There are two words that come to mind when I think about how I want my brides to feel on their wedding day – comfortable and confident. A question I get asked often is “How do I choose my bridal makeup?” Typically, my bridal clientele opts for a softer, natural look but quite often I have brides who go for a full-on glam! I am writing to let you know, there is no right or wrong answer for what you decide, however, here are some factors you may want to consider:
How do you normally wear your makeup?
If you wear little to no makeup, this whole process might be a little overwhelming for you. You may be wondering “Am I still going to look like myself?” or “Will it be too much?” Rest assured, when you work with a professional artist, they will absolutely make sure you still look like yourself. While it may be more than you are used to, the goal is to have you look naturally beautiful, while still camera ready. Trials are so crucial for this reason! Surprisingly enough, when I do a trial on a more “natural” bride, they usually feel comfortable with amping up their makeup by the day-of! But remember, there is nothing wrong with wearing minimal makeup on your wedding day.
If you’re someone who is an avid makeup wearer, think about what colors you typically grab for! All of your color and coverage preferences should be discussed in an open conversation with your artist. We are here to make your vision come to life! A great point of discussion for avid makeup wearers is whether or not they want to have a classic bridal look, and by that I mean – do they want to be able to look back at their wedding photos in twenty years and not be able to tell what year it was taken in? If the answer is yes, then I would advise against certain current trends (think excessive glitter, cut-crease eyeshadow, etc). But again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting that on your wedding day.
In either case, feedback after your trial about the makeup is much appreciated! You’re not going to hurt your professionals feelings if you tell them you want something tweaked. It is okay if you want a more natural lash, or a pinker lip! The point of the trial is to figure out what you do and do not like! If you want some more trial tips, visit my other post here.
What Style of Photography does your Photographer have?
Each photographer has a different photography and editing style, and that is a conversation your makeup artist should have with you! Is your photographer more moody and dark? If so, you may want to avoid darker eyeshadow and contours. Even a subtle smokey eye can seem darker in your pictures. Is your photographer light and airy? Adding a little more bronzer or using a darker eyeliner than you normally would may play to your advantage here. Pulling inspiration pictures directly from your photographer to show your artist is great idea, as well!
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Some great places to get makeup inspiration are not only your photographer’s page, but also your makeup artist’s page! While Pinterest and Google can have some beautiful makeup looks, sometimes they are not always real-life. Another good place to look is celebrity red carpet makeup. Try to choose celebrities with similar features as you. Drawing inspiration from real people will help your artist gauge the kind of looks like you and open up a discussion about your level of comfort with the makeup you drew inspiration from.
How do you want to feel that day?
As an artist, I want you to feel comfortable and confident – but what does that mean to you? Think of a time or event when you felt the most confident. Did you rock a badass red lip? Was your skin radiant and beaming? Or did you just reach a milestone in your career or hit that work out goal? Whatever the case may be, hone that confidence and let it help you emulate how you envision yourself. These are things you should be thinking of at your trial!
In conclusion, makeup is all a preference. There is no right or wrong answer to how you want to look on your wedding day. The best advice I can give is to choose a professional artist you vibe with and feel comfortable talking about your thoughts and concerns with! The two of you will be able to come up with a perfect bridal look for you.
-Chrissy
Photo by The Cannons of a lovely bride who wanted fresh skin and a classic look. The Cannons style is typically more on the light and airy side. We opted for a beautiful, bold lash that suited her and kept the rest neutral!
I loved this! I never really thought about looking at red carpet looks. Such a good tip.