Forums >
Hair, Makeup & Styling >
weddings: you do,or you don't?
just wondering do any of the makeup artists here do bridal on the side as a regular? i know someone who thinks it's tacky and unprofessional for a fashion mua to do weddings yet i have a friend that does fashion and is deep into the bridal biz also (they regularly do bridal mags and society brides) what's your opinion? Feb 01 07 04:41 pm Link I work consistently with brides and events throughout the year. It is a very good income as I normally work with high end wedding photographers and brides. I don't cut my rates and work with people that are on a stict budget as I find they are NEVER happy with anything. Anyone that says it's unprofessional to work with brides obviously has issues with work in general. I don't. Also bridal couture designers can bring you magazine and tearsheet opportunities. I've worked with a few that have gotten me national and regional tears. Feb 01 07 04:57 pm Link I do weddings as well. My main freelance opps come on weekdays anyway while weddings fall on Saturdays so it hasn't been much of a problem. I also have a 3 person minimum and do not undercut or change my prices for any reason. They also come to me for the trial and I charge for travel over 20 miles. I also need full payment one month before their date to hold my services. Geez I sound like a nightmare right? lol But not really. I am just making sure my time is worth it, and it hasn't kept me from booking almost every weekend through the year. Trust me, if I were getting the same money from doing fashion related stuff, even if it meant I worked more through the week, I would! Fashion is my passion *cough cough cheesy* lol. But money is money Feb 01 07 05:08 pm Link makeupladydiva wrote: I don't think it's tacky or unprofessional money is money. I hardly ever do weddings only because I just don't like doing weddings. I did one wedding last year only because it was a relative. It went very well and everyone was pleased but it's just not my cup of tea. Feb 01 07 05:12 pm Link I also do weddings. Hey it pays the bills right, Feb 01 07 05:16 pm Link Amen, Kat! Do you offer a contract for them to see and sign at the trial makeup session? I go to them for the pre-wedding trial and usually ask for 1/2 at that time, the rest at the wedding. I'm wondering how you work the bridal makeup gigs? KatAragon wrote: Feb 01 07 05:21 pm Link "One problem I have with bridal parties is that it's always that one bridesmaid who doesn't want the professional makeover because she doesn't wear makeup or can do her own..........." I couldn't have said this any better. Most often the money is great and the makeup is easy. These girls want to look a step up from their everyday. But I have to say the drama one bridesmaid caused me and the bride, prompted me to write a guide book. With one chapter just on bridesmaids! Besides, there are lots of times I have had a blast with these girls. I've posted a few comedy's that have taken place while getting them ready on my blog. Like having to evacuate the Biltmore hotel in Coral Gables. Only to figure out the woman steaming the dresses was doing so under the smoke detector! R- Feb 01 07 05:21 pm Link Lisa Johnson MUA wrote: Yes, they sign a contract as soon as they want me to hold the date, usually months before. I tell them that it is not completely a done deal until I get full payment which I require 4 weeks before their date. (I do take half of that at the trial with the other half due 4 weeks before). Feb 01 07 11:24 pm Link rick lesser wrote: By the way, I totally did that when we first got our studio! I wasn't familiar with the details like a smoke detector and we were doing a late shoot. I was steaming right under the smoke detector and it went off! Our landlord lives on the second floor where our studio is and I was scared to death he was gonna come in. Turns out he wasn't home. Glad I'm not the only one lol! Feb 01 07 11:27 pm Link I'd like to cuz I bet it would be soooo fun, and I think I'd make good money cuz I'm pretty good at candids Feb 01 07 11:30 pm Link I do weddings...there's not much in the way of editorial work in NC. Bummer. But I have the current cover of Carolina Bride magazine, so I can't complain. Feb 01 07 11:31 pm Link I'm sorry, I thought this was for photogs.....ewwwps!! Feb 01 07 11:32 pm Link Glamourpuss Make-UpHair wrote: congrats, it looks big time good Feb 01 07 11:37 pm Link I scared everyone off Feb 01 07 11:39 pm Link I don't think theres anything wrong with it! I have a little interest in it, how would I get started? I haven't really pursued it just 'cause I'm not really sure how. Go to bridal fashion shows and hand out my card? Feb 01 07 11:41 pm Link Honey, my rent knows no discrimination. I have done and will continue to do everything from Movies, TV shows, COmmercials, Informercials, Special Event, Headshot, Bridal and Fashion make-up. The way I see it is that sweet gigs come and go. You can land an excellent job on a TV show and it can get cancelled after a week (or 9 days early like the one I am on right now). Nothing is consistent, or guaranteed in this industry. You can mess up a lipline and lose your job. My advice, keep your goals in mind, but keep your options open. If you put good out in the universe, it has a way of coming back to you and if you put your goals out there as well, every decision you make will bring you closer to them. Who knows, you can get called to do a headshot and the actor turns out to be a producer's daughter. Or do a low budget indie that has a great cast and leads to better things. Or an event make-up for a person who knos somebody. My point being, every job done well leads to a good reputation and another job. Now I am not an advocate of being taken advantage of, so if a person is bragging about 'if you do this for free, I'll do this for you" I tend to run in the other direction, because there are a lot of hollywooders out there who are a lot of talk and just want something for nothing. So use discretion, but remember you never know where the next job may lead. Feb 02 07 01:22 am Link MUA is not my field... but is it a sin to follow the money? You gotta do what you have to. Same goes for me. There's nothing interesting about shooting weddings. But I do it because it pays for the fun shoots and much needed equipment. Feb 02 07 01:27 am Link It does indeed, Kat. Thank you for the great info! KatAragon wrote: Feb 02 07 04:13 am Link Bridal is a good way of making extra money and can be a business in its own right if you do it right you can continue doing fashion etc. James Feb 02 07 09:22 am Link I don't think it's any more tacky or unprofessional for a MUA (or anyone) to do more than one kind of work (Fassion AND weddings AND fine art, or whatever else) than it is for a photographer to do the same and shoot all of the above. Personally I shoot those things and more, pretty much anything. I've heard the arguments that if you don't specialiaze you can't ever be really good, but the reality of life is that we aren't all shooting (or doing makeup) all the time every day. And not only does it provide extra income and networking exposure possibilities, but I believe that the more aspects of a craft you can understand and master, the better your overall performance and understand of any particular part of it can become. So, that's my long rambling way of saying that no, there's nothing wrong with that, not in the least. More ways of praticing is never bad, unless you use it to form bad habbits. So just don't do that. Thant is all, thank you. -Nathan Feb 02 07 09:51 am Link Power Photographic wrote: I think that's a backwards argument for someone to make. I have done some makeup for editorial/fashion shoots that would have or have been beautiful for weddings, and vice versa. Feb 02 07 09:58 am Link If the market can bare it, what's wrong with shooting with a MUA at a Wedding. I know I would want my bride (my client) to feel and be at her best. And if a MUA can help me capture my client at her best, I'm for it. After all, this is a Wedding! There are no RESHOOTS! Edw. Feb 02 07 10:08 am Link have done a few for favors but no more... Feb 02 07 10:12 am Link I do weddings. That is where most of my paid work is from. I see nothing wrong with it. Feb 02 07 11:05 am Link I do a lot of weddings Feb 02 07 11:17 am Link I work with all types of photographers and in all genres I can. I love storybook wedding photography, personally. That is also very high end and I never deal with bridezillas, ever. The photographers at weddings have the majority of the work, IMHO. I wouldn't be a wedding photographer if you PAID me...unless it was a LOT of money... Bridal makeup is easy for me to do, for some reason. I can tell a lot on the phone at the tone of the brides prior to booking them and if I don't like their attitude, well, it's my perogative to be available on that date or not. Fashion, bridal, editorial and film makeup is what I do. It's all good. Feb 02 07 12:11 pm Link It seems quite a few photogs, muas, and hair stylists do weddings on the side. I suppose it's a way to make money while pursuing your career. Plus, if it turns out well, you get good references. Feb 02 07 12:13 pm Link rachelrose wrote: I couldn't have said it better myself. Rachel always gives the best advice!! Feb 02 07 01:21 pm Link Both the MUA's I use regularly do... Way better money than models. " ) Perc Feb 02 07 01:23 pm Link Hey, when the money is right, the money is right... Feb 02 07 01:24 pm Link Money is money!! Feb 02 07 06:00 pm Link I personally haven't ever done weddings, but they're certainly not beneath me... I'm even considering doing a few this summer. I have definitely heard of people dissing the whole bridal makeup thing (it's also similar with photographers and wedding photography) I think it's stupid. Like everyone's said, money's money. Feb 02 07 06:59 pm Link I do weddings, it pays really well and very fulfilling. you get to make the bride beautiful on the most important day of their life. I love it Ivy Feb 02 07 07:48 pm Link "I don't think it's tacky or unprofessional money is money. I hardly ever do weddings only because I just don't like doing weddings. I did one wedding last year only because it was a relative. It went very well and everyone was pleased but it's just not my cup of tea." Same here. Totally agree. I also did one wedding because it was a friend. And i didn't enjoy the experience. Just the whole nerve-wrecking bitchy pre-wedding atmosphere annoys me in all honesty. Feb 02 07 09:24 pm Link rachelrose wrote: LUV IT! Feb 02 07 09:49 pm Link Ummm, yes I do bridal work and it is VERY good money (at least here in Southern California) for an hour or two of my time. I don't think it's "tacky" for a professional MUA to do bridal work. Natural MUA is more difficult to execute (correctly) than "edgy" MU most of the time, and natural MU is what is required for brides 98% of the time. That's my two cents. Feb 02 07 09:55 pm Link I only do weddings for friends or family on request, i don't see the problem with fashion MUA doing it aswell though! Many of my friends do very well from doing both. I choose not to do them mainly because i dont like having my weekends booked up so far in advance incase any of my main clients need me! Debs x Feb 03 07 01:32 pm Link I know this thread isn't for me, but damn I don't enjoy shooting weddings! Great money though for sure. Feb 03 07 01:35 pm Link Well, I shoot weddings ( about 15 to 20 a year) and it's the only place I see MU's really getting paid. Feb 03 07 01:40 pm Link On a side note: I love when the bride is spending major bucks on the photographer, the dress and the hair...yet BALKS at what makeup costs. LOL...those are the ones that wait until the last minute to consider makeup. They're not the ones I usually work with...but it never ceases to amaze me. They're forking out thousands on the photog and dress and then freak when you give them a quote for makeup which is a small fraction of any of those costs. However, the storybook brides and weddings are quite expensive and that of course is my ideal market. Feb 04 07 01:00 pm Link |