I have a problem.... I'm a freelance makeup artist and I feel like people might be taking advantage.?

I'm not a makeup artist but I suggest you to stop doing it for free. You already have experience and nobody's likes to be taken advantage of. You could offer them your service but its not free. If they refused, you can get gig elsewhere.

I'm not a makeup artist but I suggest you to stop doing it for free. You already have experience and nobody's likes to be taken advantage of. You could offer them your service but its not free. If they refused, you can get gig elsewhere.

If they continue to expect you to do their make-up for free then they are taking advantage. Thank them for their support over the past 3 months but point out that you now feel you have the experience to start as a professional MUA and that from now on you will be invoicing them for your services - and do just that, give them a proper printed invoice and make it clear you only accept cash payments. If they kick off politely ask them if, as aspiring models, they would be prepared to model for free all the time, or are they expecting to be paid for it? Make sure that if any models put up pictures of themselves on their own websites or on sites such as Model Mayhem that they give you full credit as the MUA. If they do have their own model website, ask them about cross-linking to your own (you should have one to promote your MUA services). If you don`t already have one, get your own Model Mayhem account as a MUA and you can showcase your work to the industry.

first off, if you want to be a makeup artist, and not a hair stylist, you are wasting your time and money by getting your cosmetology license. that time and money would be better spent on an esthetics course...a hair (cosmetology) license is unnecessary to be a freelance makeup artist, even to be in the union for film/tv, but having a certification and training in skincare will make you a better, more rounded, and sought-after MUA..... Secondly, having MAC in your kit does not necessarily make you a makeup artist, and if that is primarily what you use for everything, then it actually makes you more of a MAC rep, and less an artist. you should look into different products from other lines, and learn to use them, because nothing screams "wannabe" and "sales girl" to legit clients like a freelancer who only uses one line. MAC has some amazing products, but many are subpar, compared to other lines, and most of the better products are a lot less expensive. a real MUA knows what to spend money on, and when a cheaper alternative is better, especially if you work a lot, as restocking your kit should never eat up your rate, and i have never seen a kit fee for a standard beauty artist be high enough to restock with all MAC....if you work FOR a company, and are getting jobs through them, it's a different story, as you will get supplies gratis, or at least wholesale, as they expect you to promote their line. that being said, if you have done enough quality work to build a good, solid portfolio, and you are getting steady calls for work, it is definitely time to start charging for your services...try promoting yourself for bridal work. it pays really well, and is over fast. then, look into commercial work...also quick and well-paying. runway and model shoots tend to have people expecting things for free, and you deserve better.

first off, if you want to be a makeup artist, and not a hair stylist, you are wasting your time and money by getting your cosmetology license. that time and money would be better spent on an esthetics course...a hair (cosmetology) license is unnecessary to be a freelance makeup artist, even to be in the union for film/tv, but having a certification and training in skincare will make you a better, more rounded, and sought-after MUA..... Secondly, having MAC in your kit does not necessarily make you a makeup artist, and if that is primarily what you use for everything, then it actually makes you more of a MAC rep, and less an artist. you should look into different products from other lines, and learn to use them, because nothing screams "wannabe" and "sales girl" to legit clients like a freelancer who only uses one line. MAC has some amazing products, but many are subpar, compared to other lines, and most of the better products are a lot less expensive. a real MUA knows what to spend money on, and when a cheaper alternative is better, especially if you work a lot, as restocking your kit should never eat up your rate, and i have never seen a kit fee for a standard beauty artist be high enough to restock with all MAC....if you work FOR a company, and are getting jobs through them, it's a different story, as you will get supplies gratis, or at least wholesale, as they expect you to promote their line. that being said, if you have done enough quality work to build a good, solid portfolio, and you are getting steady calls for work, it is definitely time to start charging for your services...try promoting yourself for bridal work. it pays really well, and is over fast. then, look into commercial work...also quick and well-paying. runway and model shoots tend to have people expecting things for free, and you deserve better.