Advice I Wish Someone Gave Me When I Started My Business
As a business owner, I’m constantly thinking back to when I started, and wishing I had done certain things differently. Purchases that I’ve never used, people I wish I’d reached out to, emails I wish I’d reworded etc etc!
Everyone has to start somewhere, and I’ve been very lucky to have some fabulous people I look up to in the industry help me along the way with my many questions.
Here is my advice, from someone who had to learn most of it the hard way!
Don’t be scared of being cringe.
I’ve always been susceptible to caring what people think. In industries where you have to plaster your work and face online, worrying lots about what people think will get you NOWHERE! Ignore that feeling, or at least try your best to embrace the cringe anyway. The people who are judging aren’t meant for you anyways, and the genuine people will always be there supporting you.
2. Take your time trying to find your niche.
When I started makeup artistry professionally, I always heard people preach about ‘finding your niche’ - working out what you love and sticking to it. It’s taken me years to find my signature makeup style, but I don’t have a specific niche in regards to bridal, commercial, tv etc., and that’s okay! I love doing a wide range of things and don’t want to put myself in a box where I do the same style of work day in and day out.
I recommend saying yes to every opportunity and taking your time to work out your likes and dislikes, and what is and isn’t worth your time & energy.
3. Don’t compare yourself!
Theodore Roosevelt famously said, ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ and he was on the money there!! There is NO point comparing yourself to artists who have been in the industry for over than 10 years more than you! Admiring people is another story, but beating yourself up will get you nowhere. I would love to see the first makeups from all the artists I love. Everyone starts somewhere. Learning and growing as an artist is an amazing, and fun journey that never stops.
4. Prepare for clients to turn into friends and friends to not be clients.
At the beginning I would always take it personally if a friend booked someone else to do their makeup. I look back and realise it wasn’t a personal attack on me, and my style and artistry won’t suit everyone. Sometimes friends won’t support your business how you thought they might, and that can be a hard pill to swallow! On the flip side, I’ve made some lifelong friends that started off as clients. They are the sort of people who will be in your comments hyping you up and always supporting.
It’s also worth mentioning that some of your most fabulous friends are the ones who have supported you from the beginning and will continue to. One of my high school friends convinced me to start my Instagram page all those years ago, and still comes to me for makeup, advice, and will always be a model when I need it.
5. You don’t need to buy 50 shades of foundation.
This one is very specific to makeup artists. I bought almost every shade in the Nars sheer glow foundation and now I just have an unnecessary amount that takes up space in my kit (not to mention the crazy amount of money I didn’t need to spend). More recently I bought colour adjusters from Face Atelier, and they are LIFE CHANGERS! Foundation too orange? Add some blue. Client has super olive skin? Add some olive! Foundation too dark? Add some white. You get the jist!
I’d recommend buying 3-4 shades that range from lightest-darkest in a few different formulas, eg. full coverage matte, medium coverage radiant & super sheer and glowy. Save your cash and think smarter, not harder.
6. Be authentic.
Last but not least, be yourself!!!!! It’s important to stay professional of course, but people will always appreciate someone who is hard working, honest and authentic.
Starting a business is not easy and comes with a lot of getting things wrong. Looking back, every post I felt cringe sharing, all the money I spent on a million foundation shades, every friend that didn’t book me, and years of unfair comparison to much more experienced artists has taught me something new! If your new to the makeup biz, give yourself grace! Be kind to yourself! Say yes to everything! The right people and opportunities will come straight for you.
Anna xoxo
