Is a makeup artist really worth it?

I went to the Chanel counter to get a trial run done on the day of my bridal shower. It came out good but I wonder if I'll be able to get the same person the day of the wedding! (Chanel does the make up for free but they hope you'll purchase some product from them). I am going for another consultation and trial for make up in a couple weeks. This lady does airbrush make up and will also travel on site. I think that will be much easier on me the day of the wedding instead of stressing about getting to the mall to get my make up done.

I went to Aveda for a free consultation and purchased the items that I liked, supplementing with cheaper options (for eyeliner and mascara). They gave me plenty of tips and tricks and explained everything. My wedding day makeup looked fantastic even though I did it myself in just 10 minutes.

Mac is similar but I really think they overdo the makeup on most brides.

Pay for your consultation. My lady didn't want to do the trial until 2 weeks before the wedding. She came highly recommended so I didn't worry about it. 2 weeks before the wedding I had my consultation and I just hated it. I had to find a new hair and makeup person at the last minute. I ended up going to the makeup counter getting some new things and doing it myself on the day of the wedding. The hair I found someone. Go to your consulations early and go to them. Some professionals are not what you hope.

I agree with lynnandrob about Mac overdoing it sometimes. I love Mac makeup for a night on the town like for a new years party, but for bridal make up I'd go with a more traditional (less party like) look from Chanel or somewhere like that.

I agree with Matt--a great makeup artist is definitely worth it. But make sure you shop around, ask for referrals, etc. The reason the professionals in my area charge more for the wedding day is that many of them go on-site, meaning they go to your location. That means they are losing business in their shops. Many offer incentives like if the bride has a certain number of other people (bridesmaids, moms) use their services, the bride's is free. Some also apply the cost of the trial toward the final package. As for charging for the trial, if you are going to sit in someone's chair for an hour and take their time and expertise, then you need to compensate them for that. It is my experience that most people do not work for free--would you want to?

I wouldnt mind paying for a consultation but $85!!!! Are you kidding me. I could take a class for cheaper than that probably! Not one artists in Las Vegas says anything about your consultation costs going towards your wedding day. Its $75-$125 for the consultation and then $150-$300 for the weddign day...ridiculous

@LovelyUnique, consider going on youtube. There are tons of makeup tutorials on there.

Totally do it! Just find someone who is more affordable or make sure you have a party to go to after your consultation - lol! My BF had our make-up done in November and it lasted ALL night and looked AWESOME in pictures! Good luck and congrats!

If you are going to have a makeup trial have it early on, it will either give you peace of mind that you found the makeup artist you love and have booked her or you will have time to figure out an alternate artist or plan...

It helps if you have a good idea of how you want to look on your wedding day..bring a tear sheet to the trial for a visual..very helpful . If you cant decide go with something that is timeless and classic..and enhances your natural beauty.

I honestly am just doing my makeup myself. My sister did that too. One I do not want to pay the money for that. Two on that day I still want to look like myself. Yeah I will wear maybe a little more makeup but when I walk down that aisle to my FH I want him to still know that it is me.

Guess since I am a makeup artist I will say yes, we are worth it, but it’s your decision and $85 dollars for a trial is pretty modest for your area.

This really baffles me sometimes. You can spend so much on cake, flowers, dress photos etc but when it comes to your appearance you find it hard to justify. You say you can't trust images and I can understand that but then again you are also trusting the images of a photographer,(which is like 10 times more expensive) because I am sure he would not give you free engagement session without charging.

I have seen many instances where I was thanked for my service and others where they ended up paying more money on photo edits than they would if they had paid to have their makeup done professionally. Then again some people are more than capable of doing their makeup but rather be stress free. I understand you rant, honestly but we are not all unprofessional and a real makeup artist uses photography friendly products and 100% hygiene.

My trial was abotu $150 hair and makeup. I live near washington dc.

Again, my issue is paying $100 for a freakin trial, photographers give a free engagement session before you book them. Bakeries let you do a cake tasting before you buy a cake, Venues have open house so you can see how it looks and taste the food, etc. Instead of charging a weeks worth of groceries or 2 tanks of gas, or a pair of Steve Maddens, Why dont they do a trial like the mall kiosks? or something? Id be more open to get something out of it then a caked face. At least if I go to Mac I get a free lip gloss or eye shadow, Damn! I have an idea, would it be bad to offer maybe a demonstration that you have to RSVP to like an open house and then maybe do the application on one of their employees or something. People are missing my point!!! $100 to try to see if Im going to like your makeup artistry is bonkers, less than $50 is okay, consider it marketing! which Im sure they can claim on taxes.

I would just keep searching. You live in the Vegas area, yea? There must be TONS of make-up artists out there... esp at the casino hotels, etc. I got my make-up done at the Venetian for my BF's wedding and I didnt even need a consulation - they are THAT good. Good luck!

See I heard about the mac store in one of the casinos, just cant remember which one, the girl at the radio station here always talks about how they do her makeup for every event.

First off, I do not just give away a free engagement session to everyone who inquires about my services so they can see if they like the product. They only get a complimentary session if they book my services. Maybe the artists you are considering already have a very established business and are well compensated for what they do and they do not feel they need to give away services and product just to book a job. Most wedding vendors are people who love what they do, but it is also a business. Many have spent years establishing their business and learning their craft. I am not trying to be disrespectful, but why not take the suggestion above and go to the beauty school instead of getting angy? Or go on Craigslist? Or the online tutorial that was suggested above? Any of those options are great options for people who are on a budget.

Oooh photogirl, you seem upset! Its not that big of a deal, okay! Im posting what i think! And (I) being the most important word in the sentence. Tons of companies spend years building their businesses. Most get to the point where yes they charge a certain amount because of their years of service and knowlegde, but some DO offer their services as a trial for free or at costs to earn new business. I personally think its pointless to pay $100 to try something out, with no money back guarantee,if youre' not satisfied then what? Most companies who are confident in their services at least offer that! You cant trust a picture on a site, they are photo edited and whos to say they didnt pull it off someones myspace page? And FIY Almost all VEgas Photographers offer free engagement sessions, Ive been to eery bridal show, every open house and I have gotten a free engagement seession with 90% of them. I havent used one, because it seemed like a waste of my time and theirs because I

knew they were out of my budget. Im a smart shopper, and research before I pay anyone, all Im saying is how do i trust some photos on a site saying you're the best in the west, Then pay you $100 for a trial run? Crazy!! some may feel different, some may have money to waste. I have contacted a few artist in my area and Im just not blown away by their work so far, i wanted to get advice from brides who have used MAC and how it turned out. Do you work for MAC, HAVE YOU WORKED WITH MAC PRODUCTS? IF NOT...YOUR WASTING MY TIME

MrsSmith...I only have MAC experience with special events, not weddings. I love MAC and have always loved the way they do my make-up. Usually it is $50 in product to get an appointment and get it done. The last time I went, I got eyelashes put on and bought lip liner, lipstick and gloss and that totalled my $50. Actually the make-up in the picture I have as my icon is the makeup I had done that day. I understand not having money for a professional. The MAC I went to was in boston and I always worked with great people. Ultimately, it is up to you what you do. I like MAC and think they can do a great job with more than just "club" make-up. If you ask for a little more subdued, they can and will do it. I personally am a smoky eye nude lip kind of girl for everything. Hopefully this helps!

Yikes lol =\

Well Mrs. Smith, I can understand your frustration because if you pay $100 and then don't like it, then you have to pay another $100 to go try someone else? That's pretty wack. Or sheesh can they at least try on half my face or an eye so I can get a slight idea before I pay them hahaha. But like previous posters have said, if there's places that will put the trial $ towards the wedding day, that's a little more understandable, so I would just keep searching or if you go with Mac, then have a picture of what you would like your makeup to look like so that they don't just do their own thing like they have done to me before and I ended up looking like a clown lol.