Make-up artist Mailin Haddow has worked in fashion, film and television and her former clients include Vivienne Westwood, Marie Claire and Glamour magazine.
Currently Mailin runs her own business specialising in make-up for fashion shoots and weddings. Being self-employed means no two days are the same for Mailin.
‘Often you’ll get a phone call the night before about a job and have to be at the photo-shoot first thing the following morning.
‘Being both flexible and organised is essential, but if you’re like me and enjoy not having a set routine, it’s the ideal job.’
What made you want to become a make-up artist?
‘I was interested in all things beauty from an early age. My grandmother used to give me her old issues of Tatler, Harper’s and Queen magazine and I would sit in my bedroom and copy the make-up.’
Did you have to do a college course?
‘When I first started out there weren’t many make-up courses in Scotland, so I trained at the Glauca Rossi School of Make-Up in London. Nowadays, though, there are lots of beauty and make-up courses in Scotland.’
‘You need good communication and people skills because you’re in someone’s personal space'
Once you’ve done a course what’s the next step?
‘You have to do ‘testing’ if you want to work in the fashion industry. That’s when you get together with up-and-coming models, photographers and stylists to do unpaid photo-shoots to improve your portfolio. That can take up to a year. You can then take your portfolio to agencies to try and get paid work. When I first started out I had to take a part-time job in a shop until I got paid work.’
What kind of personal strengths are important in your line of work?
‘For photographic work you need to be a perfectionist because any little mistake will show up on the camera. You also have to be able to get along with people on photo-shoots. I was recently away on a photo-shoot with people from all over the world who I’d never met before. We were all thrown together and had to stay in one house for a few days, so you have to enjoy working as part of a team.’
Do you need any special skills?
‘You need good communication and people skills because you’re in someone’s personal space. That can take a bit of getting used to, but it’s something you learn on the job. Previously I’d only ever done make-up on my friends before and I found it a little nerve-wracking touching a stranger’s face, but you soon develop that skill of putting people at ease. ‘
Are most make-up artists self-employed?
‘If you’re doing fashion shoots or film and television work you’ll probably be self-employed. But cosmetic companies offer permanent jobs or you can work on a beauty counter in a shop or for a college as a tutor.’
What does it take to be a successful self-employed make-up artist?
‘If you’re running your own business, you’ll need good business skills, like being able to manage your own accounts, marketing yourself and networking. But you don’t need a business degree as there’s lots of help out there. Business Gateway gave me a mentor who was available for ideas and advice. ‘
Are there any downsides to the job?
‘It can be very long hours and you can be up very early, which might not suit everyone. It can also be unreliable work, which is difficult. You can be very busy for a couple of weeks and then have nothing lined up. That can be daunting. Being self-employed isn’t for everybody. ‘
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to be a professional make-up artist?
‘After you’ve done a course, go and assist an experienced make-up artist. Offer your services for free. Go along and see what happens on photo-shoots. You’ll get a much better idea of what the job is all about. Most people are happy to have people come along and help them, even if it’s only cleaning brushes and observing. Just email or phone someone and ask to help. Be persistent, but friendly. That way, you’ll make a good impression and people will give you a chance.’
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