Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Mark.
Austin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been working professionally in the makeup industry since 2006. I’ve always been a visual learner and have always been drawn to beauty in various forms. I started working with NARS Cosmetics in 2010, shortly before moving to LA. Since then I have worked all over the West coast doing makeup for events, runway shows (Badgely Mishka, Wolk Morais, The HollyRod Foundation), and editorials locally and internationally (Bunker Hill magazine, Elegant Magazine, Vice UK).
Has it been a smooth road?
Moving from Chicago to Los Angeles was a huge wake-up call. The talent and competition on LA is like nothing I had seen before. I had to seriously step up my game to be able to compete in this new environment
When you look back, can you point to a period when you wanted to quit or a period that was really frustrating?
When I first moved to Los Angeles, that was the hardest time for me. I didn’t have any real connections here, and I was working on a freelance basis. I was barely scraping by financially and thought I would have to move back to the Midwest at one point. I kept holding out and eventually got enough steady work to pay my rent (and eat more than Ramen) and finally got my full-time job.
What would you tell someone who is just starting out?
Talk to everyone, and connect with anyone you can. Work opportunities come from the strangest places, so you’d better carry your card on you! I met a woman on the jetway of an airplane who recognized my makeup bag and booked me on the spot for an event when I get back home.
What are you looking forward to?
I’m most excited to continue building my brand and connecting with more people in LA.
Pricing:
- Bridal makeup- Starting at $225
- Event makeup house calls- Starting at $125
- Day Rate- Upon Request
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AustinMarkMakeup.com
- Phone: 3236141331
- Email: TheAustinMark@gmail.com
- Instagram: @AustinMarkMUA
