearing in mind what a bride will be searching for. You can use a keyword search tool such as www.keywordtool.io which will help you.
Use social media. Set up a Facebook page for your business. Use Twitter and Instagram as well as Pinterest to promote your business and other services to gain followers. ‘Liking’ other wedding suppliers is a great way of gaining interest and likes for your own profile. Make sure your pages are updated on a very regular basis with relevant photos and comments. You can link these to your website to help drive potential clients in your direction.
As a bridal makeup artist, it's crucial to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and techniques. But in today's digital age, it's equally important to protect yourself from hackers and cyber threats. Having recently suffered from an attack ourselves and been locked out of all accounts, we can speak from experience! As a small […]
Can you give us a brief overview of your background/qualifications and what attracted you to the beauty industry? I started off in the industry as a commercial model and I always felt so much more confident when my makeup had been done that I often thought how nice it would be to do the same […]
Bridal makeup tips for makeup artists
1. Practice. Practice. And then practice some more. Practice makes perfect no matter which industry you are in and makeup is no exception. If you want to hone your craft, here are some great bridal makeup tips for makeup artists. To be in high demand as a reliable and talented artist, you really can’t practice […]
Creating your first portfolio as a Bridal Makeup Artist
Your bridal makeup artist portfolio is the key to your success. Your portfolio is probably the most important part of your armory as a bridal makeup artist. It will be the deciding factor for a bride whether she chooses to initially email you or not. When you are first starting out this can be a […]
Health and safety for makeup artists
When starting up your new business as a makeup artist, the most important aspect is to be aware of the health and safety requirements concerning both you and your client. Health and safety for makeup artists and clients come first at all times. Cross Contamination This is the most important aspect of your work as […]
How do I start my bridal makeup business?
Starting up your own bridal makeup business can seem daunting but it is actually quite straightforward. Just remember being your own boss and working for yourself is fantastic. Owning your business allows you more freedom than a conventional 9-5. You can work as hard or as little as you feel. Set your own hours and […]
