Rachna Mehta Wedding 7/10/2010

I sometimes have the pleasure of working with Indian brides on their special day. I love these wedding because there is so much opportunity as a makeup artist to really "come out of our shells."

The colorful and elaborate attire worn by the bride and all the attendants really allows me to showcase my work. I had so much fun doing Rachna's wedding. She had big beautiful eyes to work on and her gowns were so luxurious. My goal was to really make her eyes pop and to make her skin look flawless.

Cold feet in the Makeup Artist’s Chair

Many of my clients have had nightmarish experiences with “counter” makeup artists at department stores. You have probably been there… coerced into a chair only to walk away with 10 items you didn’t need and a clownish application of makeup you sprint to the nearest bathroom to remove. I often have to reassure clients that I will not make them look like a drag queen and I am not there to sell them anything. This talk calms them down before I start the makeover, but I do not win them over until they see the finished results.

In my mind, being a good makeup artist does not just mean you can blend colors well or you know how to dramatically enhance facial features through technique. It also means that you really listen to what your clients want. I listen and focus on what type of look a client wants, whether it is for a wedding day or special event. I have had so many clients thank me for really taking the time out to make them feel comfortable with the whole process and delivering the desired results. I follow the motto that “makeup should only enhance your natural beauty – not overshadow it”.