Can I Do My Own Wedding Make-up?
Doing your own makeup for your wedding day (or getting a friend/family member), is a bit of a risk. If you’re going to do it, you seriously need to know how to do it!
Should you do your own make-up for your wedding day?
It’s a well known fact that Professional Make Up Artists, or MUAs, come at a premium. It’s a little overwhelming how easy it is to blow your budget when you’re planning your wedding, and the tendency is to cut costs and corners wherever you can - and why not eh?
There’s a reason why MUAs come at a cost though. Their skill is exquisite. They know this is a really big day for you, and a very long day too! They know about light falling on your skin, they know about your nerves coupled with a warm environment and how this can make a train wreck of your makeup. So a good MUA will take all of this into account to ensure that your makeup is applied to last.
Now there’s your wedding photos. You’re planning an important event and you want to look your absolute best. MUAs know what your photographer does and doesn’t want to see. They will apply your make up well blended so that you look amazing in your photos. Your MUA studies your face from angles and viewpoints you’re unable to see.
So on the day, when you turn your head from one side to the other, when you look up or look down, everything will be just perfect.
On too many occasions I’ve shot weddings with DIY makeup.
My dream is to make brides feel awesome and love the way they look. I never shoot a wedding without that level of care about my couple. And my ‘thing’ is about being natural. I love to capture brides just as they are, because they are beautiful.
So when I’ve seen lines at the neck and chin, and uneven makeup I’ve quietly thought to myself “she’s not going to like that in her photos”. I really do care about that for you.
I won’t tell you not to do your own makeup though. So, if you’re going to do it yourself, get yourself armed and dangerous with as much practice as you can. Become a YouTube geek. Watch as many videos as you can, and get your makeup done like a pro!
Do this over and over again with plenty of time way before your wedding.
I’m no MUA (by any stretch of the imagination) but here’s a few things you must must must consider if you’re going it alone
Get your skin in great condition. If you start with a good healthy canvas, the artwork stands more chance of being just fabulous.
Always use a primer - find out what works great with your skin
Find the foundation that will work for your skin - you might need a professional to help you with this
Your wedding is a long (and tiring) day, so think about concealer for those potential dark circles that may appear as the day wears on. You might think there’ll be time to re-touch your makeup, but it’s best to assume there’s no time for that.
Makeup with SPF can look awful in flash photography. I’ve taken photos and wondered what those white patches are on my bride. I’m told it’s the SPF in the makeup, so I’d suggest really researching this if you’re getting married in the summer months.
Avoid sparkling and glittery makeup if you can. Although it looks great in the mirror, t doesn’t come out as gorgeous as you might think it would in your photos.
Waterproof mascara every time. Need I say more?
A good setting spray is essential. When you get that makeup on and it’s perfect, set it to last.
If you can get your hands on those little blotting sheets - get them! They help to absorb without disturbing your makeup.
Practice (at anything) makes perfect! So keep at it in the run up to your wedding. Practice practice practice over and over again way before your wedding.
I hope this helps you. But if it frightens the Heebie-Jeebies out of you, go get yourself a good Make Up Artist.
Dee xx