Make Up

One would think that a bride not dare walk out of the house without makeup. If one thinks this then one is dead wrong!

One of the great things about being an experienced photographer is that I get the opportunity to work with brides of all ages, types and personalities. How much or how little makeup they wear has nothing to do with age but sometimes it must. There is a short window in our lives that we can go "bare" when it comes to makeup. Unfortunately that time rarely ever coincides with our wedding day.

Years ago I had a bride who was older and not a naturally radiant bride. She was a very stressed individual and it showed. On her wedding day, I walked into the room where she was getting ready. Assuming that she was just running behind I said "when you get your makeup on we can do your portrait." She, to my amazement said "I am not going to wear makeup." I was shocked to say the least. She was in her late thirties with a very blotchy skin and a very red nose. Yes a red nose! Had I had the guts then that I have now I would have said over my dead body am I taking pictures of you with no makeup as nicely as possible. Instead the only words that I could stutter out were "Are you sure?" You can imagine her blotchy face and her zit in her otherwise beautiful photographs.

After that, I was bound and determined never to let a bride so that to me again. You may be asking why should you care it is her wedding?. It maybe her wedding but they are my pictures with my name on it. I would have to retouch every picture. After that I realized I could not let that happen ever again.

Years later I got a phone call from a bride who described herself as the Anti-Bride who was having a winter wedding. As I do with all by brides, said "make sure that you get your makeup done first because our light will be falling and we need to make sure that we have light to do your portrait". To my horror she said "Oh I am not wearing makeup, that is just who I am I just don't wear makeup." I stopped speaking so long that the bride asked if I was okay. I explained that yes I was okay and she should consider wearing makeup because everyone needed something to even out skin tones. She said no she was confident that she would be okay with out. She had olive skin and she was really confident in her appearance. All I could do was try to politely convince her in other telephone meetings. To my relief on the day of her wedding she came running in wearing makeup. This was the first time that I had ever seen her face to face. Her first words to me were "Hi Tara so nice to meet you...LOOK I am wearing makeup! Aren't you glad?" I was so glad she had listened.

I also need to give you all a bit of info about me. I NEVER wear makeup, like never. I realize though that there are times in our lives that we need to step outside our usual boundaries because we do not always know best. Something as small as foundation and a little lipstick makes us look alive in photos.

You maybe asking what is the big deal who cares if a bride chooses to wear makeup or not.

What does a bride win or loose by not wearing makeup?

Well a bride really only wins on a hot day. They do not experience the pleasure of makeup sweating off their face.
Anything else? no not really

A bride looses in many ways.

1. She may not look as fresh or energetic.
2. All of her flaws will be out in the open for friend and family to see.
3. Oh my God if her groom never saw her first thing in the morning the wedding is not the time to plant that picture in his head.
4. Don't blame your photographer for those bags underneath your eyes...most of that is not his/her fault.
5. By wearing makeup you will save photo-retouching which equals money.

On the same note a bride can wear too much. From a professional photographer's paper to your ears if anyone tells you you need to wear extra think eyeliner so you look like a heroine addict they are wrong. The truth is that you need to wear a little more makeup than usual. You still want to look like yourself.

I have come across many brides who did not like their make up. Some have even started over from scratch when the makeup artist leaves. I have also had brides that were forced to wear make up that they were not comfortable in for their entire wedding. There is something wrong with that. The point of makeup is to help add to your confidence emotionally, make you more radiant than you already are and to hide a few minor flaws. I must admit I have even told minor fibs to brides running late who ask "Do I have too much eyeliner on?"


What most brides do not know is that they should receive a complementary dry run with their make up. The time to test how you like your hair and makeup is before the wedding not the day of when everyone is running late. Honestly you are just wasting money by running late. If your ceremony is 30 min late you have lost money on your photographer, musicians, minister or person performing the ceremony and gelato guy-the gelato is forming ice crystals (not good). Keep in mind that some vendors do more than one wedding a day and they may not be able to stay the extra time. While I say don't worry the wedding will not start without you, you are paying people good money. So while 30 min should be in every vendors fudge time they may not be able to wait 45 min to an hour. If your ordained minister is doing another ceremony an hour can be the difference between you getting married or not.

On another note, if you are someone who always wears a lot of makeup, keep in mind make up is a comfort zone issue. I have had brides who only feel comfortable wearing a thick layer. If that is your comfort okay, but if you are trying to hide flaws sometimes too much can make it worse. Sometimes with makeup less is more. So when hiring a makeup artist hire one who has experience and one whom you are confident in. Tell then what you see as wrong with your face ask them how they plain to cope with it. Also all makeup products are not the same. Realizing this now will save you a lot of time and money in the future. No all good ones do not cost an arm and leg.

Some of my tips to make sure all is well with make up are... These are also tips from Leslie Moore who can be contacted at http://www.mooremakeup.com
1. Do a trial run well before.
2. Make sure your makeup is done first, your makeup person can leave stuff for touch up later.
3. If you have a large wedding party, you need to have more than one makeup artist.
4. Figure out ahead of time who is getting made up to insure that you are giving your makeup vendor enough time-tell them as soon as possible so they can book clients appropriately. Include both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom.
5. Don't use makeup with sun screen on your wedding day. Sun screen is reflective and when combined with a flash from a camera can cause you to look pale or whiter than usual.