A makeup artist portfolio is an important tool for makeup artists to showcase their skills and attract clients. If you’re looking to break into the makeup industry and thrive, crafting a winning beauty portfolio is your ticket to success. 

Perfect Your Makeup Artist Portfolio: How To & Examples

A makeup artist portfolio serves a number of purposes. From promoting your work, to attracting new clients, to growing your business, there are plenty of benefits to creating an impressive beauty portfolio. This article will explore the essential elements of a makeup portfolio, guiding you through the creation process, along with makeup portfolio examples that can inspire your own. 

Why Is It Key To Have A Portfolio As a Professional Makeup Artist?

A makeup artist portfolio serves as your visual resume when applying for jobs or showcasing your work. Below are several reasons why it’s key to have a portfolio as a professional makeup artist. 

An Impressive Showcase

Your portfolio can help demonstrate your range of skills and technical abilities. With a portfolio, your most impressive works are on display for potential clients or businesses to check out—and hopefully, set you apart from the rest. 

To Establish Credibility

A great portfolio exudes professionalism and gives viewers a rundown of your past experience through a series of carefully curated images. When potential clients and others can see your professional history, it gives them a better idea of what you can do. 

Attract New Clients

The way to get new clients is to sell yourself through your portfolio makeup looks. A well-crafted website with high quality images can help you secure clients that resonate with your style, vibe, and expertise. 

Secure Bookings

When you set up a portfolio, you’re not just creating a hub for your talent, you’re creating an opportunity for interested parties to reach out and inquire—or hire!—you for your skills. 

Sign up with GlossGenius to get access to our comprehensive Online Booking features.

4 Elements A Makeup Artist Portfolio Should Have

If you’re wondering which elements to include in your portfolio, keep reading for a breakdown of important things every makeup artist should include. 

1. Varied Looks

One of the most important aspects of a beauty portfolio is to display a selection of different looks. High-quality photos of different makeup techniques—such as winged eyeliner, smoky shadows, and contouring—can help showcase your versatility and range of technical skills.

2. Client Work

Your portfolio assortment should also include a variety of styles the makeup artist has done for previous clients, whether that be night glam looks, wedding styles, natural looks, or editorial. A versatile portfolio will show your adaptability as an artist and help you appeal to a wider audience. 

3. Before And Afters

Including before and after photos of your clients can help showcase the type of transformational work you’re capable of as a makeup artist. If you have a particular skill in covering up blemishes or improving skin texture, you’ll definitely want to highlight that as well. 

4. Contact Information 

Wherever you host your makeup portfolio, include a few different ways to contact you for your services. A phone number, email address, website form, and/or social media accounts are all useful communication portals that make it easy for clients to reach out. 

How To Make and Perfect A Makeup Artist Portfolio In 6 Steps

Creating the perfect makeup artist portfolio can seem daunting, but we’ve included a step-by-step guide below to help you figure out the best way to configure your showcase. 

1. Choose Your Strongest Work

Select only 10-20 of your strongest photos to display. Include enough variety in your selections so that your viewers can get a solid idea of your skill range. Be sure to use only well-lit, high-quality photos. If you’re just starting out and don’t have enough examples, consider asking friends, family, or colleagues to let you do their makeup for free in exchange for additional portfolio content.

2. Select Your Platform(s) 

You’re not limited to where you can host your portfolio. Whether you buy a domain, host through a third-party site, or promote on your social media, choose the platform that will be easiest for you to share with others. If you have your own studio or a lot of in-person consults, an old school physical book portfolio is something to consider too.

3. Organize and Showcase 

Keep your work organized! It’s a good idea to categorize your photos so that potential clients can quickly find the most relevant style for them. Depending on your particular makeup talents, you can make delineations between your bridal, editorial, or special effects makeup work. 

4. Add A Professional Bio

Include a blurb (or several) that introduces you as a makeup artist. Your professional bio should briefly discuss your background, your experience, and passion for the industry. You may even choose to include an anecdote about why you got into the business and what inspires your success. 

5. Include Positive Testimonials 

Encourage your previous clients to leave positive testimonials so that you can include them with your portfolio. Good reviews from different clients can add credibility to your experience and bolster your reputation.

6. Make It Nice!

Your portfolio is a good opportunity to channel your brand and put your makeup artist aesthetic on display. Don’t just upload everything onto a page and call it a day—take time to make it look visually appealing and simple to navigate. 

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Where Can You Show Your Makeup Artist Portfolio?

There are two main avenues to showcase your makeup artist portfolio: 

1. Your Website

You can host your own domain (or sign up with a third-party hosting site) to properly display your makeup artist aesthetic and portfolio. The beauty of having a whole website is that you can customize it however you like, and include other bits like a detailed resume or CV, links, or blogs. 

Use GlossGenius’ Custom Website Builder feature to create your own masterpiece showcase. Our websites come in a variety of modern templates that you can customize to fit your brand.

2. Your Social Media 

Social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook are popular places to upload and share your work. Networking with other creators, engaging with commenters, and regularly promoting your photos can also make your presence algorithm-friendly, increasing the chances you’ll show up on feature pages or in searches.

Regardless of where you choose to digitally display your makeup portfolio, it’s always a good idea to make hard copies too! You never know when you’ll have the opportunity to share them with interested parties in real life. 

5 Makeup Artist Portfolio Examples To Inspire You

There are so many ways you can organize and style your portfolio. Read on to see some inspiring makeup portfolios examples. 

1. Chris Payne Makeup

Christopher Payne is a makeup artist of many talents, such as FX makeup, body painting, and beauty makeup. Though he has quite an archive of photos on his website, they are neatly organized and structured in a way that makes it easy to navigate and explore his many specialties. The background is a simple black, and a top menu gives you access to other information such as his bio and contact info. 

https://www.chrispaynemakeup.com/portfolio 

2. Makeup By Connie

Connie is a Long Island-based makeup artist who specializes in wedding looks and airbrushing. Her portfolio contains a generous selection of images at various angles showcasing her talents, as well as a prominent option to book online. As you scroll, you can find her professional experience, qualifications, and rates. 

https://makeupbyconnie.com/ 

3. Angela W Makeup

Angela is a West Texas-based hair and makeup artist with an extensive resume and a robust portfolio to back it up. Angela’s site has a neutral white background that smartly emphasizes her various wedding looks. Her menu options also let you view her specified skills like eyeshadow styles, client photos, and before and afters. The bottom of her site contains a form for clients to request a quote on her services. 

https://angelawmakeup.pixpa.com/ 

4. Makeup By KW

The artist at North Carolina-based KW Beauty specializes in bridal makeup, in both glam and natural styles. With plenty of images to showcase her range, she also includes a dedicated page to the many services she offers, along with hours and location, and a convenient contact page to find out more information. 

https://makeupbykw.glossgenius.com/ 

5. Makeup By Myra

Milwaukee-based makeup artist Myra specializes in glam looks for special events, as well as natural glam and bridal looks. With a simple website that’s easy to navigate, Myra does an excellent job showcasing her range, as well as presenting options to book appointments or contact her directly. She also includes a short bio, her hours of operation, business policies, and rates. 

https://makeupbymyra.glossgenius.com/ 

Level Up Your Makeup Artistry with GlossGenius

A robust and updated portfolio can help makeup artists promote their work, expand their business, and attract clients. Don’t underestimate the power of a portfolio! It’s one of the best ways to showcase your experience to fresh new eyes.

GlossGenius is an all-in-one platform to help makeup artists scale their clientele. Our websites offer portfolio and reviews sections so clients can easily see your work and client testimonials. Plus, take advantage of some of our other game-changing features like Scheduling and Calendar, Client Management, Client Notifications, and Point Of Sale.

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FAQs

Still have questions? We’ve got you covered. Below are some common questions regarding makeup artist portfolios. 

How many images should I include in my makeup portfolio?

It’s a good idea to upload at least 10 to 20 images for your makeup portfolio. You want to use enough photos for prospective clients to see your range, while not overwhelming your viewers with a hodgepodge of looks and styles. 

How often should I update my portfolio?

The frequency you update your portfolio can depend on how much work you get, though many sources advise anywhere from 6 months to a year. However, it might also be helpful to use an analytics tool to measure your reach. If you find that you’re not getting as much work as you like, try replacing some of the images. It’s important to keep your work updated and reflective of your current skill.

How do I make a makeup portfolio?

Invest in a domain for your makeup artistry, or use social media to organize and showcase your best images. You may also want to include a personal bio, contact information, and some positive reviews from satisfied clients.