When you first think about attending make up artist school, the first thing that probably comes to mind is working with the movie stars as they film a movie or a television show. While this is one of the jobs that these professionals do, it is certainly not the only one. There are many other related jobs that make up artists can dabble in. Understanding the different types of makeup and how it plays a role in today’s film, television, print, advertising, fashion and retail industries will help you choose the right school for you.
Types of Make Up Artist Schools
Beauty make up artistry schools are the most common. These schools focus on contouring, shadows, highlights, base matching and creative, beautiful execution. In many cases, these schools are part of a cosmetology or esthetician program. Some graduates go on to work in spas and salons or open their own business.
Special Effects Makeup Artists
Special effect makeup or character makeup artists are in high demand as well. You will find schools for this type of training in the major entertainment hubs in the United States including Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York City. At these schools, you will learn how to develop characters according to specific needs, such as for simulated injuries, age progression or even magnificently scary monsters and aliens. Two of the best known schools are Studio Makeup Academy in Hollywood, which is actually located on the set of a Hollywood studio and Cinema Makeup Academy in Los Angeles.
Special techniques for makeup include airbrushing or face and body painting. These skills are often in high demand for various types of media. In some cases, you will need to take special makeup courses in order to become proficient, as this training is not always offered at a traditional make up artist school.
Choosing the Right Make Up Artist School
There are several things that you should consider before choosing a makeup artist school. You do not want to spend your money on a school that does not provide the training you need. Look for a school that is certified through the state, as this means the school is legitimate. In addition, a makeup school that is over five years old also helps ensure legitimacy.
Program Length
Programs that are over 300 hours in length will give you the best training, although some can run much longer. There should be an experienced staff and the school should also teach you how to start and run your own business. Smaller class sizes mean that you receive the more one-on-one attention, which many find makes the entire learning experience better.
The Right Choice of School Can Open Many Doors for You
Becoming a professional makeup artist is a great choice for a career. Not only do you get to work with a variety of people, the job is never the same twice. This is especially true in the film and TV industry. Don’t put off going to make up artist school – by this time next year, you could be living your dream. However, you will need to choose your school carefully in order to have a great shot at developing into one of the best makeup artists around.