Hiya Beautiful People,
I am a bit upset and I will tell you why in a bit, so before I get all sappy let me quickly reach out to all my people in the eastern space – Enugu to be precise. The Enugu Makeup Fair 2 (EMUF2) will be live this weekend so if you are around the coal city show some love by visiting our Beauty Essentials by N’sure stand.
Ok, so where was I before in interjected some quick free adverts 😉 Ah ha! , yes I am upset, never mind the smiley I am indeed upset. Alright, here is the reason for my annoyance – I have virtually lost count when it comes to number of phone calls I get from intending brides, I humbly tell them my rates and here’s the usual responses/ questions — “Haba just for makeup ?” or ” why are you so expensive?” I bet if you are a professional in the beauty industry you can easily relate to these responses.
Why is it that the general public have no problem paying a top musician 2 million or more for a few hours of entertainment as against paying measly thousand to makeup professionals that are in no wise less important that the musician ? – Infact I am now very angry.
Even in my anger I see that the blame is not entirely on the clients, I mean how does one explain a makeup artist posting a deal for bridal makeup for N2699 on one of these popular deals sites .I was livid, that is not a deal that is selling your birthright like Esau did , like what exactly are they paying for ?? – The eyebrows alone? Does he/she live next door to all the intended clients?? Does anyone have the right answers??
As the saying goes “Good work ain’t cheap and cheap work ain’t good.” We all love deals right? so do I but then I put the fear of God when I bargain people down as well , the situation is going all the way down no thanks to the saturation of the industry. Soon and very soon I am positive that industry killers will understand that there are still some professionals in the industry that actually see it as a business and not a means to an end or is it an end to a means now ??
This is my business and it’s supposed to pay my bill therefore I treat it as such and not as a charity or hobby. I hope to do a follow up post on the business of bridal, I have also taken the liberty to compare what makeup artists charge in Europe and the rest of the world, expect that soon too.
Now the big question is why do some of us charge the rates that we do? It’s actually pretty simple as I will try outline some of the factor that determine
LOCATION: Before you can get a rate off me, I have to know where you intend to dress from. This is important so factor in the timing, cost of getting there etc. If it is out of state, I need to be sure you will be willing to provide accommodation and other logistics- all of these costs come from whatever I charge the client.
PRODUCTS: When you need a makeup artist to work on your face, of course you don’t expect he/she to come and start asking if you have foundation, matifier or powder .As a professional, we arrive at venue with a fully stocked kit to cater to all your needs .The rest of the work is to pamper and make you feel like a princess for your special day.
You also have authority to decide which choice you want – traditional makeup application or airbrush; some are even specific with the brand of makeup they want. There you have it, imagine having to buy different brands just to satisfy a client trust me when I say it costs a fortune, for instance I bought some MAC cosmetics foundation for N10000 and Kat Von D foundation for N17000 and I had to buy in different skin shades. These products don’t particularly last a lifetime before you say Jack Robinson you are ordering for another batch , so I hope you are getting a clear idea of what it takes to be a professional and I have not even included makeup tools like makeup brushes , brush cleaner, makeup wipes etc. Lately, the exchange rate has gone up and product prices have doubled , this affects my pricing as well.
EXPERTISE: You most definitely are paying for my expertise just like with every other skilled professional .Product knowledge, standard products, techniques & makeup that will last all day .P.S I always review my prices regularly to reflect my current level of experience and skill; I have clients calling to consult about skin issues and what they need to do and not do before the event. An unquantifiable factor that falls under expertise is my time; sometimes I have to be up 3am to arrive at client’s venue at 4am.
PROFESSIONALISM: I show up at the clients take off point even if it has been reported in the news that Lagos is under water .I don’t just show up, I show up on time, I am at your mercy once we have an agreement – that professionalism is also unquantifiable yet we try to have the client pay a bit for this.
I have one advise for intending brides though, when an artist charges you peanuts, be afraid, be very afraid. I can tell you for free that he/she might deliver a shoddy service or will not give you the undivided attention you need on your big day; it’s your choice really 🙂
So for all you intending brides, choose well and choose wisely and then for you makeup artists making this less of a profession – God is watching you in 3D.
Till my next post
Hugs and kisses
Misidreads.
Well said Yemisi. A deal for 2k +? That’s sickening.
Sweet , I weak.
Yemisi has vexed!!! But you are very right. I’m tired of explaining myself really. The part where they start to pick products while still asking for a huge discount makes me really livid.
Lola, Seriously !!!its tiring , i wish i get that kind of discount from where i buy products.
Well said sis,its really a sad state, the rate at which some Mua charge peanuts which affect the real proffesionals ehn. Family and friends too should learn to pay for their makeup services, bearing in mind that we dont tel stories at Mac store. May God continue to increase u in wisdom
Amen sis, No storying telling oo.
Thanks Yemisi, see u in Enugu in sat, and thanks for this post, I am so posting it in IG and tagging u 2k for a deal
lolz, See ya there!!! Go ahead ooo. muah
Thnk u so so much yemisi..God bless u real gud…
You are welcome Viv.
While I’m not a make up artist ,I’m probably Yemisi’s most recent bride and I consider every penny I paid very worth it .thank u very much .I even find u more affordable than very many others and even more skilled .
PS: I think u forgot your red blanket with me .
Awwwh , Thanks love and i wish all my brides were like you, i totally had fun * hugs *
Rightly said…..God is watching. The thunder that God would send to them is still doing pressup. Am sure when it strikes them they won’t survive it.
So TRUE ! I like the advice for intending brides ☺. They really should be afraid when they are charged peanuts . Permission to re post this plsss?
Hello Jahdel, Permission fully granted.thanks for stopping by.
Well said o, the prices I hear are sometimes scary and sooo discouraging. They’ll even tell u cheap products dt are also good and a thousand reasons why u should use them. I wish everyone can read ds piece
Thanks Anu.
Hmmmmmn Yemisi you’ve said this too well.. Ridiculous deals mehn! Clients come into the studio and say ah, they do it @ 1500 in that salon ,am like here is a make up stuidio the price is this, take it. , ppl price gele to 300naira fa
I won’t lose hope..but we all need a platform to stand on
Hello Teju, Platform will take off fully next year by God’s grace(MAGN) Thanks for stopping by.
Yeah. My dear. Sometimes the charges are very ridiculous I must say. Why would u charge like 7 -10k for an on d move make up and 3k for Headtie? When the transport to and from would cost just 1k. At the end one is not really satisfied with the overall look. And 100k for bridal make up. Mua can’t compare ur selves to musicians o. The musician has to transport equipment, sing for hrs and pay back up singers. Anyway time will come when one doesn’t really need a MuA with all d online training .
My dear Abimbola, I beg to differ .Even with free trainings and youtube videos makeup artist will ALWAYS be needed .
Although I’m still new in Dis biz, it’s sickening d way some peeps price like you aren’t necessary…and family members plus Friends who never supported you before would be looking for freebies
Freebies never end and we never get freebies MAC counter.Thanks for stopping by.
Inshort ehn. U said it all. So very annoying. I found out someone in my axis charges 1k for walk-in makeover!! I was like Whaaaaaaaat?!!! Seriously?!! And someone asked if I could give her a facebeat suitable for a photoshoot session and also for an event same day. Gave her price and she was like habaaarrrrr! When its 3k+ at studio 24?!!! I was so pissed! I tried to explain to her the difference…calmly. lool. Well, I know my worth so I will charge as such. Those who know your worth will patronise.
I can only imagine your dilemma. Thanks for sharing .*kisses*
well said, you’ve just said whats on every professional’s mind.
enough with explaining yourself to clients all the time.
Hey Lbelle, i truly understand and thanks for stopping by.
I have explained and given up cos I always get that ‘I wish I just went ahead with your explanation’ . Sometimes I go all the way to see why some charge as lil as 1k and I realised they are mostly hair stylists with only 2 shades of foundations, 5pcs brush set and 1 powder palette and eyeshadow palette. Those that know our worth pay for it without questions… And that 2k plus deal… Is total disrespect…
U’re so right @Temi..those hair stylists claiming to be makeup artists are becoming unbearable…Well said my fave beauty blogger @Yemisi It’s time to separate the Makeup artists from the “2k plus Makeup artists”
Yemisi, this is good. It is well said, we just need to make our client understand. Thanks.
As in, God is watching them in 3D, including clients who look down on our profession and price us low. Hahaha… well written Missdada
Thanks my darling Mariam.
That is the problem and I do wish there’s a better way to address this