Should You Work For Free as a Makeup Artist?
Imagine this: you’ve gone to cosmetology school in Toronto and received intensive training on makeup skills. You鈥檙e ready to start your own business using your new found abilities as a makeup artist.
Then one of your old friends from high school calls you up.
鈥淚 heard you know a lot about makeup,鈥� she says. 鈥淗ow about getting some practice by doing my makeup for my wedding鈥攆or free?鈥�
What would you do in this situation? You鈥檇 need to weigh the pros and cons of working as a makeup artists without financial compensation.
The Pros of Working for Free
On the one hand, this is a friend who asked you to help, and you鈥檙e always happy to help out your friends.
Plus, you can count doing your friend鈥檚 makeup as an experience, so you have something to tell future clients. (鈥淚 recently did a bride鈥檚 makeup, and everyone was just oohing and aahing over it! It was such a great experience and gave me the confidence I need to do makeup for any event!鈥�)
If you’ve just finished school, people might not be willing to pay you much anyway due to your lack of experience. Chalk up the hours quickly, even if they’re free, and you鈥檙e on your way to making a better living off of your makeup skills.
The Cons of Working for Free
On the other hand, working for free is never anyone鈥檚 career goal. If you agree to do one friend鈥檚 makeup for free, the word might get out, and soon all your friends will be expecting a free makeover.
Remember that you鈥檙e not just a friend playing around with makeup. You spent your hard-earned money and your valuable time training to become a makeup artist, and your skills are worth recognition and payment.
The Middle Ground
The cosmetology professionals at 91自拍 suggest that you take on a few clients for free at the beginning to build up your portfolio. Ultimately, though, once you want to be considered a professional makeup artist, you need to hold your ground and only do paid work.
So, what should you say to your friend?
If you鈥檙e just barely out of school and feel like this would be a valuable experience for your portfolio, say something like, 鈥淟ucky you! You caught me right when I got out of school, and I鈥檓 still trying to increase my experience by offering a few free makeovers. But within the next few months, I鈥檒l be charging all my clients. If you like my work, pass the word on to your friends!鈥�
However, if you feel like you have enough experience to charge, say something like, 鈥淚鈥檓 not offering free makeovers at this point in my career, but I鈥檇 love to do your makeup at a discounted rate.鈥�
When you hold your ground, your clients鈥攅ven your old high school friends鈥攚ill respect you as an experienced makeup artist. Then you鈥檙e that much closer to making a career out of what you love.
If you鈥檇 like more advice, contact 91自拍! We would be happy to boost your cosmetology career.
To learn more about our聽Makeup Artist diploma program in the Greater Toronto Area, visit our website.聽