Tips when looking for a makeup artist
Tips when looking for a MUA for your wedding day….
After last weeks post of wedding photographer tips I thought I would follow it up with some useful tips to help when looking for your wedding makeup artist. I am delighted that Kerry from Cambridge Makeup Artist has allowed me to post these tips that she’s put together. Kerry is an amazing makeup and hair specialist who is based in Cambridge. She is very professional and takes such pride in her work, I would highly recommend her services. Check out what she has to say below:
Ask for a trial run.
Having a trial is a preview of what you will look like on your wedding day. Most makeup artists will charge for a trial, however we spend most of our time, money, and supplies doing this makeup application countless times. In my opinion, this is money well spent. As a professional I will analyse your face and personality to determine how soft or bold your bridal makeup needs to be. Also during the trial, I will be taking down notes of everything I use on you; colour and types of foundation that were used, powders, names of lashes that were applied, names and colours of blush and lipstick etc. *Everything* is written down and kept so that no time is wasted the day of the wedding, and to ensure that you will look exactly the way you did for your trial.
Choose someone you get along with and who’s work you love!
I always tell my brides, the two most important things to remember when interested in choosing a makeup artist is to make sure you like the look of their work, and to make sure you get along with them on a personal level. You will be spending your wedding morning with them after all! Viewing a portfolio and researching your makeup artist is so important. You want to make sure your makeup artist has a top quality portfolio. It can be a personal website (which is always best because it looks more professional) or even a Facebook page, Twitter, or any wedding blogs their work may have been featured on. You want to make sure their work matches the quality of makeup you are expecting to receive for your wedding. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials!
If they are the right person for the job, book them!
Good makeup artists tend to book up quickly (about a year in advance) especially during wedding season (March-September) so it’s really important to book your makeup artist as soon as you find the one you like best. Also, any professional working in the wedding industry is going to provide you with some kind of contract; Wedding makeup is just the same. It is quite crucial and beneficial for all parties involved.
Budget for a good makeup artist.
While it can be expensive, many people tend to forget the amount of money, time, and energy we put into our kits, our work, and training in order to do our job effectively and efficiently. I’ve seen and heard of brides expecting to pay £20-35 maximum on full wedding makeup, and while I completely understand and sympathise with them if that’s all they can afford that is a completely unrealistic expectation. Whoever quotes that price is either working for a makeup counter, or is just starting out and trying to build up some experience. We also have many things we have to factor into our prices like the cost of supplies, replenishing our kits after a job, travel, petrol costs, time, expertise, insurance, taxes, and if we’re working on more than four people for a wedding party, we have to hire an assistant to help with the makeup applications, that we pay for out-of-pocket. Also being a professional makeup artist isn’t just a hobby for us, it’s a business and we are sincerely dedicated to the job!
Make sure your makeup artist is organised.
Your wedding makeup consultation with a potential makeup artist is a big deal. Not only are you on the lookout for a makeup artist whose style you like but for an above-board professional with clean products, who takes notes and makes plans. Also pay attention to how clean her brushes are and how sanitised her work area’s look.