Why become a certified makeup artist with Southwest Makeup Institute?

Professional Training

Sure, you could watch Youtube videos then call yourself a Makeup Artist, but what will be missing is professional training! Our staff of instructors are all highly experienced (Each with a decade or more in the industry!) in different realms of makeup artistry and education. This offers students the opportunity to gain an inside look at each individual instructor’s expertise — a wealth of information ranging from makeup brand training and management, music video and commercial makeup, makeup for film, bridal makeup, and so much more! Without professional training, it can take years of trial and error to learn industry secrets, standards, and to establish yourself in the artistry community.

Industry Specific Standards & Career Legitimacy

When you become certified through Southwest Makeup Institute, you are given the “stamp of approval”, so-to-speak, in the local industry. Our students enter the job market with a heightened understanding of makeup artistry specific sanitation protocols, professionalism, and application skills not offered on Youtube or Instagram. When you tell potential clients that you are a “Certified Makeup Artist”, it legitimizes your professionalism and trustworthiness in the eye of the public. Due to the up-close-and-personal nature of the job, your certification will place trust in your clients that you are presenting the cleanest, safest, and most enjoyable makeup application experience possible.

Film Union Days

Upon completion of 200 hours of certification training, students are also granted 15 days toward IATSE Local 480 New Mexico Film Union membership. What does this mean exactly? In order to work on any union-covered production (basically any and all big budget film or TV shows), you are required to be a member of the local film union: IATSE 480. Film union entry requires 15 - 30 days working on a union-covered production, and these days can be hard to find. Your education with Southwest Makeup Institute offers automatic access (upon program completion) to 1/2 of the required days needed to become a film union member, which is HUGE!