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With all there is to do for your wedding day, your makeup may be the last
thing on your mind. Well, not the last thing, but pretty close. In my many
years of experience doing bridal makeup, I have noticed that makeup for the
wedding day may not be thought about until a few weeks before the big event.
So, whether you have planned months in advance, or it is two weeks before
your wedding, the way to go about finding a good makeup artist is always the
same. You have to know where to look.
With the modern bride using the Internet for so many aspects of
coordinating the event, this would be the first stop. Visit wedding
websites, like this one, and look in the beauty or makeup artist categories.
Most professionals who work with brides will be listed on these sites. You
will easily be able to do a quick comparison of pricing, services offered,
and even view photos of their recent work.
Now you have to ask yourself some questions. Do I want to go to a salon
or do I want them to come to me, and if they do, is there a travel fee
involved? Will they do a trial run of the makeup before the wedding, and is
that included in the fee? Do they require a deposit to hold my date? Will I
be the only one getting my makeup done, or will other members of my party be
receiving the service as well? Do I want someone who can do both my hair and
makeup? Do I have an idea of how I want my makeup to look (natural,
glamorous, exotic, etc.)? Do I have any special needs I should let them know
about, such as allergies to certain products, plants or foods, tattoos that
will need covering or severe acne? Are they Licensed? (we’ll discuss this a
little later). Plus many, many more that you will come up with on your own!
So, you’ve narrowed down your list of makeup artists to call and you are
armed with your questions. I think that the most important things you should
consider when choosing your makeup artist are that they listen to you, they
answer all of your questions to your satisfaction, and that you feel
comfortable with them.
Now, they must have talent too, but if you are going to be uncomfortable
with someone touching you and being in your space at possibly the most
important moment of your life thus far, you must feel comfortable with them
and their demeanor. There are makeup artists and there are Makeup Artists.
What that means is, there are some artists out there that have no experience
other than selling makeup. Working with makeup and being a makeup artist are
very different things.
A State Licensed Makeup Artist will have schooling behind them, will have
worked in an atmosphere with other licensed beauty professionals and should
have acquired a more sophisticated set of skills. Many states require
continuing education to keep a license, so these professionals are always
learning new skills. They may also practice more rigorous sanitation
guidelines, and perhaps even have OSHA certifications.
Once you’ve had the conversations and you think you have your makeup artist,
how do you tell him or her how you would like to look? Often times, a
picture speaks volumes. Cut out some pictures in bridal magazines of makeup
that you like, and give them to your makeup artist. A good makeup artist
will give you what you want, a great makeup artist will give you what you
want, taking into consideration what you have. What I mean is, that if you
want to look your best, a look has to be designed with your coloring,
features, bone structure and overall beauty in mind. All the while keeping
your desired vision as the cornerstone of the look.
Also, don’t forget to mention to your makeup artist what types of
photography will be involved. Are all the pictures going to be in color or
will some of them be in black and white? This little detail can dramatically
change the makeup design, and not all makeup artists are comfortable working
with a black and white medium. Wedding makeup is an art. The bride must look
natural in person, yet defined enough so that she appears to be glowing in
photographs. This is challenging to achieve, and is truly a learned skill.
The time line for finding a good artist should be 2-3 months prior to
the wedding. Have your trial run about 3-5 weeks before the event. Take a
picture of your trial run makeup. Also, go outside and look at your makeup.
What may look great under soft salon lighting could look garish anywhere
else. See how long the makeup lasts, and if you will need to touch up during
the day. And don’t be afraid to say you don’t like something. Remember, this
makeup will live on forever in photographs and video, so you want to be
pleased with your look. Most of all relax and enjoy the experience. It isn’t
everyday that you will have this kind of pampering from a highly skilled,
professional makeup artist.
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