What should you expect from the makeup artist that you hire for such an important day? I’ll take you through the search, the contract, the makeup trial and the big day.
First we’ll cover FINDING YOUR MAKEUP ARTIST…
The first thing you need to do before you start your seach is to figure out your makeup budget. Ultimately you may be able to negotiate a deal with a MUA (MakeUp Artist), but most MUAs have a set price, so while you may be the queen of haggling, they usually don’t make exceptions. So decide how much you want to spend, knowing that most makeup artists range from $300 to $1000 a day depending on how much you want them to do. So sit down with your spreadsheet and your calculator and come up with your number!
Once you have an estimated budget, you can start the hunt. There are many places to look but I suggest asking for recommendations on Facebook, looking on Yelp and Google and finally asking your friends who were recently married. When you are searching, here are the main things to look for:
1. Make sure you like their work, ask them where they studied or how they were taught, but mainly its about looking at their portfolios and seeing their most recent work. Their background doesn’t matter as much as their talent, abilty, and results. Look at their website for photos of weddings to make sure they meet your standards and match your style.
2. Check with the MUA on their knowledge of using different types of products, working in different types of lighting, and doing makeup for the camera and HD video (if you’re planning on having a videographer). Your MUA needs to be versatile and ready to work in any and all situations and locations.
3. Your MUA should have experience with covering up blemishes and tattoos, contouring the face and body if you so desire, as well as changing the style of makeup based on your facial attributes. Your MUA should not do everyone’s makeup the same because no two faces are alike (unless you’re a twin 😉 Eye shape, bone structure, skin tone, and complexion are some of the attributes that all MUAs must consider when designing your wedding look.
4. Finally, don’t decide soley on their portfolio. You should speak to the artist on the phone or, even better, in person to make sure you like them. You want to make sure you ask all of your questions and that your personalities click. Your MUA should be available and completely willing to talk to you about all of your desires, fears and concerns. This person is going to play a huge role in your special day and will be responsible for the way you look. You need to be able to trust them.
The next step is BOOKING YOUR MAKEUP ARTIST…
There are important things you should expect when booking your MUA. You should definitely expect to sign a contract and pay a deposit. I will tell you some things that you can and should expect to see in the contract as well as how this process should go.
1. Understand what the artist requires to secure your date in their book. Most of the time this will be a signed contract and reciept of the deposit. Sometimes the deposit will be nominal, but most artists will require 25 – 50% of the total package of services. You should get everything in writing with receipts for all payments.
2. A well-written contract will list the services being provided to each member of your bridal party with a schedule of appointment times. The contract should also explain items like the trial, travel expenses (most artists will require extra payment for travel beyond 25 miles), pricing/payment, and cancellation policy. Â Be wary of any artist who does not provide a contract or does not want a deposit.
3. Your MUA may require you to mail in an original copy of the contract or they may take pdf versions via email. Your MUA should require your deposit and contract no later than 1 month before the wedding; however, you should book your MUA as soon as possible because someone worth hiring will book up quickly especially during wedding season.
Now onto THE MAKEUP TRIAL…
Every MUA should do a trial! Some include one in their day price, but most will charge for it seperately. Things to expect:
1. A makeup trial normally ranges between $50 and $150. Some MUAs charge extra for traveling to you for the trial. A trial is very important to making sure you get the look you want on your wedding day so whether it’s included in the full price or listed seperately, make sure it’s part of the package either way. Be wary of a MUA who lumps the trial in with the full day cost because they may ask you to pay a deposit on the full price before you even have your trial. In that case, if you do the trial and don’t like the artists work, you may be out of your deposit.
2. Your MUA may ask you to bring photos of makeup designs that you are interested in (if you have them) or they may just talk to you about what you want. Either way, try to bring photos, whether online or in print, of your ideas. Keep in mind that there may be a photo that you love but that style or color of makeup won’t necessarily go well with your face shape or skin tone. Be prepared for your MUA to talk to you about ways that they can alter it to better fit you.
3. Your MUA should talk to you about the details of your wedding; colors, style, theme, dress, jewelery, and flowers, to get an idea of the style you are going for. Then they should discuss your makeup desires with you.
4. They should ask you about specific aspects of your face or look that you want accentuated or deemphazied, as well as trouble areas or things you are concerned or worried about. Your MUA should have all the information before they even start to put things on your face.
5. Important Note: If you are not used to wearing a lot of makeup, you may be surprised by how much they put on your face. Your artist is going to put makeup on you that will look good both in person and on camera. No one will be thinking about how much makeup you have on at your wedding, but everyone will look at photos. YOU may not even remember what you thought you looked like on your wedding day, but you will definitely be looking at those photos for the rest of your life! Trust your MUA, their job is to make you look beautiful.
6. Having said the above (#5), you should be able to tell your MUA what you like and don’t like about the makeup and they should be willing to listen to you and change or adjust accordingly. You should feel comfortable with them. Expect your MUA to ask you what you think about the look when they are finished.
7. Finally, you should leave the makeup trial with complete confidence in your artist and have no fears going into your wedding day.
Finally, THE BIG DAY…
This is one of the most special days of your life, here’s what you should expect from your MUA:
1. Most MUA require full payment a week before your wedding. Some may allow you to pay the balance on the day of, but it’s not recommended. Why add the extra stress to your day, but ask your MUA about it before you sign a contract and plan accordingly.
2. Your MUA should absolutely be on time. This is non negotiable. You want to start off your day with no stress and remain on schedule as long as possible (its almost inevitable that you will be off schedule at some point).
3. Depending on what you agreed upon, your MUA should meet you where you are getting ready, whether that’s the venue, your house or another location. This is where their skill in working under different lighting situations is important. They need to be able to work in dim, harsh overhead or natural outdoor lighting according to where your preparations are taking place. However, please note that your MUA will need light. If your prep location doesn’t have good lighting, you should tell them that ahead of time so they can plan accordingly. Once your makeup is done, your MUA should always check it again at the ceremony site (or as close as you can get) to make sure no adjustments are needed.
4. You should expect your MUA to remain calm and collected at all points throughout the day. It can be a stressful time and the last thing you need is one more person flying around you like a tornado, especially one who is literally in your face. They also should be able to handle brides, bridesmaids and mothers who have pre-wedding nerves. You want someone soothing and relaxing to take care of you and your face so you are happy and calm all day.
5. Most MUAs schedule one wedding per day. A normal work day is 8 hours including prep, photos, ceremony, more photos and reception prep. However, it is fairly normal for a MUA to leave when the ceremony starts if that is what is in their contract, but some will stay until the reception so they can do the necessary touch ups. Be sure what you have paid and contracted for. Know how long they are going to be there and what they have agreed to do. They should always let you know when they are leaving in case you need a last minute touch up.
6. Your MUA should be on hand during all picture taking (if you have paid for them to stay until then) to do touch ups and make sure everyone looks great! This is really nice to have since your photographer may not be looking at whether someone’s lipstick is smudged or whether someone cried during the ceremony and needs an eyeliner touchup. Talk to your MUA before the big day, about being on hand during pictures.
7. Finally, you should expect them to be fun! That’s what you want your special day to be filled with and your MUA should contribute.
When all is said and done, you should have amazing photographs and incredible memories of your big day. So even if the right wine isn’t served, or someone falls walking down the aisle, or a server drops a piece of cake on your grandma, you will look fabulous  and at the end of the day, you will be married to the love of your life, because THAT is what matters.
I hope this was helpful to you! Please leave comments if you have other questions or if there’s something else you’d like me to address. And REMEMBER, makeup artists live and die by referrals, so if you liked your makeup artist, go tell people about them!
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