Make-up artist

As a make-up artist, your work will involve creating styles and characters through the medium of make-up, hairstyles and prosthetics according to a brief.

You'll interpret the make-up requirements of clients to produce both a creative and technically accurate visual representation. This may involve very basic make-up for a TV presenter through to more complex theatrical make-up representing a certain period or culture, or special effects make-up.

Make-up artists often work as freelancers or contractors. You may work alone, or part of a team, including managing a make-up team and make-up assistants. This is an extremely competitive industry so networking and building a portfolio is essential.

Types of make-up artist

You may specialise or work across a variety of settings, including:

• film
• live music
• photographic shoots
• television
• theatre.

What does a make-up artist do?

Working as a make-up artist, you'll need to:

• communicate with clients to clarify visual requirements
• read scripts to ascertain the materials and look required, considering budget implications and identifying areas where research is required
• produce and sketch design ideas for hairstyles and make-up
• ensure continuity in hair and make-up, liaising with other members of the design team to ensure the overall look/effect is consistent and coherent
• ensure that appropriate action is taken to minimise unpleasant side effects from the use of specialist make-up/hairdressing techniques
• maintain awareness of health and safety issues and legislation
• cast facial and body moulds and sculpt latex foam, known as prosthetics
• fit and maintain wigs, hairpieces and prosthetics
• keep up to date with available make-up and beauty products
• source, budget and order materials and equipment from specialist suppliers
• work quickly and accurately in time-pressured conditions
• take detailed notes and photographs of work to maintain an up-to-date portfolio of work.

How much do make-up artists get paid?

• Wages for trainees vary widely. You should receive no less than the national minimum wage or the London living wage. Working in television or on a feature film, trainee make-up artists currently earn between £120 and £198 per day, or £13 to £16 per hour.
• On high budget films, a junior make-up artist can earn £30 per hour, while a key hair and make-up artist with several years' experience, will earn £484 per day.
• Make-up artists working in fashion can earn £450 a day for an event like London Fashion Week, and around £250 for other events. Designers and artists that lead teams can make up to £80 per hour on a feature film and £65 on a high budget TV show.

The recommended industry minimum rates for film and television work are set by PACT and BECTU - the media and entertainment union.

Many make-up artists initially work for free or for a small fee on low-budget productions or editorial shoots to build up a record of published work and gain experience.

Most make-up artists work on a self-employed or freelance basis. Freelancing is often an essential prerequisite for the very limited number of permanent jobs. Professionals are contracted for projects, either directly or through an agent.

Rates are negotiable and individuals who are well regarded in the industry are in great demand and are paid well above the rates listed.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does a make-up artist work?

A typical working day includes long and antisocial hours and working shifts, and weekend work is common. Travel within a working day, periodic relocation, absence from home at night and overseas work or travel is frequent. Make-up artists may travel overseas for film work on location.

When working on a film or television project, you'll need to be on set before filming commences and remain on set throughout filming to re-apply make-up.

Advance fittings are often required, but you won't be alone - working as part of a production team is integral to the job.

How do I become a make-up artist?

Traditionally, academic qualifications are not as important as creative and practical skills. It's possible to become a make-up artist without a degree or HND. However, entrance is generally becoming formalised, and candidates will often undertake several specialist HNDs in make-up artistry as a precursor to freelance industry experience and traineeships.

Several colleges and universities offer a variety of two-year foundation degrees, as well as three-year undergraduate degree, in areas including:

• make-up for media and performance
• media make-up artistry
• theatrical fashion and special effects make-up.

NVQs in relevant subjects are also available, such as:

• beauty therapy
• hairdressing
• media and theatrical make-up.

Regional arts councils provide useful links to media organisations and their websites. These include:

• Arts Council England
• Arts Council of Wales
• Creative Scotland

Key skills for a make-up artist

You'll need to have:

• excellent practical make-up and technical skills
• specialist interest in make-up in your chosen field
• communication skills to work with clients and understand what they want
• the ability to sketch ideas and designs
• an understanding of period and current fashion
• a practical understanding of lighting, the photographic process, colours and the impact of special effects/make-up processes on the skin
• the ability to work long hours on your feet.

Most people entering this field have taken a course in both make-up and hairdressing, as the job requires you to be multiskilled. An understanding of film and video production techniques, camera and lighting processes, styles of literature, performance and dramatisation may also be important.

Make-up artist work experience

Relevant experience is essential. This includes working backstage at amateur dramatic productions or working in a beauty or hair salon, plus any work placements or relevant unpaid work.

By job shadowing and carrying out work experience assisting a make-up artist you'll gain valuable insight, develop your portfolio, build a network of contacts and demonstrate your commitment to the profession. Observation is one of the best ways to learn skills and techniques.

Competition is tough and professionals are often employed on reputation and popularity. A good starting point is to think of the contacts made during study and particularly through work experience. Word of mouth, networking and speculative CVs are common methods of generating work.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs make-up artists?

Make-up artists work in a variety of industries and opportunities can be found with a range of employers, including:

• network and independent television
• film, video, advertising and commercial companies
• commercial and fashion photographers and, on a less regular basis, portrait photographers
• the wedding industry, for bridal make-up
• the fashion industry, for both haute couture and retail outlet fashion shows
• cosmetic companies and designer hairdressing salons, particularly for demonstrations or hairdressing competitions
• large theatres, some of which may offer a limited number of permanent positions, and other theatres contracting freelance artists to run make-up workshops for performers for new productions
• education institutions employing make-up artists as teachers or hiring them to run workshops for students completing practical performance elements of their drama or theatrical studies
• the medical profession, where a make-up artist may work with patients following injury or surgery
• individual clients for personal shoots.

However, as most make-up artists are self-employed, they normally bid for work on a project-by-project basis. Creating an online portfolio of your work is essential for showcasing your work and social media and online booking systems are a helpful way to build a following that can lead to work.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BBC Careers
• Broadcast
• The Stage

Many people working in the media obtain work by advertising through media directories such as:

• Film Bang - film and TV crew in Scotland
• Mandy.com
• Production Base
• The Knowledge

Diary services, which manage the clients and work you already have for a fixed regular fee, are a popular method of linking with employers, but will often only provide a service to individuals with experience. You can find a list of these on The Knowledge.

Agencies will represent you and find you work. Payment is usually in the form of a fixed fee.

Make-up artists with a portfolio of experience may make speculative applications to production companies or approach make-up directors directly. For this, it can be helpful to produce a website to showcase examples of work or create an online portfolio. Get more tips on how to find a job.

Professional development and career prospects for a make-up artist

There is no defined progression route to make-up artistry. Instead, your career prospects are usually determined by developing your experience, building contacts through networking, learning specialist skills and establishing a good reputation/level of popularity to gain repeat business.

You'll find that industry experience, whether paid or unpaid, is vital to professional development and the ability to get work. Informal training is just as important as formal qualifications in this field, and many make-up artists believe that their on-the-job training and experience is just as valuable as their professional training, if not more so.

There are limited training opportunities, mainly based in commercial schools, which you'll have to pay for, and make-up artists may take short courses in specialist areas, like special effects. Screenskills, the skills body for screen industries, offers careers guidance, training and funding opportunities.

Make-up artists and designers manage their own continuing professional development and enhance or consolidate existing skills to open up new areas of expertise within their specialist areas. You might aim to become a specialist in one aspect of the job, such as a wig or prosthetics specialist, body painting or making contact lenses or teeth.

When job searching, few permanent positions exist, but developing yourself can lead to securing more temporary contracts and commanding higher rates of pay. The freelance nature of the profession means that individuals may move between trainee make-up assistant, make-up artist, chief/key make-up artist and designer roles, depending on your experience and confidence within a sector.

Consequently, you may charge different rates for different jobs. Decisions as to the right time to request higher rates of pay and bid for project work in a more senior role are very much based on your own sense of confidence and how much experience and expertise you feel you have to offer.

Ambitious individuals aim towards the role of make-up director, but many freelance artists who do not reach this position still enjoy an autonomous and lucrative career.