During the count down to your big day there is always so much to plan and do. One of the big things brides to be need to consider is booking a professional make-up artist for their day. You would think this would be easy, but there are some very important things you should consider.
this information was written to demonstrate to brides that wedding make-up is so much more than the end result.
I want to give this information freely as I don't want to see anyone let down last minute on their wedding day by a 'make-up artist' which sadly I have seen happen far too often of late. I have lost count of the number of times I have been called and asked to help out last minute due to a make-up artist cancellation, however I am often already pre booked. I cannot think of anything more unprofessional and devastating for a bride, this is not just my career and my passion this is my life.
What to look for in a professional make-up artist and what questions to ask them:
Experience/ Training
An unfortunate side to the make-up artistry industry is that there is no regulation. It is possible for some one to do a one day make-up course and advertise that they do bridal make-up the next day despite not having full knowledge and experience in this area.
The plus side to this un-regulation is that people with no qualifications and natural talent are not held back by a lack of qualifications, however brides do need to be aware of the downside that just anyone can now say that they are a make-up artist, with no experience or portfolio to back up their claim.
*I want to make it clear that I am not disregarding day courses and untrained/ self trained make-up artists as some people just have natural talent and are sensational artists, however it is important that brides are booking with a professional artist ad someone who has the relevant experience. Personally I believe it is a combination of training and real working experience that brides should be looking for.*
Training and experience go hand in hand in my eyes, as I believe its important to check your make-up artist has relevant training and/or experience. There is nothing wrong with booking a self taught, part time make-up artist or beauty therapist just ensure their professionalism and reliability is as good as their make-up artistry and ensure that they meet or exceed your expectations.
It sounds obvious, but with experience comes the ability to problem solve, and to be able to handle any situation that arises on the day. Only with time and experience will your make-up artist have the timings down to a tee on the day so that you are all ready in time, if you have a flare up of acne or eczema they will know how to best cover it and if someone in the bridal party has an extremely infectious cold sore your experienced make-up artist will know how to deal with this without any cross contamination.
Ask your make-up artist "Are you qualified as a make-up artist and how long have you been doing wedding make-up for?)
Portfolio/ before and after images/ style
There are many different styles of make-up artists out there, so you need to have a think about the style you would like. Do you like full on glam make-up and do you like heavy contouring or do you prefer a more natural flawless and classic look, or even the 'no make-up make-up' look. Look for someone who specialises in bridal make-up and has a lot of bridal images in their portfolio.
Very natural flawless looks
Natural complexion with smokey eyes
Glam and gorgeous make-up look
Make sure the portfolio is current and up to date as make-up trends are changing so quickly. My very first make-up class was 9 years ago and the trends and rules have changed so much since then. I constantly ensure I am learning new skills and techniques for example airbrushing, contouring and bridal hair.
Its great to see before and after images of real clients especially if they are unedited. Basically there is no filters and editing to hide behind or fix make-up mistakes so you can see exactly what the make-up looks like on the clients skin.
Ask your make-up artist "Can you send me a link/ show me your portfolio and do you have any unedited before and after images I can look at?"
Insurance
This is a BIG one. All professional make-up artists will have insurance. It is 100% needed and in my eyes you cannot work without it. If a make-up artist isn't insured then I personally would not take them seriously.
Ask your make-up artist "Do you hold professional insurance for wedding make-up services?"
Contract
It is extremely important to get a professional contract from you make-up artist for your wedding. This should lay out all pricing and when it should be paid, all of the make-up artists terms and conditions and what will happen if either of you should cancel.
Without a contract if your make-up artist cancels or doesn't turn up then there really isnt much you can do, however if you have a contract it will tell you what your options are in the rare event that your make-up artist cannot make it. Don't forget the contract is there for both of you, it protects the make-up artist and yourself.
Also it can be more comforting meeting people face to face to go over the contract and pay your retainer fee, so if you are nervous about transferring money just ask if you can meet up.
Life happens, people get ill, sometimes there are uncontrollable factors that lead to a make-up artist having to cancel your wedding make-up, however any professional make-up artist should have a back up plan.
Ask your make-up artist "When should I meet you to sign my contract, when do I have to pay and how can I pay." Also "What will happen if you had to cancel my wedding make-up 6 month before my wedding or even last minute?"
If anyone answers "I wont cancel on you for your wedding" please do not accept this answer. As a professional working bridal make-up artist should have a back up plan.
Are they Established
More and more people are booking their make-up artist one or two years in advance so a good way to figure out whether your make-up artist is established and in it for the long run or not is by how they advertise and run their business.
Do they just have a website, business cards, flyers, a professional studio premises, a work dedicated number or an email address that you can contact them on? It is important for brides to feel like they can reach reach their make-up artist through a professional platform when needed. Its great to be able to have a non interrupted chat over the phone or pop into their studio to meet up and ask questions.
Cosmetique Studios
Make-up artistry is becoming an increasingly sought after job, however after the first few years we are seeing an increasing number of people giving up and finding another job. For this reason it is essential that you can trust that your make-up artist will still be available in one or two years time.
Ask your make-up artist "Can I have a link to your website and will you still be available in 1-2 years time for my wedding"
Professionalism
Professionalism is such an important aspect, social media is a great marketing tool, however a professional website is like a shop front window.
Look out for a website over a social media page. Website contain much more in depth information that can help you decide if you would like to book them for example experience, pricing, images of their make-up skills, client feedback , what to expect on the day and much more. Websites should be easy to navigate, look presentable and viewable on phones, tablets and computers.
Social media platforms come and go, year after year these medias are changing however the website is the main professional point of contact and online presence for your professional.
Client feedback is important, this can be found on websites and also on facebook pages. Do they hold a 5 * rating and what have clients said about them. This feedback can give you an indication on whether on not people are reliable, professional and if they will arrive on time etc.
Look out for timely replies, professional phone manner and good conduct over social media.
Products
Part of being a professional make-up artist is being prepared for anything. If you have discoloration, acne scarring, a birthmark or Acne Rosacea your make-up artist should know how to correct this with make-up products and techniques.
The same goes for your skin,good skin prep can really make or break your make-up look, if you have dry or oily patches, dehydrated skin or open pores these should all be addressed before any make-up is applied to your skin.
A professional make-up artists kit should contain the exact shade of foundation your skin needs and the colour of lipstick that makes you feel great, the right length and fullness of lashes and the perfect eye shadow colour for you. In order for this to be possible the make-up artist needs to have or be able to mix every colour you could ask for on your big day.
Everyone uses different brands but my favourites are Temptu, Mac, Illamasqua, Urban Decay, Kryolan and Dermalogica
Ask your make-up artist "What do you use to prepare my skin before make-up and what make-up products do you use?"
Pricing
Everyone has to start somewhere so you may find that beauty therapists or recent graduates provide a make-up service at a lower rate. While it is great to grab a bargain they may not have a full portfolio and large kit and years of experience and knowledge.
What you are paying for is the professionalism, reliability, high quality products, experience and product knowledge along with expected business tasks on drawing up your contract and setting aside time to consult, email and call you and answer any questions you may have.
With pricing you want your make-up artist to be upfront about all pricing included, so there are no hidden costs at a later date. It is important to be told how and when you need to make payments and to keep records of all payments made.
Ask your make-up artist "What is your pricing for bridal make-up per person and what are the pricings for make-up trials per person, are lashes extra or included, is there a call out fee for my wedding location?" Also ask for a personalised quote and the breakdowns of when you have to pay.
To sum it all up ensure that what you are paying for is worth the services you are getting and the experience, training and products used by the person providing it.
I really hope this has been helpful for some brides to be and I would love to hear back from you to hear what you think!!
As always I can be contacted through my website, I am always more than happy to answer any questions you may have :)
http://www.cosmetiquescotland.co.uk/
Jillian x
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