A Beginner's Guide to Setting Your Rates as a Makeup Artist

As a makeup artist, determining your rates is not just about picking a number or what others are charging; it's a strategic process that reflects your skill, experience, and the value you bring to your clients. Here are a few essential components of setting your rates, taking into account your experience, social media presence, location, field of specialization, as well as the critical considerations of travel, products, time and labor.

Your Locations

Geographic location plays a pivotal role in determining your rates. Please refrain from solely relying on social media and asking people from all over the world how much they charge, thinking you can just adopt those rates. Firstly, it's crucial to conduct research on the average rates in your specific area, taking into account the local cost of living. If you are located in NYC or California, naturally, your rates will be higher than in smaller towns. However, if you are an established artist, your approach might differ; you can set a standard rate applicable to any location, leaving it to the client to decide if it aligns with their budget.

Your Experiences:

In the initial two years of my career as a Makeup Artist, I undertook numerous unpaid jobs to gain experience, initially thinking $50-$80 was a substantial amount until the reality hit that it posed challenges in covering essential expenses like rent, food, and basic needs. Your level of expertise plays a pivotal role in determining your rates. Reflect on the years dedicated to improving your craft, the training you've invested in, and the skills acquired through continuous learning. For those just starting, it's acceptable to charge lower rates, ensuring it covers your supplies. As you evolve as an artist, your rates should gradually adjust. Established artists with experience can command higher rates, mirroring the true value of their expertise.

Your Social Presences:

In 2024, simply doing makeup alone is no longer sufficient. Whether you agree or disagree, the reality of the current time emphasizes the importance of growing your social media presence. In this age of digital influence, your standing on social media can profoundly affect your market value. A larger following, increased engagement, and a robust online presence can make a substantial impact on your professional reach. This element can empower you to set higher rates even if you operate in a smaller town, showcasing the influence of a strong online presence in shaping your market value.

Your Makeup Niche

Within the makeup industry, various fields, including fashion, bridal, union, theater, salon, and more, they all have different elements to determine each rates. It’s crucial  to research and educate yourself across these diverse fields to establish a foundational understanding of their differences. By deciding the direction in which you want to grow, you can effectively determine the rates you should charge, considering the unique demands of each field and what elements should be accounted for within your rates. This strategic approach ensures that your pricing aligns with the specific requirements of your chosen makeup path.

Your Expenses

When establishing your rates as a makeup artist, it's vital to recognize that you're not solely charging for the makeup service itself. Consider the time invested in preparation, travel, and the costs associated with quality products, and factor these into your rates. Just because you can complete a full makeup application in 45 minutes, charging $50-$80 doesn't equate to keeping 100% of that fee. Numerous factors need to be considered. Your rates should reflect not only your artistic skill but also the time and effort invested in delivering exceptional results. It's crucial to dedicate time to educate yourself and devise a realistic pricing strategy that not only supports your career but aligns with your chosen lifestyle.

A Formula for intermediate Artists

I've developed a simple formula that has provided me with guidance when determining rates. For example, if I charge $100 for an on-location makeup service, and the entire process – including preparation, travel, setup, service, and cleanup – takes 3 hours, the calculated hourly rate is $33. This makes it easier to adjust the hourly rate as I grow as an artist, using the formula as a guide (bearing in mind that it doesn't include the cost of products used on the job, making the actual hourly rate even lower).

To illustrate, if I charge $33/hr, someone wanting to book me for 4 hours would result in a half-day rate of $130, and 10 hours would lead to a full-day rate of $330. This prompts me to evaluate if the hourly rate works for me and make adjustments accordingly.

Extending this formula to rates like $100/hr, $120/hr, and $150/hr allows for flexibility. While this is not a definitive system, it serves as a general guide to jumpstart your thinking if you're unsure where to begin. People may have differing opinions on this, but this approach has proven effective for me, and I'm sharing it with you. Ultimately, clients will decide whether to book you based on your rates, experience, and social presence.

In conclusion, setting your rates is a multi-faceted process that involves careful consideration of your experience, online presence, location, specialization, travel, product costs, and the value of your time and labor. By evaluating each aspect, you can confidently establish rates that not only reflect your worth but also ensure a sustainable and successful makeup artistry career.

It takes a lot of time to keep this blog active. If you find this read helpful and would like to donate a coffee Venmo @vanktr | Zelle vanktr@gmail.com

10 Essential Steps To Improve your Career as a Makeup Artist in 2024

As we enter 2024, being a successful makeup artist is about more than just being creative. This article breaks down 10 important steps to improve your career in makeup. From learning new skills to organizing your kit and being active online, these steps are meant to help both new and experienced artists navigate the changing beauty industry.

1. Understanding basic photography, video & lighting

Having basic understanding of photography, video and lighting is indispensable for Makeup Artists. We are in a time where being an artist is just not enough; content creation and having a social presence are significant parts of this career, whether you like it or not. No matter how incredible your makeup is, if it’s not captured and presented correctly, your work will not reflect you as an artist. We are living in a time where knowledge is free and we can build an entire brand with a single mobile device in the comfort of your home. Most importantly having these basic knowledge can allow you to communicate with other creatives when you are on set and understanding why sometime images or video does not translate on the monitor versus in real life.

2. Re-evaluate your Makeup Kit

Reevaluate your makeup kit by laying out the entire contents and dedicating time to assess the tools and products you carry. Each item you choose should serve a purpose, avoiding inclusion 'just in case.' A well-curated makeup kit enables you to work faster and more efficiently, crucial in various career stages, locations, and fields. There will be times when you won't have a dedicated table or ample setup and breakdown time—having a condensed kit allows you to adapt to any situation. Building a kit is both expensive and time-consuming. My advice is to invest time in planning and researching, considering your needs and actual usage, before diving into this task to prevent frequent changes in your setup

3. Embrace Social Media: Share your Journey

Be active on social media and share your authentic self to leverage the power of personal branding. Showcase your work, behind-the-scenes moments, and your genuine self to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Trust me when I say, social media is not just a fun thing; it's part of my job. No one wants to work a 10-14 hour day on set, only to come home and deal with editing content, posting it, and receiving 12 views and 2 likes. It takes time and consistency to see results. Saying 'I don't understand it' or 'I don't like social media' can have a significant impact on your career. Remember, there was a time when people had to walk to work before cars were invented or mail a letter to communicate with others. Times have changed, and it's your choice to embrace these technologies or not.

4. Create content outside of work

Make time to create content outside of work. Beyond your paid assignments, it's essential to motivate yourself to practice, try new things, step out of your comfort zone, and continuously enhance your content while building your personal brand. As a Makeup Artist, you know that most of the time, you can't even post content from paid work until it's launched. Additionally, not all paid assignments align with your artistic style. It's crucial to curate a body of work that represents you as an artist and appeals to potential clients.

5. Find Inspiration beyond social media

If you only consume content on social media, your work will often reflect what is currently trending, making it more challenging to develop your own unique style. I believe it's important to visit museums, travel, and seek inspiration beyond the realm of makeup. I recall the first time I saw the work of Makeup Artist Terry Barber - it was a photo of burnt toast, next to which was a beautiful smokey eye inspired by the burnt toast. It might sound silly, but I still remember that today, and that was 6 years ago

6. Have a proper headshot

Have a proper headshot. Your headshot is often the first impression you make. It's important to invest in a professional headshot that reflects your style and personality, serving as a visual representation of your brand. Trust me, there will be a time and place when it will come in handy.

7. Build your portfolio around the market you want to be in

Think about the market you want to be in and build your book around it. This is something I wish someone told me when I first started. Building a book takes a long time and costs money. If you know you want to be a bridal Makeup Artist, curate your book around that before you start doing triple liners with a black lip. By following this advice, you can ensure that the end results can help you attract potential clients.

8. Use Social Media as a tool

Use social media as a tool. I know we've already spoken about this, but it's probably one of the most important things on this list. Social media is a tool—a very powerful one if you leverage it. Ninety-five percent of my paid work comes from my Instagram. Times have changed, and we need to keep up with them, or you can potentially miss out on many opportunities. I built an entire brand, Artist Kit Company, with just Instagram. I used to sleep on people's couches when I moved to NYC, and now I have a beautiful office and apartment in the heart of the city. I say this not to brag, but because I am 36 and have many friends who think social media is just a joke and look down on it. When I look at them, I see so many wasted opportunities. It's okay to feel confused, lost, and not understand something, but it's important to be open-minded, especially if you want to be a Makeup Artist in this current time.

9. Continue learning to grow

Continue to learn and educate yourself. The industry is constantly changing, and we, as artists, need to adapt to those changes. There is so much free knowledge on the market, and as individuals, we can decide if we want to continue learning. Every successful Makeup Artist I've ever met has told me the same thing: If you think you know everything, your career will stop there.

10. Write down your goals and a checklist of steps to achieve them

Transform your aspirations into reality by setting clear and realistic goals. Create a detailed checklist outlining the steps required to achieve these goals, providing a roadmap for your career progression. If you want to make $100,000/year, instead of looking at that single number, break it down to your rate per client and calculate how many clients you need in a year to hit that goal. Go even further by calculating how many clients per week can get you to that goal. Honestly, one of the best things I did was to start writing down goals with a checklist and put it in a place where I can see it every day to keep me on track.

In conclusion, the makeup industry will continue to change, and these are the 10 things that I believe can be helpful to anyone trying to navigate through the industry. I hope you find something helpful in the article because these are the things I wish someone told me when I first started out. If you feel lost and want some advice or guidance, feel free to book a Virtual Consultation

It takes a lot of time to keep this blog active. If you find this read helpful and would like to donate a coffee Venmo @vanktr | Zelle vanktr@gmail.com