Going international
Working internationally as a makeup artist
“I want to work internationally” is an ambition, not a plan. Artists who do it consistently pick a market, learn who hires there, and arrive prepared, with contacts, dates and terms already in place.
Pick one market, not “abroad”
A market is a city plus a type of work: destination weddings on the Adriatic coast, fashion in Paris, commercial production in Milan, events in a capital during a festival. Each has its own buyers, standards and calendar. Starting with one lets you research properly and go back often enough to be remembered.
- Is there regular work of the kind I do, or only one famous event a year?
- Can I legally work there, and what do I need to invoice clients there? Check with an accountant before you go
- Do I speak a language the teams there work in?
- Can I afford to go two or three times in a year, not just once?
- Do I already know anyone there, even indirectly?
Research who creates the work
Do not search for “makeup jobs in Paris”. Map who produces the work you want: photographers, production companies, agencies, planners, venues, other artists. Look at whose names appear on the projects you admire, and who the makeup artist on those projects was. That map becomes your outreach list.
Read the market before you pitch it
Every market expects a certain kind of proof. A fashion photographer looks for editorial pages; a destination wedding planner looks for calm, long-wear makeup on real brides and experience with international couples; a producer looks for reliability and credits. Adjust your portfolio link to the buyer before you write, rather than sending one link to everyone.
A simple first-trip timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3 months before | Choose dates, build your contact list, tailor your portfolio, check work and tax requirements |
| 2 months before | First outreach with exact dates: “I’ll be in Milan 10–17 March and available for shoots” |
| 1 month before | Follow up with a reason, confirm any bookings with written terms and deposits |
| 1 week before | Final confirmations, addresses, call times, kit list, payment details |
| During | Do the work, meet people in person, collect contacts and permission to use images |
| After | Thank-you messages, share images, tell people when you will be back |
Travel kit and logistics
- Pack a working kit, not your whole studio: what you need for the bookings you have
- Carry a 24-hour essentials kit in your hand luggage in case checked luggage is late
- Check airline rules for liquids, aerosols and batteries before you pack
- Choose where you stay for the work: close to jobs, good light for tests, quiet for early starts
- Keep an admin kit ready to send: portfolio links, short bio, rates, invoice details, ID copies
Getting paid across borders
Agree the currency, method and due date in writing before the job. Ask who pays bank or transfer fees and add them to your quote if they are yours. For private clients abroad, take the deposit before you book travel. For companies, ask about their payment terms early: 30 days after invoice or more is not unusual. Keep copies of everything.
Taking a makeup career international is the core of the International MUA Business Academy: market research, entry plans, outreach, travel and payments.
See the AcademyQuestions
How do makeup artists get work abroad?
Usually through a chosen market, research into who hires there, direct outreach with exact dates, assisting established artists, and returning to the same place until people know them. Very few get there through random job searches.
Do I need a visa to work as a makeup artist abroad?
It depends on your citizenship, where you go and how you are paid. Within the EU, rules for EU citizens are simpler; outside it, they vary a lot. Check official sources and ask an accountant or adviser before you take paid work.
Should I work for free to get into a new market?
Sometimes a test shoot or assisting job is a strategic choice, sometimes it is just free labor. Decide in advance what it must give you: specific images, a specific contact or a credit you can use.