Meet Sarah Fox | Professional Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Fox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, how do you think about risk?
Most people look at risk and think of failure, when I think of risk, I think of an opportunity to grow. I worked for Van Michaels from 2017 to 2020 and when covid hit in 2020, I decided to take a risk, which was leave my full-time 9-5 job to completely full-time freelancing. As a free-lance makeup artist, it is completely different than being a makeup artist in a salon. For one, going from being on salary to getting paid only if you book a client, is a struggle. You must truly grind and hustle to remain consistent as a freelance makeup artist. Making that decision to go out on my own full time was a huge risk, but looking back on it today, I have no regrets doing it! Taking a risk involves straying out of your comfort zone and stepping into the unknown. Even if you do fail, there is always something to learn from it!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Ive always loved makeup I was just never allowed to wear it growing up which is ironic since I now do it for a living! It wasn’t until I got to college when I started really wearing it and being more expressive with it. I realized that I was in school for the wrong thing so in 2017 I enrolled in Studio Crush Atlanta to take their makeup course. Choosing to leave college and pursue makeup was a challenge for me because there were times I doubted myself. Was I making the right decision? Is this going to work out for me in the long run? Should I have stayed in college? But over the years of my career, I have never felt like this wasn’t the job for me. They say that if you love what you do then you’ll never work a day in your life, that’s how I knew I made the right choice.
I came across some challenges in my career when decided to leave my secure 9-5 to pursue freelancing full time. Remaining consistent as a freelancer isn’t easy, there were times I went without booking a client for weeks. Atlanta is saturated with makeup artists but not only does your craft have to set you apart, but its also a personable job. I have learned over the years that its more than just being a makeup artist, connecting and building relationships with your clients is what creates that bond where they want to keep booking you! Im still learning as I go, but I am very proud of how far I’ve come in the last few years and I’m even more excited to see the growth of my brand in the coming years!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The best thing about Atlanta is there are countless things to do whether you like to hike, go to sporting events, cool restaurants, the list goes on! If I were to show my best friend around town I would start with the beltline. Being on the beltline you have tons of different restaurant and breweries to choose from, that’s one of the hotspots to hit during the daytime! Towards the evening/night time you can’t go wrong with a rooftop patio to grab a drink for happy hour! One spot I always recommend is Gypsy Kitchen which is located in Shop of Buckhead, it is more of an upscale vibe but is definitely a go to spot! To venture outside of the city, a trip with your bestie to Chateau Elan Winery is something you can never go wrong with! Its the perfect spot for winding down after a week filled with on the go adventures!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shoutout this specific person who truly transformed my career as a makeup artist. Nikole Morrow Pettus was my mentor when I first started at Van Michael back in 2018. For those that don’t of know her, Nikole has been a professional makeup artist in the Atlanta area for over 20 years. As a beginner in the beauty industry, having the right mentor to guide and teach you is what can really make a difference in your path as a makeup artist. She would take me as her assistant on photoshoots, press tours, weddings, anything she needed an extra helping hand on! I learned a lot more than just makeup from her and I am so grateful to have had her as my mentor for those few years! If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be I would be where I am as a makeup artist today!

Instagram: @sarahfoxmakeup | @sarahfoxx

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-fox-9307661b1/

Other: booking email : sarahfox1@icloud.com

Image Credits
Jay Lenard Emily Hart Caroline & Gregg Willett Austin Maekoi