ADVICE ON: THE MAKE-UP ARTIST
Having your make-up applied professionally on your Wedding Day is becoming one of the necessities for the Bride - an affordable luxury. So what should you look for in a Professional Make-up Artist? Valerie from V & A Creative Moments offers some advice...
Training/experience
Being a professional Make-up Artist is more than just being good at 'doing' make-up. Make-up Artists will be familiar with different application techniques for various face shapes, colouring and age. They will know how to make the best of a person's features with highlighting and shading and what colours and tones are best suited to a person's skin.
The professional also needs to be familiar with how different lighting affects the look of make-up. They will have invested time and money training at the hands of experts and in developing their skills.
Good hygiene will be standard practice to avoid spreading infection. Disposable mascara wands, spatulas for removing creams from jars and several sets of clean brushes will be staples in their kit.
Insurance
A must for both the Make-up Artist and client. Ask your Make-up Artist if they are fully insured for both public liability and professional indemnity. Hopefully it won't be needed but should the worst happen you will have some form of security. Affiliation with ABT (Associated Beauty Therapists) or BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) are good signs.
Portfolio
A professional will take pride in their portfolio that demonstrates his/her creative talents.Look at Make-up Artists' websites to see if they have a diverse portfolio of different make-up styles on different skin colours and age groups. They will often have a "book" with headshots of both models and 'real' clients.
Kit
A Bride can spend a small fortune on looking good on her special day - dress, tiara, shoes, flowers, underwear. Your face deserves the best too. This is a day for top-of-the-range cosmetics brands - a treat if you normally use more basic brands and a make-up connoisseur would expect nothing less.
Rapport
Lastly, no matter how good the Make-up Artist, you have to feel comfortable in their hands. On your Wedding Day especially you need someone you feel relaxed with. A glowing Bride with a happy smile makes for a good start to the day.
Valerie www.vandacreativemoments.co.uk
