Career Update

On my journey to self-discovery, you may know that I left my desk job in the Fall of 2017. Since then, I have experienced all kinds of emotions...from lows - the anxiety was so bad I had nightmares almost every night - to highs; for example, getting signed on with a local production company that contracts freelance makeup artists (such as myself) to work on jobs for huge companies like Microsoft and Amazon.

It’s been scary not knowing when I’d get a gig or how much money I’d need to set aside for my bills and groceries for the family each week (I have 3 kids, after all). Yet, I somehow was able to pull through with a combination of hustling for my next makeup gig, referrals by my fabulous friends in the industry, my husband’s support and, sometimes, pure luck.   

Behind-the-scenes at a romance novel shoot

Hair and makeup for a runway shoot

Living the freelance life has certainly brought forth new challenges for me...not only for pushing myself to network (despite my fears of rejection) but for dealing with being, in a sense, a stay-at-home Mom. Let me tell you, I (now) have a profound sense how being a mother is truly a full-time job and puts multi-tasking at a whole other level. How I did it before with a full-time job as well as a side hustle, I don’t think I will ever have any idea.

Projects I’ve been pitched have fell through, yet I refuse to let that bring me down.  I've been contacted by people wanting to work with me only to find that most want a free makeover or design consultation OR even provide my services at a deep discount...hmm,  If only these people knew how much my products cost (especially for makeup), they'd understand why I charge what I charge...$20 for a full face (with lashes) isn't going to cut it!  Nor will I offer my design services for free (because any amount of work I put into a design rendering can be whipped up in 30 minutes because it's pretty much mindless...riiiiiggghttt).   

After graduating college in 2010 with a BFA in Interior Design, I didn’t have the hottest luck when applying for jobs. Since then, I’ve had some interior design projects - some good experiences and, unfortunately, some bad. I began to think whether my heart was still in it for design. Frankly, I didn’t have the confidence that I needed to feel good about any of my projects.

With this said, I am deciding to temporarily take a step back from makeup artistry and tackle what I initially sought out to do: Interior Design. Part of the reason I quit my desk job was to pursue a CREATIVE CAREER - I know I’m good at makeup and am comfortable with what I can do (but, of course, I know I will always have more to learn). With interior design, I KNOW I need to learn all that I can...with the new trends, tricks of the trade, and new design software out there, I am behind in many ways.

I haven’t written off makeup completely but I will be selective with any upcoming projects and I will still honor any commitments I’ve made for the rest of the year.  Any clients that are reading this...remember, I still got you!!  

So, here I go again, off to another adventure as I have an opportunity to do so.  If I find that I still have my heart in it, then I'll be glad that I made the jump when I did and won't have any regrets.  If I don't, then I will have a clearer sense about where I should be.      

~XOXO, Mari