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What does a Makeup Artist do?

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Top Answer
Talent.com talent.com
Answered May 27 2021
Career Expert at Talent.com
Makeup Artists can work in many different fields and different styles. That being said, most are employed in some facet of the fashion or entertainment industry. 

Some Makeup Artists work only on photo sets, while others may work in film and television. Other Makeup Artists specialize in special effects and prosthetics. 

Most Makeup Artists work on a freelance basis. They are self-employed professionals who work on jobs or in industries that they choose. They can only focus on makeup for events like proms and weddings or only on fashion shoots. There are many niches within Makeup Artistry for an artist to make their mark.

However, being freelance requires some business acumen. You need to be on top of your receipts, invoicing, and marketing. You also need to handle any customer service requests and accommodate clients to the best of your abilities. 

If you don’t want to work freelance, some cosmetic companies or stores hire full-time Makeup Artists. However, these artists tend to be more senior, with several years of freelancing experience under their belt. 

Roles & Responsibilities for a Makeup Artist
The primary duty of the Makeup Artist is to fulfill the client brief and deliver the requested makeup in a timely fashion. This can be broken down into several sub-responsibilities. 
  • Conferring with producers, customers, and performers to determine the desired final appearance
  • Establishing budgets accounting for materials and labor fees
  • Examining sketches, photographs, and other references from concept artists to get inspiration for the desired look
  • Reading and analyzing scripts to predetermine the necessary makeup and changes depending on different scenes and sceneries
  • Properly transporting their tools, equipment, and material
  • Assessing the customer’s skin tone and complexion, as well as their specific requirements, if any, to determine the necessary products and materials they will use
  • Attending special events such as weddings where they have multiple clients to pay attention to simultaneously
  • Keeping their workstation clean and washing their brushes and other tools after a day of work
  • Keeping records of all jobs performed and of their customers
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