Looking for the right makeup artist for your wedding day or special event can be a little bit of a challenge. So many people out there claim they are a makeup artist just because they have an abundance of MAC makeup, have done their sister’s makeup for her prom, ‘everyone asks me to do their makeup’ or have slapped MUA to their Instagram page. This does not a makeup artist make!
If that were true then I would be an astronaut! I have a bunch of pictures of the universe and I know what NASA stands for. But I am not an astronaut; it takes a little more than that to truly be something.
A true makeup artist is dedicated to it, they are always honing their skills, always out there learning more and always staying on the top of the latest trends.
So to help you find the right artist for you, here are a few questions you should ask:
How long have you been doing makeup professionally? Someone can say they have been doing makeup for years. So adding the professionally part to the question will really narrow it down. Professionally means more than their mom, sister and best friend have had them do their makeup.
Do you have a portfolio? A good artist is always adding to their portfolio and they will have no hesitation in showing you what they have done. You need to look for variety in their work, as well as how dated or updated their work is. If their portfolio is all high fashion, they may not be the artist to do your wedding day. A good portfolio should have a good mix, showing variety, creativity and flexibility.
Do you have experience doing Bridal Makeup/Ethnic Makeup/Fantasy Makeup (Whatever specific look you are going for)? Not every makeup artist specializes in Bridal or Fantasy or ethnic makeup, etc. Find out if they can. Each artist has their own personal style, their own specialty, so find the artist who has the one you’re looking for.
What is your makeup experience? (Where were they trained, what do they predominately do and how often do they actually do makeup?) Professional education is a nice bonus for any makeup artist to have under their belt. For one it shows they have been legitimately trained and it proves that they are really seriously devoted to their craft. Also asking what they predominately do makeup-wise will tell you if they are the right match for you and your event. Finding out if they are a weekend makeup artist or do it as their day job tells you how much experience and practice they get. All of these are good questions and should be asked.
Well ladies, we hope these questions will help you find the right artist for you and your special day.
Method Makeup Academy, Seattle’s Makeup School
