Daily Inspiration: Meet Tamara Bickley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Bickley.

Hi Tamara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My passion for makeup artistry was always strong, and I’ve loved makeup all my life but thought of it as one of my talents or at most, a hobby. As years passed, I began envisioning myself as a makeup artist. I wanted to re-invent my identity, be my own boss with my own clientele, and determine my schedule. I had three children by then, and the 9-5 job was not the flexibility I needed. So I decided to change my career and life almost overnight.

Changing careers can be scary. But fear has no place in career swapping. I dove in, head first, as I awoke one morning in 2011 and took my passion with me on a drive to the Arizona Corporation Commission. Piles of paperwork later, I walked out a first-time business owner, an entrepreneur. My new business would be called Makeup Artistry by Tamara, LLC.

Tirelessly, I researched all avenues of this new career because even though a makeup artist firstly has to be very good at doing makeup, there are other elements of this job that must be mastered in order to be successful. I had to learn how to own a business, I had to make connections within the industry – which is is ongoing. Then there’s the communications side to it, which came naturally to me as a journalist. If I was going to be in someone’s face, transforming them, communication is important. Additionally, I needed my family’s support. I don’t think I’d ever have taken the steps to become a makeup artist without it. In the early days of my career, my husband would watch over our then-young children as I accepted every photoshoot or makeup-related opportunity – paid or not – that came my way.

Now that I’ve been doing this for more than a decade, I’ve learned how to balance life and work. I’ve also expanded from doing makeup to launching my own makeup line, which keeps me very busy these days.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When you work in a service business, one of the biggest challenges is people. You realize you’ll (hopefully) satisfy most clients/customers, but there will always be people whom you will never satisfy. Not everyone is going to love me, my work or my rates. That was hard to digest at first. However, there are plenty of makeup artists out there, and I understand that some people are just a better fit for another artist. As long as instances of rejection are few and far between, I know it’s part of the job and nothing personal. I look at every negative business experience as a learning tool and opportunity to grow and become better. Mostly I focus on the positive feedback I receive because it propels me forward to keep doing what I love. An industry obstacle I’ve faced over the years has been dealing with some people’s lack of communication. I’m a natural communicator. As long as there’s open and forthcoming communication between a prospective client and me, or a photographer, hairstylist, wardrobe stylist, etc., and me, we can make wonderful things happen. If you have a lack of communication somewhere, there will be glitches and frustration.

I cannot talk about hardships within this industry without mentioning the challenges we’ve faced throughout the pandemic. I’ve always prioritized sanitization and follow every rule and guideline in terms of keeping my clients and myself safe from contraction of any bacteria or virus transmitted via cosmetics, tools or people. But the fear of Covid-19 has taken all of our methods of disinfection to another level. In the long run, this is a good thing.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Though I’m proud of forming my own makeup artistry business, I’m most proud of my makeup line. I launched it in 2014 after being asked to recommend healthful, chemical-free, perfectly matched makeup to my clients. I began with one customer and now have more than 500 people who regularly use my individually made-to-match skin-care foundation, along with my other products available.

As a former newspaper journalist, I never thought I’d ever be standing before brides, glamming them for their special days, running off to photoshoots, or helping people look and feel their best by enhancing their beauty. Only in my dreams would I have carried a makeup kit instead of a reporter’s notebook.

But after years of pursuing stories and sitting down to write, I realized that I belonged in a different industry.

What sets me apart from other makeup artists is that my background in communications, plus my age, have been conducive to a mature and professional approach to this job. I’m punctual and arrive at jobs prepared. Communication remains a top priority. Before I proceed with applying makeup on anyone, I get to know the person in my makeup chair. Applying makeup is a personal process, and there’s nothing more personal than how one sees him/her/themselves. I want to achieve looks for my clients that are boosts to their self-esteem, as well as create the best looks for them that will relay in photos, film, the stage, or how they appear at any occasion.

What’s next?
I’m in the process of creating an online shopping experience for my custom makeup line, and I’ve set a deadline for myself to have it completed by December, in time for the holidays. It’s a huge undertaking, as I’m attempting to do it all myself. Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to Halloween, as I always do. It’s my favorite time of year because I get to be as creative as I feel, with no limitations. As much as I love doing wedding makeup, there’s something freeing and fun about the shock value of special effects makeup. The creepier, the better!

Contact Info:

• Email: t@tamaramakeupart.com
• Website: www.tamaramakeupart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tamara_makeup
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/tamaramakeupart
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/MakeupByTamaraB
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy00zNA17zA91SDPeBhB-mQ
• Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/makeup-artistry-by-tamara-scottsdale/3380c507aad2eef2.html

Image Credits
Alex Huggan Photography Marissa Belle Photography Dana Danley Photography Ines Piquet Images Jenn Schaeffer Images