Tips for Breaking into the Wedding Industry

There's a couple ways you can break into doing wedding makeup.

1-Reach out to friends & family, letting them know that you're a makeup artist, but most of all, if they know anyone that's engaged, to gently ask for referrals. Offer to do a complimentary makeup demo, if you don't feel comfortable charging for those services yet.

1a-Another creative way to get the word out is to look up your engaged friends on Facebook and reach out to them personally!

2-If you're a certified makeup artist or cosmetologist, reach out to the salons in your area. Offer to do a 2-week trial or "audition" so you can show your makeup skills.

2a-Another method is reaching out to experienced wedding makeup artists and offering to assist them for free. You would be their assistant--offer whatever help they may need, such as cleaning brushes, helping set up on site, etc.

3-If your pockets are deep enough, sign up to do a few wedding shows in your area. That is the best way to jumpstart your wedding makeup business, since you will be provided a list of brides to follow up with. Good makeup skills are not enough to cultivate a bridal clientele, you should also have good salesmanship skills--such as following up, making phone calls, and being aggressive. After these expos, brides get a deluge of solicitation calls from vendors, so you might have to reach out up to 6x just to get an appointment (unless they say no).

4-Again, if you have the money, I'd recommend signing up with MG Hair & Makeup. Megan Garmers runs an agency exclusively for wedding makeup artists & hairstylists. You set up an interview and pay into the classes - www.mghairandmakeup.com/Careers_Classes_1.html. Also, she runs the bridal beauty artists network, which is a more affordable option, if you're already trained in hair/makeup (http://www.bridalbeau....

5-After every successful appointment (wedding-related or not), remember to collect testimonials! It can be either typed or video-recorded (preferred). As you collect testimonials, people will know the quality of service you give your clients, and you're able to show them to the brides you have trial appointments. Also, offer an incentive for existing clients to refer your services, such as a free gift or complimentary service.