An interview with Liz
Wondering if I’m the right makeup artist for you? Please take a moment to read this interview before contacting me for your special event.
- How long have you been doing makeup, and how did you get started?
- What do you love most about doing makeup?
- What sets you apart from other makeup artists?
- Who do you work best with?
- Do I really need makeup for my wedding? Will I look like myself?
- Where do you work? How far will you travel?
- Do you do a trial run or consultation?
- Will you remain on-location for touch-ups?
- Can you provide client references?
- Do you have liability insurance?
- What kinds of makeup do you use? Do you airbrush?
- Will you provide makeup for touch-ups?
- Do you apply false lashes?
- Can you teach me how to do my own makeup?
- Can you cover tattoos, hyperpigmentation, tan lines, rosacea, acne, birthmarks, etc.?
- Will you work with my other vendors?
- What happens if you have to cancel?
- What are your rates?
- How do I book you, and how far in advance should I book?
- Will you be blogging about my wedding?
- Can we schedule a time to talk?
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How long have you been doing makeup professionally? How did you get started?
I did my very first wedding in 2005. It was so much fun, and I definitely got the bridal bug!
I got started years before that, and purely for the love of it. The big secret is I’m actually kind of a tomboy (shh, don’t tell anyone!), but I dabbled in 3-D model painting and blending colors as I was developing my artistic side. When I started doing makeup, I quickly realized how much fun it was to exercise control over one’s appearance, confidence, and personal style. It’s amazing what a difference the little things can make!
I was hooked. I started out doing makeup on myself and friends, and spent years taking lots of close-up photos so I could see exactly how my work translated on camera (I’m a perfectionist that way) – pretty soon I was doing makeup on everyone who would sit still long enough. From there, I began studying and getting as much training as I could while building my portfolio, which eventually lead to the creation of my editorial & commercial website (launched in 2009).
Since then, I’ve worked on countless weddings as well as advertisements, catalogs, commercials, headshots, events, performances, fashion editorials, runway, and independent film. My work has been published in local and national magazines (both online and in print), featured in commercial campaigns, and I’ve even had the opportunity to work with a couple of celebrities. My specialty is clean, feature-enhancing, camera-ready makeup for women and men of all ages and complexions.
And the learning never stops… I regularly attend professional trainings and workshops, work with other artists in the field, and take on new challenges to keep my skills sharp. It’s safe to say that my efforts have snowballed into an amazing and enriching career!
What do you love most about doing makeup?
I believe that beauty is universal, and makeup is one way to let it shine through! I love the effect makeup can have on a person’s overall style and attitude, and I strive to enhance both with my work. I relish working with color and texture and finding ways to enhance the face in front of me, and I enjoy the collaborative process involved in a wedding, shoot, or any professional work that I do.
What sets you apart from other makeup artists?
My focus is makeup for high-definition photography and video. I learned to do makeup for the camera right from the start! The reason my portfolio is so extensive is not just because I love doing photoshoots (although I do – they’re so much fun!) but because I know how important it is for makeup artists to create faces that look amazing in person as well as on screen, in any lighting situation.
As an artist with a flourishing commercial media makeup career, I’m something of a rarity in the bridal industry (particularly in Western New England). I bring an editorial eye to every wedding that I do, and I don’t fall back on a cookie-cutter look that doesn’t suit the face (or the personality) that I’m working with. I work very collaboratively with clients to help them look their best from every angle and in every medium. My motto? Blending is everything!
Another thing that sets me apart is that my services are fully mobile – I come to you with my kit, comfy director’s chair (to make you feel like the V.I.P. you are), and even a table and lighting if needed. You don’t have to worry about providing a perfect studio set-up for me, and you don’t have to take time out of an already stressful day to go to a salon to get your makeup done. Just sit back at your home, hotel room or wherever, relax and enjoy a mimosa while I work my magic! I also have a modest home studio which provides a comfortable space for client consultations and session makeovers.
I don’t sell makeup, so when you hire me, you’re not going to get a relentless product pitch (though I’m happy to share recommendations on request). My kit is customized and I use a variety of different pro products, and my goal is to create beautiful, long-lasting faces (that result in flawless photos) for my clients.
Finally, I’m an avid writer and love to share my knowledge with others – I have a free ebook you can download right from this site, I regularly serve as an expert resource in a variety of media, and I publish a biweekly newsletter as well – check them out!
Who do you work best with?
I’ve been so fortunate to have the clients I’ve had! The brides (and grooms!) that I work with have unique personal styles and share their ideas with me so I can craft the wedding look of their dreams. Lots of my brides are really creative – I’ve seen them tackle so many cool projects during their wedding planning, and it’s really inspiring to see what they come up with. Some of my clients are everyday makeup wearers and some hardly wear any at all, but they all have a few things in common:
- They want to make the most of their investment in photography and videography
- They want to look like the best version of themselves - not like they’re wearing a mask
- They want to actually enjoy their wedding day, without having to worry about their makeup!
Oh, and they also usually love animals. That has nothing to do with makeup or weddings; it’s just something I’ve noticed. Which is always nice, since I love to exchange pet stories! (That’s Edie the wonder mutt pictured below, accompanying me on a recent makeup shopping excursion.)
I don’t really wear much makeup normally… do I really need makeup for my wedding? Will I look like myself?
Absolutely! I specialize in clients who don’t normally wear much makeup and I make sure to learn about their personal styles and comfort zones. Makeup is about looking like the most amazing version of yourself, in person and in every photo. When we go without, our features tend to be harder to distinguish and we may look washed out. And if we wear our everyday makeup, we may not get the results we’re hoping for (many everyday products and application methods don’t translate well on camera). As Calvin Klein said, “The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural.”
Oh who am I kidding – I love makeup and I want to stop traffic!
Splendid; we’ll have a blast! I love when clients share their ideas – feel free to bring photos or send links that demonstrate the look you’re interested in and I’ll adapt it to your features and coloring.
Where do you primarily work, and how far will you travel?
I service clients on-site all over New England – in 2012, I worked at weddings in all six states. I will travel anywhere if mileage and travel expenses (and accommodations, if necessary) are covered – and yes, that includes destination weddings abroad!
All that said, the majority of my weddings are in Western Massachusetts. My primary service areas include Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties; the Five Colleges area, Springfield, Northern Connecticut, and Southern Vermont. I live in Florence, MA.
Do you do a trial run or consultation?
Yes, I recommend that all clients schedule a pre-wedding consultation to discuss their needs with me and try out their wedding look. The consultation is part conversation, part makeover! First, I learn all about your style and your unique vision for your wedding day – I encourage you to share photos and inspiration with me so I get a good sense of your preferences. It’s also a good opportunity for us to get to know each other and make sure we want to work together. Then I do your makeup, and take photos and notes about the products used so you can relax on your big day, knowing you’ll get exactly the look you want.
The majority of my consultations take place at my home studio in Florence, MA (I can also travel to you for an additional fee). Consultations usually take about an hour or two, and they’re a lot of fun!
Will you remain on location for touch-ups or new looks?
Yes (although you’ll be surprised at how little touching up you’ll need!) For weddings and events, I will stay on location for an hourly rate which includes any changes or new looks you might desire. For photoshoots, I always remain on set for the duration of the shoot unless other arrangements have been made.
Can you provide client references?
Absolutely; contact me to be connected with past clients, or visit my reviews page.
Do you have liability insurance? My venue requires it.
Yes indeed!
What kinds of makeup do you use? Do you airbrush?
I use professional products rated for high definition photography, and yes, I airbrush! All of my products and tools are kept clean and sanitary – no double-dipping or dirty brushes!
Will you provide makeup for touch-ups?
Yes – brides receive a complimentary touch-up kit, customized for their particular makeup look and wrapped up in a beautiful satin drawstring bag (which occasionally makes it into the wedding photos – see below!)
Do you apply false lashes?
Yes indeed – I offer both strip and individual cluster lash application to give you show-stopping lashes that still look like lashes (and not some weird thing glued to your face!) False lashes are included in my pricing for clients who wish to wear them.
Can you cover tattoos, hyperpigmentation, tan lines, rosacea, acne, birthmarks, etc.?
Yes, absolutely. Check out my Before & After gallery to see the difference makeup can make (none of those images have been retouched!) I also wrote a few blog entries about tattoo coverage which you can read here.
Will you work with my other vendors?
Yes; I play very well with others! Let me know what appointments you’ll have on your wedding day (hair, nails, pre-ceremony family photos, etc.) and I will work with you and your vendors as needed to schedule your makeup services so that everything works smoothly.
What happens if you get sick and can’t do my wedding makeup?
If you hire me, you can rest assured that your wedding will be covered. I’ve never once canceled on a bride, but in the unlikely event that I am incapacitated and cannot provide services, I have an extensive network of artists that offer the same caliber of work. Together, we established a system for ourselves and our loved ones to quickly schedule a replacement artist if one of us cannot make it to a job.
We hope we never have to use it, but the system is already in place – just in case!
This sounds great, but it also sounds expensive… what are your rates?
My clients have amazing personal style, and they want to look like the very best version of themselves: in person, in photos, and on video; indoors and outdoors; all day and all night – and most of all, they don’t want to have to worry about their makeup. If that sounds like you, too, I’d love to hear more!
Happily, my clients have all been very happy with their decision to hire me, and a few bridesmaids have even said they wished they’d had me for their weddings – check out Lisa’s recent review: I absolutely loved it all, and Liz did an amazing job with my sister’s makeup too (she said she looked better at my wedding than she did at her OWN wedding a few years back!)
(Oh, and my pricing is listed here!)
How do I book you in advance of my event? How far in advance should I book?
A signed contract and a 50% retainer are required to book your date. Because there are only so many weekends in a year, I recommend that clients book in advance whenever possible. (I recommend 6-12 months, but I have been booked as far as a year and a half in advance.) Some clients choose to schedule a consultation & trial run prior to booking; others book early and schedule the consultation closer to their wedding date – that’s entirely up to you!
Will you be blogging about my wedding?
Only if you’re willing! I love to share stories from weddings with my blog, newsletter and Facebook readers, but participation is entirely voluntary. If you’re comfortable sharing your creativity and inspiration with other brides, and your photographer is willing to share images, I’d love to include you in a future post – but if not, that’s fine too!
I have a few more questions; can we schedule a time to talk?
Of course! Shoot me an email and let me know a few times that you would be available for a phone consultation; I will be in touch to set up a time.
I look forward to helping you look your absolute best!
