What to look for in a Hair & Make up Artist - Raleigh NC Wedding Photographer

Bobbi Brown says it best:

“On your wedding day you should look like yourself at your most beautiful.” - Bobbie Brown

Your wedding day here in Raleigh North Carolina will be forever treasured in your heart as being one of the most special days of your life and also one of most photographed days of your life. With that being said you will want to look like your best self both in person and in photographs. So leaving your big day look to a PRO is must.  But finding a MUA might be harder than you think and you would not want to leave it up to the cheapest individual to leave your face and hair to.

What should you look for and how to prepare for a MUA?

Find an Artist you mesh well with:

Sure you can search “best makeup artist” in your area and several will pop up but that doesn’t mean they will fit your vibe. Invest in time in looking at the makeup artist's website/facebook business page and recommendations. Why would you want a makeup artist with a website/business page? Because that means they are serious about their business and it is not just a hobby. While looking thru their work write down what you like and what concerns you might have for your own personal look, this way you can address it when you speak with the person. Read thru the recommendations to see what other brides have to say about the artist. By doing so you can get a look at the artist personality type thru other brides eyes.

Do your research:

Begin to curate your most wanted bridal look. It is important to have several different options because one look is perfect for someone else does not mean it will be perfect for you.  When consulting with your future MUA ask their professional opinion about what they believe works well with your style. I personally recommend you have both hair up and hair down options as well with being open to add hair extensions if you are looking for a fuller look that what your hair allows. Also, make sure to ask about the longevity of the makeup (especially your foundation) a good way to access this is to book a consultation which leads me to my next point…

Book a consultation:

Yes Yes, the expenses do add up for your wedding but why leave your hair and makeup look to be a surprise on the day of! During your consultation bring your pictures that you pinned and talk to your professional about what look you are trying to achieve. One of the most important points to remember that if you do not like something about your finished look...TELL your professional. When you show a picture to your makeup artist might perceive the look differently than you. If you address the situation right away you might love how the artist corrects the look. If you are not used to wearing your makeup or having your hair done, initially you might be shocked by what you are seeing but keep your styled look on throughout the day and TAKE SELFIES. By doing so you can find things you like or even want to change.

Don’t be let your look be hijacked:

Once again Bobbi Brown has it right : “The secret to beauty is simple - be who you are”. Do not let your artist convince you to do something you are uncomfortable with. Yes, because you are getting your makeup and hair professionally done by someone other than yourself it will be a bit more than what you are used to. However, if you are dead set on a simple classic look do not get convinced on the newest trend if that is not who you are. It is important that you remember you will look at these pictures for the rest of you life and you want to look like the best version of YOURSELF.

Ask about a timeline:

Your wedding day can be a bit stressful but it doesn’t have to! Go over your timeline and make sure you and your artist are under the same idea of the time needed. You do not want to be running late to walk down that aisle because your hair and makeup are not complete. Be sure to leave plenty of time in order to complete the look and make any changes needed. Also, if you plan on having your bridal party and mother included in getting services done by your MUA, it is important to plan time accordingly and ask if they bring on an assistant if you have a larger party. Do not forget to go over location with the artist, this ensures your artist to arrive on time and not get lost.

Cost and contracts:

You’ve most likely have spent months planning and investing hard earn money on this one particular day, booking your location, caterer, and photographer so it is not the time to skimp out on your look. When booking an MUA inexpensive doesn’t always mean a good deal, sometimes it means an individual that your MUA loves doing makeup but does not have experience in weddings. Experience in weddings is a must for you on your big day but that also means you must add your artist into your budget. Look for someone that has a contract and has all cost upfront and in writing. By doing so you will be able to go over what all is included by your artist. Also, do not wait until the last minute, often times a good makeup artist will start booking 8 months to a year in advance. If you wait you can lose out on your chance to find your right makeup artist.

Brittany Campbell is a published Make Up Artist in Fayetteville North Carolina, available for travel all over North Carolina. Working with her on many different projects, she is a trusted professional that I recommend to both Wedding & Boudoir Clients. Check out Sunshine Make Up Artistry for your next Event!

All Images featured in this Article, Hair & Make up by Brittany!