Hiring students for makeup and photography: yay or nah?

Unless I 100% had to because it was student photography or no photography I would never hire a non professional to shoot my wedding day. Those pictures are too important.
As far as the makeup, you could do a trial at least and see how the artist is. Little more leeway with that one than the photographer.

I don't think it's a bad idea if you feel like you fully trust them. I would definitely choose a student makeup artist before I chose a student photographer - especially since you can do a trial or two with a makeup artist, you know? I hesitate with photography though. If it were me, and I really was considering a student photographer, I would hire them for a separate event first - shower, party, etc. - and see how those turn out before I gave them the go ahead to shoot my wedding. I guess it really depends on how vital "great photos" are to you! If you can live with "student quality photos," then go for it! Some students might be practically professional but you just have a little less ability to try them out before you commit.

Good luck!

I would feel comfortable with a student doing my make up but like PP said definitely do a trial run before anything important. As for photography I don't think I would trust a student to shoot my wedding. Family pictures maybe but not my wedding. You can always ask both artists for their portfolio to help you better decide before giving them the privilege of helping you on your big day.

I say go for it! If you have the chance to do a couple of trials, and bring them in for the wedding, it sounds like a win-win to me.

Makeup yes, photography no.

But for both, look at any portfolio that may be available. There are budding artists out there who deserve a chance and are actually at the same level as the pros. Judge the quality of their recent work, whether there is any prior experience with weddings or events and get professional references. You may want to set up trials and appointments to see if they are responsive and responsible before the big day.

As a college student myself, I know there are A LOT of photography students who are better than established photographers. It’s fairly common at my university and many others for photography students to be hired at weddings. I’ve know quite a few who they regularly do weddings at low prices with high results. Many photographers of various levels now do business through Instagram and Facebook. They establish their own business through their social media. I found my photographer through Instagram. She had only 300 followers and gave me an insanely low price for TOP QUALITY work. I think as long as they provide you with a valid portfolio whether it be through Instagram or Facebook, it’s very easy to tell if they are worth hiring or not. Personally, I believe student photographers tend to better than most because they are trying to get their name out there since they are unknown and tend to do their best works for that reason. As for makeup, I would do the same and look at cosmetology schools, they tend to offer deals to get done by their students and with that also ask them for work they have done.

If it was either student or nothing, I'd definitely go with a student. Especially if you can get a trial, or they already have some portfolio built for you to look at

If i were going to do it i would have them do a trial run first. The pro who is doing my hair and makeup for my portraits and also for my wedding actually did my hair and makeup for formal events before she ever went to school for it. It was just naturally in her. Likewise another friend of mine in high school did all of mine for proms when she was still in high school herself. And they are both pros nnow that do it full time for a living. I think its definitely worth a try.

Well any professional make up artist will do a trial, definitely reach out about that.
Photography you'll have to see a few portfolios for, photography tends to be harder because it's more intution based, well for me anyway.
I think students are a really good resource if you have the time to check

Absolutely not!! Don't get me wrong, I support students getting all the experience they need in order to develop their craft(s). That said, it's entirely too much that's riding on this, and I don't want my wedding day to serve as their "class project" or "final exam". As the saying goes, "you get what you pay for" and as far as I'm concerned, only a team of professionals (who have license and credentials) will do.

I would be totally ok with hiring them for that stuff. I feel like they're probably a lot better than you may think and they are probably a whole lot cheaper

I would do it for makeup, not photography. Photos one of the things I refused to bend on.

I would do both tbh. Since they are starting out their careers, they aren’t going to bail because they want to build up a good reputation

I would do it for a shoot or birthday party but not for your wedding. I’m all for giving the young and fresh a chance but would they have the experience require for a wedding? To handle the stress? That’s what concerns me so I would say no at least for photography. For make up you can always have a trial and know if is a good idea or not. But for photography even if you do engagement picture is not the same photos of just you two than handling a timeline and working on a schedule with multiple people and candid moments that you can’t pause or repeat.

View Quoted Comment Great advice. Try them out on some non important photos 1st for sure. You never know what you might be getting.. good.. bad or different. I lean more towards having a professional photographer for less time then and thus money

Photography, I have to go with my gut and say no because it's such an important day that I couldn't risk it but that is 100 % your call and the pictures may come out beautiful!

Makeup is a hard one to say yes or no to until you've seen their work. I'm more lax on this because I am a makeup enthusiast myself and spent time working at sephora around a lot of talented woman who worked with me, at the MAC counter, etc. A few of them were cosmetologists, most were not. A lot of freelance makeup artists have big portfolios with amazing work and can be trusted for a wedding. I know actual cosmetologists who only know how to do basic makeup and couldn't do the full glam I want. The woman I hired who worked at MAC for 10 + years and is now a freelance MUA (no license) can do everything I want and more.

Photography is also about talent, obviously, but when weddings are involved, the most important thing to inquire about is their experience. They could be an incredible photographer but if they haven't shot a wedding before, they will miss important shots that can't be recreated, etc. I've seen it happen. (dad's a wedding DJ) and it's disheartening because bride's notice when something they wanted photographed isn't.