One of the things I hear from brides when first looking for a wedding makeup artist is “I’ve never done this before so I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to do.” This is true! Most brides have never planned a wedding and many have never hired a professional makeup artist. It can be confusing and overwhelming! I am writing this as an industry expert, to help guide all brides-to-be through the process and to make it as easy and stress-free as possible.
“How do I find makeup artists in my area?”
The first step is to find artists serving your area and make a list of the ones you’d like to investigate. Referrals from your venue, wedding planner, or photographer are worth their weight in GOLD. They do weddings all the time, have worked with hundreds of other vendors, and know who’s good. Most venues and planners have a “Recommended Vendor List” that they are happy to hand out to their reserved girlfriends. Photographers are always happy to make recommendations for reputable and talented makeup artists because the great ones make your job easier. (Less Photoshop and editing time? Oh yeah!) Friends who have recently married can also be a good source of referrals. Ask them who they used and if they would use them again. And of course, the Internet has made this task much easier than in years past, and a simple Internet search for “makeup artists in (insert city here)” should bring up a list of them. So now you have a few potential artists chosen…
“How do I choose the right makeup artist for me?”
There are 5 key things to consider when making this decision.
- Your website and portfolio – Big name bridal makeup artists will have a professional looking website that displays images of their work. Beware of websites that use stock images or overly edited photos. Also, keep in mind that a tacky website is often a sign of bad taste, and most likely bad taste in makeup. Online portfolios should showcase a variety of different looks, from barely-there natural makeup to more dramatic evening looks. If only one makeup look appears on their website, it’s most likely the only look they know how to do, and it’s the look you and everyone in your wedding party will get.
- Style – Does the makeup depicted on the makeup artist’s website represent the makeup style you’re after? If you like romantic makeup looks paired with dewy skin, you’ll want to steer clear of artists who prefer heavy contour, Instagram-like looks. And vice versa: If you like Kim Kardashian’s heavier makeup style, then artists who exhibit more natural makeup styles will not be the right choice for you.
- reviews – There are so many places online for consumers to leave and find reviews. Use them, use them! For wedding vendors, sites like The Knot, WeddingWire, and Yelp are fantastic resources. Check the reviews of each makeup artist you’re considering, but keep a few things in mind. First, it’s becoming easier for businesses to create fake reviews for themselves. If you’re checking their reviews and see dozens of 5-star reviews in a few days, that company probably paid people to leave those reviews for them. This is usually done to counter previous negative reviews, as it increases your overall rating. I recommend looking through business reviews by “lowest rating” whenever possible. Second, it’s normal for a business to have one or two less than 5-star reviews. Everyone is different and people appreciate different things. 3 stars below value could mean the customer didn’t value your amazing $100 makeup application as much as they did their $2000 pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. Also, sometimes bad reviews can be left as retaliation if a customer was unhappy that they didn’t get away with something. I wouldn’t worry about one or two less-than-perfect reviews, but if you see a significant number of them, that should be cause for concern.
- Personality and Connection – Something that many people do not give much importance to is the personality of a makeup artist and the personal connection you have with him. His makeup skills are amazing? Fantastic! Is his personality not so golden? It is more important than you think. You will spend hours with this artist on one of the most important days of your life. You must like them and want to have them around. Whether it’s by email, over the phone, or in person, make sure this makeup artist makes you feel good! Older reviews may be great for this. Look for key phrases like “I felt like I’d known her forever!” or “she was so relaxing and reassuring during such a stressful time.” Some people are just “people” by nature. Those are the ones you’ll want to hire.
- Price – The price is something that I have to mention, because it can be a very important deciding factor for many brides. You’ll need to choose a makeup artist that fits your wedding budget, but keep in mind that in this look, you really do get what you pay for. Makeup artists at the higher end of the price scale are there for a reason: they use high-quality products, have paid for special training, practice proper sanitation (all those disposables and disinfectants can be expensive!), and have skills and experience that lower priced performers generally can’t match. For the perfect bridal look you’ve envisioned, plus flawless wedding photos, choose an artist at the top of your price range.
“I know who I want to hire, now what?”
The first step, if you haven’t already, is to confirm availability with the makeup artist of your choice. The best artists book up to a year and a half in advance. That doesn’t mean your first choice artist doesn’t have your date available if it’s closer, but it’s best to get in touch as soon as possible. (Those wedding schedules that say to book hair and makeup two months before your wedding? So wrong!)
Once availability is confirmed, you’ll need to determine if you want to book your artist right away in order to reserve your date with them or schedule a test run prior to booking. Please note that scheduling a proof with your artist prior to booking will not guarantee that your date is still available. Most brides book their dates first and schedule a fitting closer to their wedding, and the early bird takes the worm. Of course, if any part of you is unsure about your decision to hire a particular makeup artist, then a trial run is recommended before booking. In this situation I recommend you make one as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of your appointment being booked by another girlfriend. For everyone else, save that date!! If you’ve passed all 5 qualifiers above, that’s the magic combination.