mua - how did you get your first bookings

[blush09]

ok, have finished my foundation course in make up ..
now plan to take a year out to take some more training in advanced bridal make up, practice, build up my kit and hopefully start making up some brides so that i actually have some piccies to upload to my web site
just wondered how bridal mua started out - most of the sites i have looked at seem to have dozens if not 100's gorgeous bridal piccies on them - but the mua's must have started somewhere
also did you charge a lower rate to start with, im thinking of charging a small fee for the first year but am worried about putting people off, and also upset the local competition
just wondered how you got your first bridal portfolio piccies and what did you do up until the point you had pictures on your web site ?
none of my friends or family are getting married in the immediate future, so im basically going to have to do makeovers on people i know and add a tiara but i feel thats cheating a little
what do you think?
blush09

 

[gillian w]

ok, have finished my foundation course in make up ..
now plan to take a year out to take some more training in advanced bridal make up, practice, build up my kit and hopefully start making up some brides so that i actually have some piccies to upload to my web site
just wondered how bridal mua started out - most of the sites i have looked at seem to have dozens if not 100's gorgeous bridal piccies on them - but the mua's must have started somewhere
also did you charge a lower rate to start with, im thinking of charging a small fee for the first year but am worried about putting people off, and also upset the local competition
just wondered how you got your first bridal portfolio piccies and what did you do up until the point you had pictures on your web site ?
none of my friends or family are getting married in the immediate future, so im basically going to have to do makeovers on people i know and add a tiara but i feel thats cheating a little
what do you think?
blush09

Why would this be cheating you are advertising and selling your make up skills the same way as any online shop would be selling its wedding dresses the models wearing them aren't all just about to get married are they.

As for getting work.Go to wedding fairs with your portfolio maybe call in at wedding shops and ask if you can leave your cards there for a small fee or say you will take there cards and promote them.

Its not just weddings that are big business proms are also in the summer and you could maybe advertise in the local school mags or look out for the schools doing pamper evenings where you can demonstrate.