Home / Solutions / Makeup artists
For makeup artists

Book the Gig. Sell the Look. Build the Brand.

Updated 1 October 2026 · Pludor team · 3 sources

Makeup artists book more by showing a portfolio organised by occasion, publishing clear prices for bridal, events and lessons, taking deposits to hold dates, charging travel by distance, and following up after every event for reviews and referrals. Lessons and classes fill quiet weekdays.

Set up my booking page →Free to start - no card needed

Start here

Work is often date-driven and weekend-heavy. Locking in dates early and filling weekdays are the two levers.

What you need

  • A portfolio by occasion: bridal, editorial, events
  • A price list with trial, bridal party and travel fees
  • A booking form with date, location, headcount and start time
  • A deposit and cancellation policy
  • A hygiene routine you can explain

Beginner mistakes to avoid

  • Holding dates without a deposit
  • Not charging for travel and early starts
  • A portfolio mixing every style
  • No contract for weddings

How to do it

How do I price bridal makeup?

Price the bride, each party member, the trial, travel and early starts separately.

  1. Set the bride price including or excluding trial
  2. Set a per-person price for the party
  3. Add travel by distance
  4. Add an early-start fee
  5. Set a minimum booking

How do I take deposits?

Take a non-refundable deposit to secure the date, with the balance before the day.

  1. Set the deposit amount
  2. Collect it at booking
  3. Send a contract with the policy
  4. Collect the balance a week before

How do I build a portfolio that books?

Show real work by occasion and skin tone range.

  1. Group by occasion
  2. Show diverse skin tones
  3. Use natural light photos
  4. Get client permission to post

How do I schedule a bridal morning?

Work backwards from the ceremony time.

  1. List everyone needing makeup
  2. Allow time per person
  3. Add a buffer
  4. Share the schedule with the bride

How do I fill weekdays?

Offer lessons, classes and content shoots.

  1. Offer one-to-one lessons
  2. Run small group classes
  3. Partner with photographers
  4. Sell a product kit list or guide

Common questions

Should I offer trials?

For brides, trials reduce surprises; price them separately or include them in the package.

How far ahead do brides book?

Often many months ahead for peak dates; a deposit secures the date.

How do I keep kits hygienic?

Use disposable applicators, clean brushes between clients and never double-dip.

Do I need insurance?

Many artists carry liability insurance, and some venues require it.

How do I get more clients?

Reviews, vendor referrals and an up-to-date Google Business Profile (Google).

Going further: scale and grow

Vendor partnerships

Photographers, planners and venues send steady referrals.

Packages

Bundle hair and makeup with a partner.

Online classes

Record a self-makeup course to sell anytime.

Affiliate products

Share products you use, with disclosure (FTC).

Track bookings by source

Know which channels bring brides.

Use AI for this

AI helps with admin between bookings.

  1. Quotes. Draft bridal party quotes.
  2. Schedules. Build the bridal morning timeline.
  3. Contracts. Draft policies to review.
  4. Captions. Write portfolio captions.
  5. Replies. Answer availability enquiries.

Be careful

Portfolio images must be your real work, not AI-generated.

Doing this on Pludor

Pludor gives makeup artists a free booking page with deposits, travel fees, group bookings and lessons, plus an AI assistant for enquiries.

  • Deposits and policies
  • Group bookings
  • Lessons and courses
  • AI enquiries

Free to start - no card, no item limit. Pay only for what you use past the monthly free amounts.

Set up my booking page

Sources

  1. Google Business Profile: local ranking
  2. FTC: Endorsement Guides FAQ
  3. Pludor pricing

Checked 1 October 2026. Fees and rules change; follow the links for the latest.

Try the free tool
Pludor factsPricingAll featuresFree toolsGuides
Powered by Pludor
Pludor — Online Shopping Marketplace · Shop · Features · Pricing · Browse Stores · Shoppable Videos · Communities · Academy · Creator Academy · Sell Online in Nigeria · Sell Online in Jamaica · Pludor vs Shopify · Pludor vs Etsy · Pludor vs TikTok Shop · About · Terms · Privacy · www.instagram.com · x.com · www.youtube.com · medium.com · www.reddit.com