PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIAL RUN

I’m glad that you’ve opted to come in for a trial run before your wedding.  The purpose of this appointment is to ensure that you feel comfortable with me, and that you trust in my ability to help you look and feel your most beautiful on your wedding day. 

Choosing a make-up artist is about finding someone whose taste is aligned with yours. While I’m flattered to be referred by past clients and respected professionals, it’s what you’ve seen in my portfolio or perhaps up close on one of my clients that will tell you the most about whether or not we’re a good fit.

At the trial run, I’ll ask questions about your wedding so that I can get a sense of your personal style – venue, photographer, florist, bridal party attire, and of course, The Dress.  I’ll also ask you how you use make-up on a daily basis, mainly to gauge your comfort level with cosmetics.

When trying to articulate to me how you want to look on your wedding day, it’s best to think in terms of intensity, because what is “natural” to one client can be quite “dramatic” to another.  You’ll notice in my portfolio that my brides appear to look like themselves – that’s because they wear the make-up, the make-up does not wear them, even when their look is stronger.

You’ll benefit from wearing a bit more make-up than normal to look special in professional photos, which will be a combination of those taken in daylight (little or no flash) and indoors (with flash).  At the trial run, I’ll take photos of you in natural light so that you can review the make-up fully.

I assume that you’ll be turning to photo inspiration for your wedding day.  Bear in mind that when you are attracted to a photo of a celebrity, most often it’s not the make-up, but that woman’s particular beauty, that you’re responding to.  Her bone structure and coloring are likely different than yours.  Similarly, a photo of an eye may be pretty, but it’s not your eye. The images that are helpful to me are those of you in various settings.  Seeing how you photograph tells me what will be required to elevate your look to match the occasion so that you look striking and special in all of your photos.

Further, the make-up that I do for you at the trial run will be an impression, rather than a strict representation, of how you’ll look on your wedding day.  Following the initial trial application, I’ll describe the ways in which the look/palette could be modified should you want to consider your options. If, after the trial run, there are aspects of the makeup that you’d like to change, a second appointment won’t be required for me to execute those changes, but you’re welcome to schedule another session if it will help you feel more confident: standard application fees will apply.

Plan to wear a light-colored top to the trial run.  Shades of white draw color from the complexion and can make you look washed out.  Best to come with a clean face, but if you’re coming from work or other appointments, I’ll remove your makeup for you.

BOOKING

If you haven’t already, you can secure your date at our appointment by paying your retainer.  If you’d like to take some time to think about it, bear in mind that the date will remain open to other clients until the booking is complete.  Often, other brides are waiting on the outcome of your trial run to confirm whether or not I’m still available; I’ll let you know in advance if that’s the case.

GLOSSARY

SMOKEY: less about color and more about depth, resulting in a look that can go from soft and sultry to deep and intense.

WINGED LINER or “CAT EYE:” a distinct statement that should harmonize with the style of your hair and dress, but more important, work well with your eye shape. 

DEWY: skin that has a subtle moist sheen.  Fine for daylight photos, but can look oily in flash photography.  A “dewy” look requires almost constant attention to be maintained.

CONTOURING: a fundamental make-up technique that involves using dark and light to enhance bone structure.  The extreme contouring that’s popular on social media can look intriguing in controlled lighting, but will look artificial and theatrical in person.

HIGHLIGHTING: done with a cream or powder shimmer product.  Best used sparingly to emphasize bone structure, so that the light catches your features.