Today we’d like to introduce you to the super inspiring Jenifer Castelo.
Jenifer, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My makeup career started 10 years ago when a close friend asked me to do makeup for a beauty pageant in the South Pacific. Without hesitation, I said yes and I was flown overseas. I was in paradise and I did makeup 7 days and I absolutely loved it. It was on that trip that I realized that I could make a living doing something that I absolutely enjoyed. By 2010, I received my makeup certification and my freelance business blossomed thereafter. Near the end of 2014, I left my advertising and marketing career and pursued my dream of becoming a full-time makeup artist.
Today, my schedule is booked with photo shoots, weddings and sprinkled with a few commercial projects. I’ve worked on several celebrities, beautified countless brides, and worked with brands such as Yamaha Music, Simple Green, Kaiser Permanente, Blizzard Entertainment, InStyler, Vice News, Gushers, etc. I’m genuinely happy to be my own boss and that I’m making a living by doing what I love.
Has it been a smooth road?
Only a few months after quitting my marketing job, is when reality settled in pretty quickly. Becoming a full-time freelancer was harder than I thought and I struggled. I struggled with people that assumed that I don’t have a real career and only think I have a job. I struggled with lulls of not booking any work and sometimes my days off would turn into weeks off. I struggled with figuring out how I was going to sustain myself. I struggled with self-doubt and wondering if I made the right choice in my life.
These were the challenges that I had to face and I eventually asked myself, “Why did I leave my former career? What’s my end game? I answered this so quickly and easily. I thought to myself, “I left my job because I was unhappy and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life doing something I didn’t like. I want to live a full and exciting life where my spirit is nurtured by doing something that I truly enjoy.” This was a pivotal moment because I remember smiling to myself when I answered my own question and I reminded myself of my power. It was there all along and I forgot all about it. I realized that when I let doubt and other people’s opinions take over, it was preventing me from moving forward. From that point on, all I could think was, “I am proud of my choices. It is my happiness and it belongs to no one else.”
Things started to slowly change after I shifted my thoughts. In between my makeup jobs, I no longer wasted my time doing with days of doing nothing. I used my time off as an opportunity to improve my portfolio, improve my websites, I networked and reached out to other makeup artists, models, wardrobe stylists, event planners and photographers that I want to work with. I researched new makeup trends, took inventory of my kit, made a wish list of what I wanted to fill my kit with, I made makeup tutorials or beauty tips for social media, I worked out, cooked, read, I wrote in my journal, I walked the dogs, I went to the beach. I filled my time with things that made me feel good. When I would book jobs, I would meet new people which led me to more opportunities. The more people I met, the more I put myself out there, the more I worked hard at cultivating a better attitude helped me restore the confidence of being a better freelancer. I became happier. By Springtime, my schedule started filling up and my network was stronger all because I changed my thoughts and my outlook.
My choice to leave my former career to become an entrepreneur has taught me many lessons. One, when you’re working hard for something that makes you happy, it enriches your life. You become proud of your work and it strengthens your confidence, self-respect and your life’s purpose. Second, success isn’t measured by how much money you make; it’s measured by your happiness and self-discipline. You learn what kind of power you have to live the life you really want. Most importantly, it has taught me to ignore people’s opinions of me and my choice to become a makeup artist– it is a real career! If someone says that you can’t do something or doubts you and your actions, they are speaking from the boundaries of their own limitations. Never give up on your dreams.
Any predictions for the industry over the next few years?
The beauty industry has grown since the rise of social media. Today, there are several beauty influencers that you see on YouTube and Instagram, as well as hundreds of makeup companies posting media rich content. I’m sure that as long as we’ll have new technology, the beauty industry will be heavily integrated and here to stay.
What has been the primary challenge you’ve faced?
I would say that my biggest challenge would be seeing other people’s successes. I would be envious of what they were achieving and it distracted me from focusing on myself and my business. It took me a long time to realize that everyone reaches different milestones at different times in life. As soon as I realized that, I accepted my timing and stopped paying attention to what other people were doing. Now, I focus on me and my own goals.
What would you tell someone who is just starting out?
Networking is key. It’s a referral based business. Try to grow your contacts as much as possible by assisting other makeup artists or testing with photographers. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people.
When you land a job, always arrive 10-15 minutes before your call time. Introduce yourself, be kind, respectful and work hard.
Lastly, you are your own brand. It’s a visual business so you need to be mindful of how the world see’s your brand. Always be professional. Have a clean and updated website. Respond right away to client’s emails and phone calls, dress for job you want, not the one you’ve got.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jencastelo.com AND www.bridalbyjen.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @jencmakeup AND @bridal.by.jen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jencastelomakeupartist
