Q: Why should I book 6 months to a year out? My salon/bridal magazines/planner suggested 1-3 months  

• The most ideal time to book your trial is 6 to 12 months before your wedding date.  That may seem early as there are countless timelines on the internet and in wedding planning books that suggest a makeup trial only 1 to 3 months out, but this not ideal for the quality of your makeup application on your wedding day. 

• Reason #1:  The most important reason for this is so your artist can properly analyze your skin and accurately choose the correct skin prep and foundation.  Everything from the texture, the balance of hydration and oil, to the lightness/darkness of skin all vary from season to season and will affect your artist's ability to make the proper choices.  This is especially true in a climate where we experience all four seasons.  It is not beneficial to your artist to analyze your skin in November when it's chilly and moisture levels in the air are dropping when your wedding is in July in high heat and humidity.  Your skin will naturally be darker, retain more moisture, have additional shine due to oil, etc.

• Reason #2:  Ensure booking availability for your date.  Why do you book your photographer, videographer, and venue so early?  You want to make sure that person or place is available.  I've had brides book last minute and I've been able to accommodate them, but this is not a common occurrence.  I've also had brides request a date 8 months out and not only am I booked, but I've also booked multiple other artists for other weddings on that same date.  Your salon has availability so close to the date because they are not solely a wedding vendor.  A majority of their business consists of clients who are coming for services every 4-6 weeks, such as haircuts and color services.  If they were specializing in weddings, they'd be booked much further in advance.

Q: What should I expect at my trial? 

• At the trial, I go over a full skin & makeup consultation and then complete the makeup application.  Any questions or concerns you may have can be addressed at this time.  Typically, a consultation and trial take anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

Q: Do you offer airbrush?

• I do offer airbrush makeup, but I don’t recommend it for most brides (there are exceptions, of course!).  Many brides inquire because they have heard that it’s the best for photos, or it’s waterproof, or it’s guaranteed to last over 16 hours.  The truth is, a lot of this is how it was marketed by the manufacturer.  Airbrush is very thin and was formulated for high-def television, not a 12-16 hour day of running around in a wedding dress for pictures, a ceremony, dinner, and dancing while being photographed every few minutes.  Its wear and durability depends on the client’s skin, the chemical composition of the particular product, and how it’s primed, applied, and set.  Just as there are different formulas for liquid foundation, there are different formulas for airbrush. Contrary to what so many brides are told, not all airbrush products are water resistant--just as not all traditional makeup is water resistant.  An educated artist will take the time to explain this to you.  I'd rather use the proper formula and give outstanding end results than shorten my timeline for subpar work if the product isn't right for you. There is a lot more that goes into finding the proper formula, airbrush or not, for each client.  

Q: Do I need to buy lashes?

• Lashes are included in your makeup application.  I highly suggest lashes for photos.  Brides are generally surprised to see how much of their makeup disappears in photos.   

Q: What brand of makeup do you use?

• When it comes to brands of makeup, I use what I see is best for that particular product.  There is not one particular line that I prefer for a variety of products.  The most important factors in choosing the makeup I carry come down to the quality of the product and its ingredients.  I have pro only brands as well as a few consumer brands.  I make sure all products in my kit are free of ingredients that can cause flashback.  Photo friendly is my number one concern in products used for bridal, as your photographer will be taking photos with flash the entire day.  Too often, I see wedding pictures in which it is very apparent that an ingredient was not photo-friendly.  In some photos it looks fine, and in others it appears too light--or worse--too gray.  This is avoided by hiring a professional artist that is educated in cosmetic ingredients and carries quality products that are formulated appropriately for event makeup.

Q: Is the makeup waterproof?

• The makeup used is water resistant when properly applied and set, and then sealed with a waterproofing mist.  During the trial and on the wedding day I instruct clients on how to handle the particular circumstances of their wedding and concerns, such as sweating, humidity, crying, etc. 

Q: I have a bridal party of 10 girls.  Can we get a discount since we have a large party?

• A higher number of applications in a limited time frame will require additional artists/assistants.   As a businesswoman, I have to pay those artists/assistants what is appropriate for quality service in our industry.  Good work isn’t cheap, and cheap work isn’t good.  If you want a talented,  well educated artist who not only makes you look good, but photograph well, you are going to have to expect to pay that level of experience and education.  Makeup on camera is very different than non-professional makeup that seems to look good in person.  Please understand makeup artists frequently work overtime, and do not make additional money for it.  We aren't just the girls that “do makeup” (and the ones that are, are not who you want perfecting your face for the most photographed day of your life--especially for the price you are paying for those photos).  We handle our bookings (or pay someone to), hold consultations, set up a marketing initiative, keep track of inventory/ordering, most handle our own bookkeeping, drive to various locations which causes wear and tear on vehicles, gas, tolls, parking, etc.  Due to the atypical hours we work, we miss family events, holidays, and much more.  We do this because we love what we do, but please be mindful of its value.