This week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with the mind behind Beauty by Butler, my sister Olivia Butler. She shares with Her Campus what its like to run multiple social media platforms for her own pleasure, but also as a tool for her business.
Claire Butler for HerCampus McGill (HC): Hi Olivia, can you start off by telling us a bit about yourself?
Olivia: My name is Olivia Butler, I’m 18 years old and I am an aspiring makeup artist currently studying Cosmetic Management at Humber College. I have been making YouTube videos every Sunday for about a year now. I am also very passionate and advocate for the use of cruelty-free and vegan makeup products.
HC: What made you want to be a makeup artist? And when did you first distinguish makeup as more than a hobby and a career choice?
Olivia: I want to be a makeup artist to be able to enhance the features that make everyone beautiful and to be able to make clients feel special no matter what the occasion may be.
I first discovered that makeup could be a realistic career choice for me, when I had girls in my year at school, asking me to do their makeup for prom. Even more so, that they were willing to pay me. I started off by going to these girl’s houses on the day of their prom with a reference photo in correlation with the colour of their prom dress, and I would do their makeup and make them feel extra special on their special day.
HC: What made you want to start a YouTube channel?
Olivia: Many YouTuber’s had an influence on my choice to start my YouTube channel; mainly Amanda Steele and Elle Mills, another YouTuber from Ottawa, my hometown. I had also already built up a little bit of an audience on my Instagram page dedicated to makeup, and I was constantly doing live stream tutorials over there, so I figured I could direct my followers over to a YouTube channel where they could watch my tutorials in a more timely manner. YouTube has allowed me to have a consistent upload schedule whereas with Instagram I will post whenever. I have the ability to speed up my tutorials over on my YouTube and I don’t have to make my followers sit around in live time to watch me explain something.
HC: What is your favorite part about making videos and using social media for your work?
Olivia: My favourite part about using social media as means to promote my work is probably the fact that my videos and posts have the ability to reach viewers that could be half way around the world. I love the aspect of creating and teaching people skills that I once struggled with. Social media has really opened up opportunities for many influencers out there, because it is as simple as tagging a company in your photo for them to be able to directly see your post and what you are doing with their products.
HC: Do you have a favorite video you’ve made?
Olivia: My favourite video I’ve made would have to be my Simple Floral Cut Crease video where I teach my viewers how to create this ethereal floral cut crease, which is by far one of my favourite makeup looks I’ve ever done.
You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq2QepMl32g&t=1s
HC: Craziest Vvdeo you’ve ever made?
Olivia: The craziest video I have ever made would have to be the video where I accumulated the price of all my everyday makeup products. Basically, I added up the total of all the beauty & skincare products that I use in my daily routine to see just how much I was spending on my face, and let me tell you, the results shocked me.
You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLNANmvOjGk&t=14s
HC: What do you find most challenging about being a student running a YouTube channel?
Olivia: Being a student while running a YouTube channel definitely has its challenges, including trying to have a consistent uploading schedule as well as being able to afford new makeup products to review for my viewers. However, I find ways to overcome it by reviewing drug store products which are more affordable to the college consumer much like myself, as well as having Friday’s off from classes allows me to have a consistent day to film and edit my videos so that they are ready to go up on Sundays!
HC: Do you have any advice for others out there wanting to start a YouTube channel?
Olivia: For me, being able to do something that I am so passionate about has allowed me to really branch out and really boost my confidence. I have only received the best feedback since starting my channel which really reinforces that I have a talent and am actually good at what I am doing, encouraging me to share more with the world. SO, my advice for those who are interested in starting a YouTube channel would definitely be to just go for it, even if you don’t necessarily have the means to begin, start with filming on your phone and build up from there.
HC: What are you most excited about with your channel?
Olivia: I am most excited to be able to reach out to makeup lovers much like myself all around the world through a platform that allows me to be as creative as possible.
Images provided by Olivia Butler