Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Branham.
Hi Sharon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for makeup started as a young girl when I would watch my Grandma put on her makeup. She would wear bright red lipstick and hot pink blush! I was intrigued by the transformation aspect as well as the quiet time spent with yourself in front of the vanity. I thought it was a beautiful process. After I graduated school, I went to cosmetology right away. I knew that I had a love for hair and makeup and wanted to be a professional, whatever that meant. As soon as I graduated and got my professional license, I started doing hair right away in a salon. I moved around a lot, so it was hard to establish a clientele base.
I then decided to embark on the makeup side of my cosmetology journey. I knew I didn’t need my own clientele right away and wanted to stay in my field, so I applied to work at MAC Cosmetics. With zero makeup experience, I was lucky enough to get hired! I then went on to work at various Mac locations throughout the midwest and Texas for ten years. I learned really quickly that my love for people and being one on 1 with them is what I loved most about doing makeup. I decided to leave MAC and start freelancing for myself and for other artists who needed assistants. Little by little, I started taking on my own clients and building my own reputation in the makeup community. My name started to get passed around from client to client and before I knew it, I was working 100% for myself. As scary as it was to venture out on my own, It’s a decision I will never regret. I’m a hustler by nature but working for yourself forces you to level up or give up. It’s made me a better mom, more organized, more regimented and more focused. This has been such a beautiful journey so far and I’m just getting started. Cheers to being fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing has been handed to me. When I moved to Austin, I didn’t know a single person, I was afraid of how big the city was but I knew that my God-given gifts and talents were stronger than my fears of failure. Not working for myself wasn’t an option. I did whatever I could to make an income but still get my name out into the wedding industry so; I worked for free, I volunteered, I gave discounts, I worked for far below what I thought my services were worth. I stayed focused on the long-term goal and knew that all of these things would pay off eventually.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a hair and makeup artist. I specialize in weddings and special event hair and makeup. I’m know for bringing out the best version of yourself without you having to explain it to me. Part of my specialty is my intuition. I can read people really well and know how to put those nerves at ease. Makeup is a very vulnerable process and I don’t take that lightly. My intuition also tells me when enough is enough and when to stop and put the brush down.
The makeup look I’m know for is more of natural but “glam” for you look. My goal is for my clients to feel like the best version of themselves without feeling like they have to much makeup on. I’m know for my speed and precision. All those years of slinging makeup in Chicago and Austin while multitasking has made me a pro at holding a conversation, being cool, calm and collected and getting the job done at a speedy but perfected rate. In the makeup community I am known for being genuine, honest, reliable, professional, and consistent. I know this because I asked my peers! haha Anyone who knows me knows I don’t brag on myself. I let my work speak for itself.
Experience is what sets me apart from other makeup artists. I’ve been in the industry for 15 years now. I’ve done every skin tone, skin concern, age group, trends; you name it I’ve encountered it. I’m most proud that I am able to do what I love every day for a job. It doesn’t feel like work. It feels like girl time, being creative, getting to know people, being there on their biggest life moments, breaking down vulnerabilities and replacing it with trust. That is irreplaceable. No amount of money can replace that.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
Yes, I am a risk taker. No risk, no reward! I’ve taken countless risks; I’ve failed and tried again. Risk is a wonderful thing. That’s how we learn and grow. We make mistakes and figure it out.
Quitting my steady job where I had health and dental insurance, 401K and paid vacation time to follow my passion was a huge risk but it was something I was willing to take to follow my passion of being self-employed. I would have rather been broke but happy than steady and working for someone else. If you’re afraid of it, then do it! That is your intuition telling you to take the risk.
Pricing:
- Bride makeup $150 day of
- Bridal hair- $135 day of
- Event makeup $90
- Bridal trial run $90 makeup
- Bridal run $90 hair
Contact Info:
- Email: info@sharonmariemakeup.com
- Website: www.sharonmariemakeup.com
- Instagram: @sharon_marie_makeup
- Facebook: Sharon Marie Makeup
Image Credits
Sloan Breeden Photography Tim Waters Photography Nikk Nguyen Photography Carhart Photography Light Visuals Photography
