Just to further explain the difference between a bridal client and a regular makeup client and why the prices are different....
Well really they are pretty much the same.
Client getting makeup done- once at my location ($80) and one at their location ($120). Bride price $200- includes makeup once at my location and makeup once at their location. But the bride has a chance to get an additional discount and also gets a lipgloss included with her makeup and I always include oil blotting sheets as well.

And to explain a bit about the makeup trial versus a makeup appointment:
A typical makeup appointment is about 30-45 min and a bride makeup trial is an hour to hour and a half. A makeup apt is just you coming in to get your makeup done maybe show me a picture or two and even just a general idea of what you want that day. For a bride trial it's a consultation and makeup application so we go over wedding details, discuss makeup looks, and chat for about 20min before makeup even gets started. The trial also gives us a chance to play around a bit with colors if we need to! And anything at the trial is not permanent for the wedding day. You could leave and decide you'd rather have brown eye liner instead of black and red lips instead of nude, etc and it can all be changed for the wedding day!

And don't get me wrong, I care about all my clients and all my makeup appointments and want everyone to love their makeup! But a wedding day is a very important day and requires a little more attention! Also so many of my bridal clients are returning clients whether it's a bridesmaid in a wedding or makeup for family photos or maternity shoot or just a night out!

Anyway I've had several people lately say I'm out of their budget and I just felt like I should break down the prices and what you are getting for your money! (Read previous post about price breakdown for more info) And off the top of my head I know of at least 8 other makeup artists in town that have very similar prices to mine if not even higher. So if you are wanting a professional makeup artist who is great at what they do you aren't going to get away with paying less than $50/person. And when planning your wedding budget make sure you are planning for the beauty portion of your wedding- hair, makeup, nails, tan, etc. Remember that everyone's looking at you and what you have left when your wedding day is over (besides hopefully a long lasting marriage) are the photos and videos so you want to look your best!!

If you haven't yet check out my Facebook page and Instagram for tons of photos and updates:
www.facebook.com/makeupandtanningbycassie
Instagram: @makeupbycassielynn

Bride Anna. Photo by Photo Sculptor.

What do your prices mean? What should I be paying for a makeup artist? How do you come up with your pricing? I'm answering these questions and more...........


Starting with: Why is wedding makeup more expensive!?
It's more than just getting your makeup done on the wedding day.... It's months of planning! We talk and get everything set up- makeup trial and wedding day makeup. I've talked with brides for up to two years prior to their wedding day getting everything ready. On my end I have paperwork that goes along with every job I do and weddings have the most with electronic invoices for deposits and day of invoices as well as thank you cards. I also include oil blotting sheets and a lipgloss for all my brides! I almost always travel on site on the wedding day being set up anywhere from a window seal to hotel desk to kitchen and more. I often have to park in parking garages or street parking and carry all my stuff pretty far. I typically bring my own makeup chair and I always have my makeup kit with me as well as another bag with extras- extra airbrush machine, lashes, paper towels, etc. So that's 3 bags and a chair. I also typically have an assistant with me to help out carrying stuff, cleaning brushes, and taking payments. And when their are large bridal parties I have a second makeup artist accompany me who comes with her own makeup kit and usually chair as well. I do everything I can to accommodate my brides.... To get the bridal party ready on time and all with makeup looks they love!


You definitely get what you pay for. You can go with a 'cheaper' artist and you will probably receive a cheaper look. Using non professional makeup, dirty brushes, etc. Most of these discount artists are not trained or certified. Just because they sell Mary Kay or Yonique or worked at Clinique doesn't mean they are a trained makeup artist. And someone who does their makeup great doesn't mean they can do everyone else's makeup great too! You want to pick an artist that is experienced, professional, and clean. You want a makeup artist that has an impressive resume instead of one that posts selfies all day. You want someone that uses professional makeup and doesn't just play with makeup for fun or on the side. For me this is what I do full time and I work sometimes 7 days a week! I do makeup for commercials, tv, film, photo shoots, pageants, fitness shows, weddings, proms, school dances, and other special occasions. I've built a nice business over the past 5 years and have tons of clients that can vouch for my skills including producers, agents, photographers, brides, other business owners, etc.

Think about all you are spending on your wedding and how much thought you put into picking the perfect dress and all the decorations and flowers and food. You don't want to skimp on your hair and makeup.... Everyone is looking at you all day and you will be photographed all day long! It's your big day so make sure you book a professional and experienced artist!


HOW THE PRICES BREAK DOWN:
The actual Makeup application- supplies including disposables like mascara wands, makeup remover wipes, qtips, and lashes are all one time use. Other supplies include brushes, airbrush machine, and of course all my makeup.
Training- classes, school, continued education, etc.
Time- And then of course the time it takes for me to actually apply the makeup.
*So basically the makeup price includes my makeup, equipment, disposables, my time and skill.

WHAT ELSE beyond just the makeup application!?
Setting up your appointment. Talking with you about what makeup look you want. Sometimes corresponding through 10 or more text messages or emails or multiple phone calls. For weddings a little more time goes into correspondence and the day of makeup. Like I mentioned my brides always receive a lipgloss, oil blotting sheets, and a hand written card. And if I have to book extra help like an assistant or second makeup artist that takes time and money as well.

*TRAVEL- what is this fee!?!? I've been offered 'gas money' before and it's way more than that!
Each time I travel this is what I do:
pack my stuff up, load it in the car, drive to the location, park, unload the car, carry stuff in house/venue (sometimes taking lots of stairs), set up makeup, do makeup, clean up and pack up makeup, load in car, drive home, unload car. Also I put miles on my vehicle and use gas. I keep my travel fees as low as I can because I am a predominately mobile service but I do have to take all this into consideration!

*PARKING- paying for parking is definitely part of it but it's also carrying my makeup kit, chair, etc from parking garage or street parking to the venue. This is a little more than just the actual travel. If I park in your driveway right by your door I'm not walking as far with all my stuff. So the parking fee is an additional fee to travel and is never waived. (Sometimes I get lucky and get a spot really close to the entrance of the hotel but once inside I normally I have take an elevator or stairs and walk down several long hallways.) I've paid as little as $3 for a parking garage or meter and as much as $20!

***I just wanted to give you all a run down of what my prices mean! I know booking makeup is a big part of a special event and I want my clients to know that I do my best to give you the look that you want that will last all day and that you'll be happy with! And that I don't just price gouge for a wedding or because it's an onsite makeup appointment. My pricing has a lot of thought put into it and I do my best to be as fair as possible without undercutting myself!

Side note: if you do not pay a deposit your wedding is not booked. The $50 deposit is also nonrefundable or transferable.

Here you can see part of my makeup kit... Yes part! I always have everything with me so I'm prepared for all skin types and colors and for any look you could want!

This post is a little different from my previous blogs... I'm a little bit ranting and a little bit informing! And kind of long winded! I hope this is helpful when getting your makeup trial and booking your wedding makeup!!

Every now and then I have a bride come in for a trial and she leaves and I know she wasn't 100% happy. I do what I can at the trial to change things or talk about what we can change but sometimes I feel like I just can't please her. A lot of times after a trial I'll get feedback from the bride to be about changing something- usually something small like different lip color or darker/lighter eye shadow or something like that. Every so often I get a bride that wants to change their look completely bc they saw photos of a different look they like and so I take note and change it for the wedding day. As far as I know I've never had a bride unhappy on the wedding day. Like I said at the trials it's sometimes not exactly wedding day perfect but that's why we do a trial- to figure out what works and what doesn't! I'm not a mind reader... I wish!! Haha but seriously it's sometimes hard for me to figure out exactly what you are wanting so just communicate with me and I'll work with you the best I can! I want EVERYONE to be happy and I know I can't please everyone but my goal is to have happy clients!

Story time:

I had a bride that came in for her trial run the day of her engagement photos (I'm okay with this and have ladies do it often but it is a makeup trial for your wedding and not necessarily makeup for your photo shoot- it still shows up well and will look good but we are doing this bc you are trying out the makeup for your wedding!) and at the trial she booked her wedding and said she liked it and was happy with the makeup. She got a few photos back from the shoot a couple days later then calls me and cancelled bc she didn't like her makeup in the photos. I told her she could come back for another trial (on me!!! Which I never do but I knew she was super unhappy and was canceling her wedding with me so I was trying to make it right) and she didn't want to and cancelled. So I looked up her photographer and saw one of her photos. She was right her makeup didn't show up in the picture. The problem wasn't the makeup though, it was the lighting. She had golden blonde hair in person but in the photo had white blonde hair and her whole body looked pale (not just her face). I know why she didn't like it but it wasn't bc of how I did her makeup- it was the photographer. So this happened last year and it still bothers me a bit. Of course I wanted her to be happy and I wanted to fix it but she didn't give me the chance. And after seeing the photo I realized it wasn't even something I did so that made me feel a bit better but I know she blames me and not the photographer which sucks (for me). I work with photographers ALL THE TIME!!! Just this past weekend I had four photo shoots with four different photographers so I'm aware of lighting and editing and just photography in general. I use photo makeup- makeup that's meant to be photographer and filmed- not everyday makeup and certainly not mineral makeup.

So my point here is to work with me on what you want for your makeup. Be as descriptive with colors and products as you can. Come prepared with photos and ideas bc if you don't then I'll just do what I think is best and that might not be exactly what you want. I would never make anyone look bad by any means but I might not get it right. And sometimes even if you come with all that I might not get it right. I might think you mean one thing when you meant another- this happens and it's okay! Or you might think there's a look that you like a lot and want but I do it and you decide it's not for you- this happens too and it's okay!! I can change or fix anything if you let me! So just communicate with me and give me a chance to make it right.

Last year alone I was a part of 70 weddings. So I know for the most part my clients were happy so that makes me happy! And the referrals I get from happy brides are always the best!! Anyway my whole point is just work with me bc I will do whatever I can to make you feel beautiful on your wedding day!!

Side note: also please be willing to work with me on timing for your wedding day. This is my fifth year doing makeup professionally and I've already been a part of over 200 weddings as well as being in several weddings and I had my own wedding almost four years ago. So I know a thing or two about wedding days and how this works. I know how much time I need to do makeup depending on how many ladies and I know if I'll need to hire a second makeup artist or bring an assistant as well. I do usually do at least two weddings every Saturday bc I do my best to get everyone in and I schedule my day allowing plenty of time for each wedding and making sure I have the help that I need! Most of the time the bride and I are on the same page but sometimes this is like pulling teeth! The questions I always ask when booking a wedding: what time is your ceremony, what time do you need to be ready by, how many people are getting makeup, and where are you getting ready? From that I can accurately assess how long I'll need for your wedding and if I can get you booked!

Last note: I am primary a one woman show. I do have my mom who is my best assistant and two other makeup artists that currently work with me. But as far as contacting me and booking stuff it's just me! I try my best to get back to everyone right away and try not to miss anything but I'm human and I'm super busy so if you don't hear back from me in a day or two please reach out again bc I might not have gotten the message or it got lost in the shuffle of my texts, emails, facebook messages, etc. Also every now and then I get sick.... This doesn't mean I'm flakey if I need to reschedule something it means I'm sick and I don't want you to get sick. I'm not someone who's sick every other week or grandma dies every month. And I usually work through being sick if it's just allergies like I had to this past week- it sucked a lot but I had a full week of tans, makeup trials, weddings, and photo shoots so I had to push through! I rarely ever reschedule anything so if I have to it's serious! Literally the day after I was in a car wreck (my car was totaled and I went to the hospital) I was doing wedding makeup bc I wouldn't just not show up for someone. I keep my word and I do what I can to uphold my end for every job I ever book.

In closing I just want everyone to be happy and I do my best to accommodate everyone!!

Why hire a makeup artist and how to pick a good one:

Why would you do your own makeup for your wedding... Would you do your own hair, your own nails, make your own wedding dress? If the answer is yes then maybe you should do your own makeup but realistically you're not doing these things yourself so why would you do your own makeup!? It's crazy to me that sometimes I show up to do wedding makeup for only a couple people but yet all 10 are getting their hair done... Really!? As a bridesmaid I get not having the funds for everything and this is part of why I think the bride should try to provide hair and makeup as a gift or at least pay for part of it to help out on costs! (Blog about bridesmaid gifts coming soon for more on that and if you think that paying for hair and/or makeup is too much then at least let your bridesmaids know the costs up front for dress, hair, makeup, etc then they have time to save up the money) But anyway you spend so much money on your wedding that why wouldn't you spend an extra $75-$100 on makeup? In the grand scheme of things it's not that much when the national average for a wedding is over $20,000. I know I didn't pay that much for my wedding! I've been to $5000 weddings and $100,000 weddings and they are all great... But I don't remember a lot from the weddings except for the photos I see after which mostly include the bride in her dress with her hair and makeup done... Think about it! Do you really remember all the little details or do you remember the bride and groom!? This day is about the beginning of a marriage not how 'pinteresty' you can get! This is a special day for the bride and groom and you should feel special which includes things like maybe a spa day with a massage, getting a mani/pedi, spray tanning, and of course day of hair and makeup! I'm the kind of person that would do my own hair and definitely have my makeup done bc really you could pull your hair back in a cute bun and have your makeup on and look dressed up and fancy but you won't if you have a crazy updo and minimal makeup... Food for thought friends!

When hiring a makeup artist for anything, especially your wedding, you should hire someone that works as a makeup artist full time not someone who does it for a hobby. Professional makeup will make a difference in your photos. And the skill level of the makeup artist will differ depending on their experience. Book a makeup artist that has a resume, is reputable, and is constantly working as a makeup artist and not one that does marketing or is a teacher during the week and plays with makeup on Saturdays! Not that some of these ladies (and men) aren't good at makeup... But think about it... Would you rather have an experienced makeup artist who knows about sanitation and much more or someone who doesn't clean their makeup brushes or use disposable mascara wands!? I mean do you want to get Ebola? Haha but in all seriousness you need someone who is educated and experienced at what they do to get the results you want especially on such an important and special day.... What you have left besides memories from your wedding is photos... You will hang these photos in your house, your parents will hang them in theirs, and you'll post them on every social media site your on so don't you want to look good (and not get a stye on your eye)!?!? I hope so!! So when looking for a makeup artist make sure you research your artist and find someone who knows what they are doing. If you can't find much about them they might not be a good fit. For instance if you're looking for me you can find my Website, Facebook page, Instagram account, Linked in account, my storefront on The Knot, IMDB (international movie database) as well as being featured on several wedding blogs, photographer websites, and film sites. And that's just my online presence. Out in life I'm in networking groups,participate , participate in 2-5 bridal shows a year and have been published in multiple publications as either a makeup artist, writer, or even an interview or two! So anyway just do your research and hire a reputable makeup artist for your wedding/event and not your best friends cousin who dabbles in makeup!

Facebook:

www.Facebook.com/makeupandtanningbycassie

Instagram:

@MakeupbyCassieLynn

A couple of the wedding blogs:

http://www.thelovelyfind.com/gold-citrus-wedding-inspiration/

http://greenweddingshoes.com/organic-wedding-inspiration-set-along-a-river/

The Knot:

http://www.theknot.com/Vendors/Makeup-and-Tanning-by-Cassie/Profile/HBF/040/518000/profile

This blog will cover everything from tips on makeup to tips on your wedding and everyday stuff! So to start off... This is Advice from a Married Makeup Artist who specializes in airbrush makeup for weddings! I myself am married and have been a bridesmaid a few times! I'm also a part of 1-5 weddings almost every weekend so I think I've learned a thing or two along the way!

I just wanted to take this post to introduce myself.... My name is Cassie Powell or as many know me by my maiden name and the name I use as a makeup artist: Cassie Lynn Young. I have been married since August 6, 2011 and currently don't have children but we do have two cats that are spoiled rotten and I love them probably too much! And my other love besides my husband (and family) and kitties is makeup! My love for makeup came from a young age, I literally remember the day my mom let me wear some blush and lip gloss to school and it was the coolest thing ever! I was a gymnast/cheerleader/ice skater before I was a dancer. Dancing was my passion and of course you get to wear tons of makeup and faux lashes so that's a plus! And in high school we tanned a ton, like way too much!! Tanning beds (ugh gross, why did I damage myself like that!?!?!?), baking in the sun (I should have wore more sunscreen), and at the time we got painted! Yes painted!! Not sprayed... That wasn't cool yet! It was the most brown like color available and it really wasn't bad, the ladies came and rolled us with the tanner similar to being sprayed. So I was super tan and wore a lot of makeup especially tons of eye liner. I've evolved thankfully! So my love of what I do now started a long time ago and I never imagined making it a career! I'm a graduate from the University of Louisville with a Bachelors of Science degree in Health and Human Performance. After graduating I wanted to do something else so I attended a makeup school in Chicago, Makeup First, to learn airbrushing. I really couldn't have even dreamed that this would be my career and that I would enjoy it so much! I think a common misperception people have of me of running my own business is that I get to make my own schedule, while kind of true my clients make my schedule for me. When they need me is when I work and I'm okay with that... I like helping people feel good about themselves even if it's just some temporary color or making them feel like a princess on their wedding day! I've come to LOVE weddings! It's definitely not the most creative part of my job, I'd say photo shoots and film help fill that space, but it's often the most rewarding! I've had brides, bridesmaids, moms in tears with how pretty they feel! I just want everyone to be happy on their wedding day and to feel the best they can! Of course the wedding is about the marriage but let's face it, it's about the bride!!

Look for upcoming blogs about Bridesmaid gifts, hiring a makeup artist, what concealer to use, skin care products and more!! :)