Top 4 reasons why I do bridal makeup
The most common question I get from clients while working; “Why bridal makeup?” There is no simple way for me to answer why or how I fell into bridal beauty. Although I have been in the beauty industry for quite a long time, my footprint in the wedding industry did not happen overnight. I am fortunate enough to have found something I love so dearly, wedding makeup is an art form of its own. How do I even begin to answer such an in-depth question, “why do you do what you do?” Besides the general feeling that I was simply made to be a bridal makeup artist, I spent some time deep-diving into truly why I continued down such a specific path of makeup artistry. I feel the following are the most important why's behind my purpose as a bridal makeup artist. Here are the reasons I have fallen head over heels for all things bridal beauty!
I thrive under pressure
It’s true, I thrive under pressure. Bridal makeup is by far the most intimate makeup I have done in my career. It takes a substantial amount of experience to create long-lasting perfection. Bridal makeup has to last for 10 + hours of heat or cold, the transition from outside light to inside, be so waterproof hundreds of tears or smiling directly into the sun won’t make your eye makeup run. As a wedding makeup artist, you have to have the poise and mannerisms of a fly on the wall and the orchestrater at the same time. I am lucky enough to spend my time getting to know couples throughout their engagement on a personal level. A bride has an entire day of focus solely on her and her love. I am honored to be trusted with the most visible aspect of a wedding day. A bride’s face! I do not take this honor lightly. As a makeup artist, I am trusted with the very focus of the day. I am trusted with the bride’s eyes, her lips that will lock in her love forever, her cheeks that will hold up those tears and bring color into a washed-out sunny moment. Most importantly, I am trusted with setting the very first tone for the rest of the day. Most of the time waking the bride and bridal party up with some soft knocks on a hotel room door. The timing of my work dictates the schedule for the rest of the day. Every minute is accounted for and I am first to bat. No pressure, it just feels a little bit like the Super Bowl, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, and The Royal Wedding all in one. Despite all the chaos and pressures of a wedding day, the day is nothing short of pure magic. And I am lucky enough to not only be a small piece of such a magnificent day but to help orchestrate its living beauty. Through the genuine love of my couples and the art of beauty, I get to share my talents and experience pure magic.
2. What I think, I attract
From a business perspective, I do makeup for weddings because: what you think you attract. The same goes for work; what you do, you book. Ten or so years ago I did wedding makeup occasionally before work because I can’t bring myself to ever say no to a gig. The more weddings I did, the more every single one of those bridesmaids came looking for an artist they could trust. “You did my makeup at my friend’s wedding and I loved it…” This is a silly reference, but, I do have a dollar for every time I heard that! It has given me the opportunity to truly own my own freelance business. Without the power of genuine referrals, I wouldn’t be in business, and for sure as heck wouldn’t be who I am today without my business. I spent the last decade relying on word-of-mouth advertising. Every person you meet is an opportunity for future relationships. Whether it is just pure connection or potential work, you are the most important component of your business. My fierce work ethic and professionalism are why I am able to be a full-time makeup artist. The power of connection has brought me into business; organically. It was never my intent to be a full-time wedding makeup artist, but once the universe started to pull me further towards love, the clearer it was that makeup because of love, was meant for me.
From an artistry perspective, I do makeup for weddings because to be totally honest, I am good at it. In makeup school, my instructor always told us “the no makeup makeup is the most challenging of all.” She wasn’t lying. Makeup for daily use, or photoshoots, or headshots, or red carpet, and tv/film are all extremely different. The products used on the face are different, the application is different, and the prep work is different. I experience pure joy when my concealers blend without a crack and my foundation looks the same at 1 pm as it does at 1 am. I literally beam with joy when I get the photos back and see full tears and no mascara smudges. I am a perfectionist to my core and being in control of something so important, means the world to me. I do wedding makeup because I live for the perfectly invisible makeup under a macro lens through, blown up into canvas portraits, and cherished forever by my brides.
3. I truly believe in love, and man do I love love
From the bottom of my heart, I love wedding makeup because I truly believe in love. I dedicate my work to making sure a bride’s makeup is treated with the utmost respect. From the time of booking through the journey of deciding on a final look, I am just downright happy for my brides every step of the way. I get the most intense butterflies the week leading up to their wedding. It’s not even my day! The night before someone’s wedding I can’t sleep because of the anticipation of how magical the next day will be. I come back to life the second the bride’s look is executed with absolute perfection. The air is different in the presence of a bride on her wedding day. A bride has actual joy radiating from her, and everyone can feel it.
5. Most importantly
Seeing a bride look in the mirror with awe. The look in a bride’s eyes when she sees her absolutely beautiful face as she is about to recite her vows. A confident bride is the only bride that leaves my chair. Knowing that I gave someone confidence to face what is considered the most important day of their life, knowing their makeup is perfect and will remain so through the laughs, cries, and cheers, that gives me purpose. Reassuring women they are beautiful and deserve to be treated like a queen, that is the work that fulfills me.
Naturally, this brought me to tears in public because I am an absolute sucker for all things that move me. I feel as though makeup is a sort of “war paint” we use to spark our confidence. There is nothing more beautiful than someone taking control of how they present themselves to the world. And I am honored to paint those as they begin their journey to their “happily ever after,” no matter how cheesy that may sound!
Thank you to every bride who has ever graced me with your presence, thank you for sharing your love with me.
Xx,
Katelyn