We were lucky to catch up with Sana Hafeez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative career in makeup and hair thanks to my mother. She was a talented makeup artist when I was growing up, and I loved watching her work her magic.

As a little girl, I would sit fascinated in her makeup chair as she transformed women’s faces before big nights out. The way she could use cosmetics to accentuate her clients’ natural beauty was like art to me.

I remember practicing makeup on my dolls trying to mimic what my mom did. She nurtured my interests and creativity, letting me play with her makeup brushes and products. As I got older, she taught me makeup application techniques and allowed me to help with her clients.

Seeing my mom’s passion for making women feel confident through makeup artistry was hugely inspiring. Her career showed me how fulfilling the beauty industry can be. I knew from a young age that I wanted to follow in her creative footsteps.

With my mom as my mentor and guide, I set my sights on mastering makeup artistry. I feel so fortunate to have grown up immersed in the world of cosmetics and beauty thanks to her. It set me on the path to pursuing my dream career.

Sana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Sana and I’m the founder of MakeoverBySana, based in Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve been dolling up brides since 2018! Growing up, I loved playing dress-up and experimenting with makeup. My mother was a talented makeup artist , she taught me many techniques over the years.

I went on to complete my masters’s in Computer Science, but my passion for makeup artistry never faded. So I decided to pursue it further by completing my certifications, where I Mastered my skills in beauty. Though an unlikely pairing, I found my background in computer science helped me tremendously in building my freelance makeup business.

For the past 5 years, I’ve worked as a professional makeup artist providing services for weddings, photo shoots, events and more throughout the USA. My specialty is bridal makeup – I just love working with brides on their big day! The joy of dolling up a bride and enhancing her natural beauty, seeing her confidence shine through, is so fulfilling. I also enjoy hearing all my clients’ stories and getting to know them during our makeup sessions.

What sets me apart is my ability to balance glamorous styles with each woman’s individual beauty. I take the time to consult with clients to understand their vision, then design a customized look that enhances their features. Continuous education is important to me so I’m always learning new techniques and trends to stay on top.

My goal is for every woman who sits in my makeup chair to feel confident in her own skin. I want to help create memories that will last a lifetime! Whether it’s a wedding, photoshoot, or girls’ night out, I’m here to bring your beauty vision to life.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Here is how I built my audience on social media as a makeup artist, along with advice for others getting started:

When I first launched my freelance makeup business, I knew building a social media presence would be crucial for reaching potential clients. I started accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to showcase my work.

I focused first on creating high-quality content – beautiful, artistic photos and videos of the makeup looks I created. I shareddetailed captions explaining the products, techniques, and inspiration behind each look.

Engaging with similar accounts, liking posts, and commenting generated traffic organically. I also ran targeted ads on Facebook/Instagram which allowed me to reach local brides-to-be.

Sharing behind-the-scenes content from weddings and shoots gave followers an inside look into my business. Posting about makeup trends, tips, and tutorials allowed me to establish expertise.

As I gained followers, I would do giveaways and contests, share user-generated content, and collaborate with brands through sponsored posts. Over time, consistent posting and interacting helped me build a robust audience across platforms.

For those starting out, focus on creating content that provides value for your ideal audience. Engage authentically with other accounts and users. Take advantage of tools like stories, reels, and live videos. Be patient – organic growth takes time. Let your passion shine through in your content!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience about dealing with late client payments as a makeup artist:

When I first started my freelance makeup business, I struggled with some clients not paying on time for my services.

In the beginning, I would do weddings and big events with the agreement of being paid after the fact. But sometimes weeks would go by without payment, even after friendly reminders.

One instance really stands out – a bride whose whole family and bridal party makeup I did beautifully. I felt grateful when she raved about how happy she was. But over a month went by without the payment we agreed upon.

I reached out politely asking if there was an issue. Turned out they needed more time to gather funds after the expensive wedding. I worked out a payment plan to accommodate them.

It was frustrating chasing payments, but taught me to be smarter about contracts and deposits. Now I require 50% upfront and 50% completion of larger jobs. I understand money can be tight, so I try to be flexible if clients are upfront about delays.

This experience building my business reinforced that open communication and understanding both parties’ needs is so valuable. I became a better business owner learning to navigate tricky money matters while keeping clients happy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeoverbysanaa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeoverbysanaa/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sana-hafeez-97b676132/

Image Credits
all the pictures are clicked by me through my phone