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How Stella Tu grew her Instagram audience, from 8K to 80K in one year.
Description
The Makeup Insider is a weekly one-on-one podcast exploring the life and career of makeup artists, hosted by freelance mua Vanessa Barney. This week: getting personal with Stella Tu, Taiwan-born mua who launched her own line, Tu+Kit and grew her following from 8,000 to 80,000 through Instagram Reels.
***Language warning***
Ever felt the cold sting of rejection? Yikes! It’s something none of us like and are rarely comfortable with. But what if I told you that rejection doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough; it means the other person failed to notice what you have to offer^.
As artists, we face rejection all too often – and what it does is actually fire up a response in our brains. For Stella, this response motivated her to self-improve and focus on what she brought to the table.
“I still get anxious on every job, but you need to know how to pick yourself up [after rejection] and learn to embrace failure – it’s through failure we learn.”
Stella Tu
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The REELS of engagement.
- Audit
- Be consistent
- Do reels
If you’re looking to grow your following, then stop scrolling and take a peak at some insta reels.
R•E•E•L
A short, entertaining video, where you can express your creativity. Good for brands, artists (and dog lovers... ok we just added that one in 😉😉)
For an artist, we need to be excellent at using the tools we have. When there is an opportunity to showcase your skills and creativity, we should be shouting HELL- YES!
Stella grew her Instagram following from 8,000 to 80,000 followers by using videos of applications on models recorded during photoshoots and model collabs.
Her best tip? Record short clips every time you do an application, that way you can easily combine them into an engaging reel.
“Take the time to analyse your content... What content is performing well and what isn’t? Be content critical – your audience will be, but don’t be too hard on yourself – REMEMBER: YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH.”
Stella Tu
What I learnt about Bridal.
I often hear artists are weary about getting into bridal because of the ‘bridezilla’ persona… but have you done makeup on a model who hasn’t eaten all day?
REOW – same vibes!
As an artist, if you love all things bridal, then making the transition into this area can be worth the effort. From face-to-face courses to online masterclasses, there are plenty of ways to gain experience across bridal hair and makeup. With 3 mannequins at home to practice on (blonde, red and black), Stella cautions you to practice… a lot. Bridal makeup isn’t about what you think is best for the bride, it’s about what the bride wants. Of course, you must input some of your expertise, but leave your pride at the door – today is all about THEM.
Creative ideas.
Be inspired by those who inspire you. Whether it’s an artist you can relate to, or one you admire – be passionate about your creativity.
Tu&Kit evolved during Australia’s first pandemic lockdown period. Inspired by the UK line, Stella designed the kit herself, after always having to dig around for her pencils in the bottom of her makeup bag.