Becoming a Freelance Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist: What Do You Need to Think About?
The wedding industry is an extremely lucrative one in which to work, especially as the number of weddings taking place are back on the rise. From venue hire to catering and music, there are many earning a solid crust through wedding bookings and clients. Beauty, though, is perhaps the most lucrative of the lot; brides will pay a premium to get the glamourous looks they deserve on their special day. If you are hoping to tap into this market, how should you go about setting up your bridal beauty business?
Skills and Qualifications
As a freelancer, you will not have a pre-existing brand or reputation on which to rely in order to win customers. As such, every aspect of your business needs to prove to potential clients that you can be trusted with such a crucial part of their big day.
While you may have years of experience in beauty, even as a practitioner in a beauty salon, clients may be more convinced if you have a qualification to back up your experience. This is also a good opportunity to consolidate your skills and knowledge, by seeking out a specialised diploma in bridal hair and make-up.
Tools of the Trade
As a freelancer, you will also be responsible for stocking yourself with all the equipment and products you’ll need for your clients. As a bridal hair stylist, you will naturally need to invest in professional hairdressing clippers and scissors, as well as curlers, straighteners and a high-quality hairdryer. As a makeup artist, your equipment should extend from the makeup itself to quality brushes and applicators.
What you need will range widely from client to client; different hair types will require different products, and some briefs may be much less conventional than others. Ensuring you comprehensively invest in products and equipment will allow you to cater for more briefs, and never miss out on a potential gig.
Legal Compliance
Aside from the substance of your bridal beauty business, there are also logistical concerns you will need to address. For one, you will need to register as self-employed with HMRC in order to meet your tax obligations, and operate legally as a freelancer.
It would also be wise to invest in insurance for your business. Not only can you protect the value of your equipment in the event of theft or damage, but you can also protect yourself from liability if someone inadvertently injures themselves with your equipment.
Online Presence and Marketing
Lastly, we come to marketing. Getting a freelance business of any kind off the ground requires a concerted effort with regard to outreach and advertising, with varying angles of approach. Word-of-mouth referrals can be a great way to build your portfolio; in doing work with friends and family, you can take professional photos of your work during sessions, which can then be used in adverts or on your website.
Speaking of which, a strong digital presence is nothing short of necessary today, even if you only intend to work locally. Social media accounts allow you to organically build a following and advertise your skills, while a website and digital advertising campaign can be used to target specific demographics in your region.
