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How to Build a Stand-Out Beauty Portfolio
17th April 2025 : 08:34am, by admin
Having a portfolio is essential for anyone who wants to work in the beauty industry. It’s a great way to show off your skills and personal style, attract new clients, impress potential employers, and build your brand. It also gives you the chance to reflect on how much you’ve grown throughout your training and career.
Whether you’re just starting out or already working with real clients, here are some top tips to help you build a stand out portfolio:
Define Your Speciality
When building your portfolio, it’s important to decide what area you want to focus on. Whatever it is, your portfolio should highlight your best work in that area.
Think about your strengths and what makes your style unique. For example, if you’re an aspiring make-up artist, do you prefer natural, clean looks or bold, creative designs? Make sure your portfolio reflects not only your technical skills, but also your personality and passion.
Use High-Quality Images
Photos are everything when it comes to a beauty portfolio. It’s essential to only include clear, high-resolution images. Avoid blurry, dark or poorly lit photos as they can make great work look unprofessional.
You should also avoid using stock images. Your portfolio should show your work, not someone else’s.
Show Before and Afters
Including before and after photos is a great way to show the transformation you’re capable of. For example, if you’re skilled at covering blemishes with make-up or improving skin texture with facials, before and after shots can help you clearly show the results.
Other examples could include hair transformations (like going from brown to blonde), eyebrow waxing, or nail makeovers. Just make sure both photos are taken in similar lighting and angles so the change is easy to see.
Include a Range
Even if you specialise in one area, try to include a variety of skills, styles and looks in your portfolio. This shows your versatility and ability to work with different clients and preferences.
For example, a make-up artist’s portfolio might include soft natural make-up, bridal looks, bold glam and creative editorial looks. Showing a mix of looks shows that you are flexible and able to work in different settings and to a variety of briefs.
Keep It Updated
In the beauty industry, you’re always learning new skills. That’s why it’s so important to keep your portfolio up-to-date. Make sure to update your portfolio regularly with your latest and best pieces of work. This shows your growth, current skill level and dedication to improving. Remember, the more you practice, the better your work will be, so your portfolio should grow with you!
How to Make Your Portfolio
A lot of beauty professionals use Instagram as a digital portfolio and it’s a great place to start. It’s easy to update, widely used by clients and employers, and helps you build a following and get noticed. Just make sure your account is professional and clearly shows your work.
It’s also a good idea to have a digital or print version of your portfolio that you can share with salons, agencies or potential employers. Platforms like Canva make it simple to create clean, professional-looking layouts that you can save and update as you go.
How LCBT Helps You Build Your Portfolio
At LCBT, we don’t just teach you practical beauty skills – we help you put them into practice in real-world situations so you can build a strong portfolio while you learn with us.
You’ll have the opportunity to:
- Practice your skills in-person
- Take photos of your work
- Get guidance from our experienced tutors
- Receive expert advice for our Careers Advisors on CVs, job applications and more
By the time you complete your course, you’ll have a portfolio that shows your full potential and sets you up for success in the beauty industry. Explore our courses and apply today!
