Wedding Makeup

How Do I Become a Bridal Makeup Artist?

September 15, 2022
D'Corzo Photography

Are you an aspiring makeup artist looking to make your mark in the wedding industry? Becoming a specialty bridal makeup artist is an incredibly fulfilling opportunity. With the right tips, tools and techniques, anyone can unlock their potential as a successful bridal makeup artist with Updos For I Dos. From building up your portfolio to understanding what it takes to land jobs as a wedding makeup artist, this guide will provide you with all the information needed for starting your journey into becoming a sought-after wedding makeup professional. Continue reading to take the first steps towards making your career (or even side-hustle) dreams come true!

How Do I Start a Career in Bridal Makeup?

If you are new to the world of makeup artistry and looking to break into the world of bridal makeup, there are a few options of paths to get there! Some makeup artists attend makeup schools to refine and expand their current skill set, while other artists use alternative curriculums to achieve the same growth!

Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, and additional online platforms are flush with tutorials and can be a fabulous and inexpensive resource for artists eager to learn. While we do love the educational opportunities that these platforms provide, there is nothing quite as effective as hands-on education programs and training, especially for artists that have minimal experience with makeup.

Once you have the basic "foundation" of makeup applications under your belt, the most beneficial thing to do is practice as much as possible. (And photograph everything!). Not only is it key that wedding makeup artists master the skills needed to apply makeup, but it is also crucial that makeup artists perfect their makeup application efficiency. Wedding days are planned to an absolute T and it is so crucial that as a makeup artist, you are able to apply a flawless makeup application in the most time-efficient manner. A great way to practice this is to ask a group of friends to come hang out with you for an afternoon and let you do their makeup! Think of it as a mock wedding day working with a bridal party.

Dani Leigh Photography

Equally as important to practicing is photo documentation of every makeup application you provide. Not only will documenting your makeup looks provide you with photos for your lookbook and social media portfolios, but it will also give you an opportunity to analyze your work and focus on areas of improvement. Wedding day makeup is heavily photographed and it is essential that your work photographs flawlessly! By taking photos every time you create a makeup look, over time your work will continue to improve, be more refined, and be picture-perfect.

Now that you feel confident in your makeup application process and efficiency, it's time to assess what your goals are. If you are interested in joining a professional wedding hair and makeup company, Google is a fabulous tool! Use keywords such as, "makeup artist jobs near me", "wedding makeup artist jobs", or "makeup artist hiring near me". Simple searches such as these will provide you with options and from here you can create a game plan for your career or makeup artist side-hustle. 

What is the Schedule Like for Bridal Makeup Artists? 

As an Updos For I Dos makeup artist, you have the flexibility to make your own schedule! Typically, weddings are held on Friday's, Saturday's, and Sunday's; if you are working towards becoming a full-time bridal makeup artist, it is essential that you are available on those days. The more available you are, the more weddings you will book!

If you don't have the most flexible schedule but are still looking for a part-time bridal makeup artist job, our door is open! You do not have to commit to becoming a full-time makeup artist, it is a fabulous side hustle to have in your pocket for the weekends! Some of our current Updos For I Dos artists have full-time office jobs, but are incredibly passionate about makeup artistry! They are able to work with gorgeous brides and their bridal parties on the weekends while being able to maintain an additional 9-5 job.

Anna Schmidt Photography

At the end of the day, whether you are looking for a full-time makeup artist job or part-time makeup artist work, there's a place for you at Updos For I Dos.

How Do I Become a Bridal Makeup Artist?

Whether you're looking to be a full-time, part-time, or an every once in a while wedding makeup artist, Updos For I Dos is able to work with your schedule. We have an Operations Team of five that handles all of the “fun” administrative work, such as contracts, payments, advertising, networking, marketing, logistics, communication, and a whole lot of other things.

As an Artist, you get to focus on your craft and work with amazing people and at beautiful locations! Updos For I Dos was one of the first premier on-site bridal wedding hair and makeup companies; being so well known, we work with over 500 brides and bridal parties every year! When you join a well-known company such as ours, you will reap the benefits of representing Updos For I Dos; AKA, booking a LOT of weddings! Apply to join our fabulous team of creatives today by clicking the link here!