Tsia I was only refering to the cost of the wedding if a potential client thinks that my prices are overinflated. To be honest, I don't think it matters how much the wedding costs and I don't ask. My job is to help the bride look and feel fabulous on her very big day. I am offering a professional service and it costs a professional fee.

The florist will charge for her flowers and the seamstress will charge for the gown of silk and tulle as will the hairdresser for the hair. If the flowers are costing £800 and the gown £2000 then I don't see how charging £100 for the make-up including trial is seen as pricing up services and taking advantage.

I'm not taking offence here just trying to explain my comments to the initial post.

Hehe you make Mrs Clooney sound like a sneaky con-artist! She'll send her George round to get you if you're not careful (which might not be such a bad thing....wahey!)

What I'm pretty sure Mrs C was implying in her previous post was that when or if you get a client who thinks the price of your service is too steep, you explain to them by using examples of other bridal services they are paying for.

The reason people believe makeup should be 'cheap' is because they can get it done for free at their local department store, where sales people masquerading as artists are positively gagging to apply slap to the faces of the public, in order to generate sales. These people are exactly what their job title suggest - sales people. Sales people use one brand of makeup, their view is biased, they have not spent their own time or money training as a makeup artist, they have not worked long hours for little pay to gain experience and shots for their portfolio, they have not assisted more experienced artists for free to gain extra skills, they have simply applied for a job and got some basic training.

A makeup artist has a kit full of (mostly pretty expensive) products that may have cost them between 2 and 5 grand to put together, they have all the necessary training and experience and knowledge. They will do everything to keep theselves up to date with the latest looks and products. They will advise you on all aspects of skincare and makeup, not just the bridal look they are being paid for. On the big day, they are often one of the only sane heads in the room and will most likely be the person who gets you into your dress and applies all the finishing touches, whilst your family and bridesmaids flap around worrying about how they look!

For example, compare the makeup artist to the florist....they both know how to work with colour, they both posess creative skills, they both know how to create things of beauty. The cost of flowers can run well into the hundreds, but how many people will be looking at the flowers not the bride (and her beautiful face courtesy of the makeup artist), how many photos will there be of the flowers compared to the bride.....?

Thank you Amy! I am going to frame this explanation and display it with my training certificates . Couldn't have said it better myself ..... well obviously I didn't . Hands off my George though .

Yes, I agree with you, I wasnt trying to offend you.. its just how I read it I guess.

I said I dont think you do that anyway..

But could imagine some people, not as proffessional as you, pulling that very stunt.

xxx

For example, compare the makeup artist to the florist....they both know how to work with colour, they both posess creative skills, they both know how to create things of beauty. The cost of flowers can run well into the hundreds, but how many people will be looking at the flowers not the bride (and her beautiful face courtesy of the makeup artist), how many photos will there be of the flowers compared to the bride.....?[/quote]



a great analogy Amy, think I will def. be putting my prices up because I havent got the confidence to say a high price and kind of undercharge for the service I give.

this is an interesting post ..
i do feel however that some of you are really not charging enough for what is after all a professional wedding service .. brides pay 100's if not thousands for cakes, flowers, and all the little extras .. these soon get forgotten about months and years down the line - but the make up is forever present in the photographs, videos etc .. i think a mua's role in a wedding is really underated
when i trained to do face cpl years ago .. we were told to charge around £25-£30 an hour - my customers were more than happy to pay £60 for a 2 hr face painting service, those that didnt book me because they thought it may have been a little too expensive obviously didnt appreciate the hard work that goes in to the training, materials, then having to advertise, travel time etc etc .. so i wasnt too fussed about the odd knock backs i got and i shall have the same attitude when i start doing bridal work
i have spent far more time and money investing in my training and kit for bridal makeup so im going to make sure i charge what i think my time and service is worth - i shall charge slightly less for the first year, whilst i build my portfolio up but i eventually plan to charge around £40 for a bridal trial and £60-70 on the day make up, i think this is a very fair price particularly as i charged around that for a 2 hr face painting party cpl years ago!
blush09

Hi
I work in Cyprus (an island in Med Sea) and I want to thank you first of all cause through your site I found answers to a lot of questions I had.

I m a qualified beaytician (Itec and Cidesko diploma) and also an advance instructor of Thai massage and accupressure therapist.

I do bride make-up and here in Cyprus we charge from 150 euro up to 350 euro (sometimes more) if the bride is a very demanding person and when we go there all the womens around want to have a professional make up.

It's really surprise me your prices.

Usually here the people they think that the expensive is the best and many times this is true. On the other hand if you don't pay what you deserve personally I prefer not to work. I understand the needs we all have but I realize that when you re very cheap just to get clients later on is a big damage when you increase your prices.

Thanks again for the great help you gave me with your answers and your experience cause I in bussiness only for 2 years.

(excuse my english I m not a native english speaking)

Cons