Wedding Makeup: How Much $$$ Do You Charge?
- Thread starter NikkiHorror
- Start date
MACgirl
Well-known member
Cont. Happy to refer them to another artist. Even if I can't be thier artist maybe could still help them. With that said if your are charging the amount you feel us right, then you must put on a production, your own chair, lighting, kit, and must cater to the bride for every need on her special day.
Olivia Florence
New member
Amen faces by niki!! !! Time is money
Gretl Irina
New member
This post was super helpful in trying to determine what I want to set my bridal pricing at when I get some clients.
I agree with so many of the posters though - don't undersell yourself, your talent, your time, and your expertise!! Usually, you get what you pay for, and it is so nice for your hair and makeup artists to travel to you when you already have a million other things to do on your wedding day.
As for the bride's price being higher? Are you taking into account the time/money on gas/makeup used for the trial run? That is built into the final pricing for the bride.I spend an hour on the bride, and if you are using airbrush makeup (which I highly recommend), it is much more costly, and lashes are a great additional touch that is more $. After all, the bride is the star
I agree with so many of the posters though - don't undersell yourself, your talent, your time, and your expertise!! Usually, you get what you pay for, and it is so nice for your hair and makeup artists to travel to you when you already have a million other things to do on your wedding day.
As for the bride's price being higher? Are you taking into account the time/money on gas/makeup used for the trial run? That is built into the final pricing for the bride.I spend an hour on the bride, and if you are using airbrush makeup (which I highly recommend), it is much more costly, and lashes are a great additional touch that is more $. After all, the bride is the star
EdieKeel
New member
It all Depends, there's several things to take into consideration when it comes to how much your going to charge :
Expertise
Travel
Inventory
Time
Geography
#of Services
All of these things add up and by not charging what your worth is a shame. You Want Clients Who Know Your Worth!
I work hard to keep up with the latest, and greatest, I went to school to specialize in these fields and I have won in competitions, so you better believe I will charge what I believe I am worth based on that. (I am not even nearly as expensive as most either)
I Live in Texas and I am a Licensed Cosmetologist/Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist, I travel to my clients Venue, Home or Hotel, I do add additional travel expenses (gas) outside of the 50 mile radius, my price for Bridal Hair Design and Airbrush Makeup+Traditional Package is $225.00 for the Bride, I have a set rate for MOH and rest of Bridal Party but I am definitely flexible in all my Prices.
but in saying that, I save my clients the hassle of traveling in this God Awful Heat/Massive Humidity which can ruin anyone's Perfect Hair and Makeup, I don't care what products you use, its expensive and a waste to witness your bride and her wedding party fall apart after all that work. If a Bride wants to be a DIY then she needs to be at the venue when she does it here in TX, its just too humid to be moving about from location to location, even from a Hair salon and back home then to venue for it to stay fresh without caking it on through out the day, thinking touch-up are good when traveling in this climate is a Big mistake. I do stay with my Bride up until she walks the isle (she should always be the last service to maintain freshness) and sometimes I will even wait until service is over for a reception refresher.
Expertise
Travel
Inventory
Time
Geography
#of Services
All of these things add up and by not charging what your worth is a shame. You Want Clients Who Know Your Worth!
I work hard to keep up with the latest, and greatest, I went to school to specialize in these fields and I have won in competitions, so you better believe I will charge what I believe I am worth based on that. (I am not even nearly as expensive as most either)
I Live in Texas and I am a Licensed Cosmetologist/Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist, I travel to my clients Venue, Home or Hotel, I do add additional travel expenses (gas) outside of the 50 mile radius, my price for Bridal Hair Design and Airbrush Makeup+Traditional Package is $225.00 for the Bride, I have a set rate for MOH and rest of Bridal Party but I am definitely flexible in all my Prices.
but in saying that, I save my clients the hassle of traveling in this God Awful Heat/Massive Humidity which can ruin anyone's Perfect Hair and Makeup, I don't care what products you use, its expensive and a waste to witness your bride and her wedding party fall apart after all that work. If a Bride wants to be a DIY then she needs to be at the venue when she does it here in TX, its just too humid to be moving about from location to location, even from a Hair salon and back home then to venue for it to stay fresh without caking it on through out the day, thinking touch-up are good when traveling in this climate is a Big mistake. I do stay with my Bride up until she walks the isle (she should always be the last service to maintain freshness) and sometimes I will even wait until service is over for a reception refresher.
Tinamua
New member
This such a great thread! Now this helps a lot for those that are freelancing. But what about us freelancers starting at a salon doing makeup? Especially after they've been working at a counter for years and are certified thru that makeup line? No cosmetology liscence just advanced makeup skills? I'm trying to breakaway from retail makeup and actually doing makeup instead of only selling it. How much should I charge and how much percentage should I pay salon owner? I see some sites only charging 60 bucks a face at the salons!? I normally charge 75 reg makeup app if I drive to you, and 125 bridal/85 bridesmaids! And when ppl want smoky eye/dark lips and eyebrows on Fleek! I feel I should charge that full 75-85. But at a salon how do I differentiate that? Any thots on what I should charge while at a salon? How much do I give the owner? Do I have to follow there prices?
MISSRED
Well-known member
I used to charge $40 for each person as well, but that was over 5 yrs ago. Today it would be $60. What used to really upset me was when I'd be working behind the counter for Lancome on my shift, then would get a call from a bride to be asking to do the whole wedding party for free. We had to schedule time for them in between taking care of customers ontop of that. Then when the bridal party came, i'd have to split the wedding party up to clinique and lauder just so we could have them all done in time. Then most of them wouldn't purchase anything we'd use on them. That always burned me because they just used us, yet we weren't allowed to charge them or say no to the makeovers.
Stephstein
Member
There seems to be a great divide in this thread: Team Artist for Artist Sake and Team Artist for Business Sake.
I am definitely Team Artist for Business Sake. I've lost some opportunities thrown my way because a bride didn't like the pricing and wasn't open to exceptions but I've got 2 babies and roof to keep over their head PLUS a lot of training and certifications I paid good money for, not to mention the product I've invested in. I'm not dropping my prices to suit a frugal bride.
My mentor once told me: Your price is a reflection of how much you value your own work and how serious you are about your artistry. If you are constantly doing free or discount makeup for no specific reason then you are sending a clear message of your own confidence about your work.
Let me be clear: I would never inflate my costs, because I would never gouge the bride or undercut my fellow artists in the area. And if a bride is open and honest with me about budget we can totally work together to find a look that is within her budget (using her makeup, not airbrushing, no lashes ect.) or even me recommending her to some other artists that are building their brand. I am 100% about providing excellent client service no matter if I am retained or not. But I can't start slashing my prices, if I did, then that undermines my other clients that budgeted and paid my original price. They respected my work and me.
I am definitely Team Artist for Business Sake. I've lost some opportunities thrown my way because a bride didn't like the pricing and wasn't open to exceptions but I've got 2 babies and roof to keep over their head PLUS a lot of training and certifications I paid good money for, not to mention the product I've invested in. I'm not dropping my prices to suit a frugal bride.
My mentor once told me: Your price is a reflection of how much you value your own work and how serious you are about your artistry. If you are constantly doing free or discount makeup for no specific reason then you are sending a clear message of your own confidence about your work.
Let me be clear: I would never inflate my costs, because I would never gouge the bride or undercut my fellow artists in the area. And if a bride is open and honest with me about budget we can totally work together to find a look that is within her budget (using her makeup, not airbrushing, no lashes ect.) or even me recommending her to some other artists that are building their brand. I am 100% about providing excellent client service no matter if I am retained or not. But I can't start slashing my prices, if I did, then that undermines my other clients that budgeted and paid my original price. They respected my work and me.
Sexy Sadie
Well-known member
You can't blame that on the customers/brides. Only your bosses.
MISSRED
Well-known member
Apparently our bosses left this go because they assumed the wedding parties would purchase something the day of. We always had the bride and their parties come in a week or two before the big day because each girl wanted her own look, of which I provided. Trouble was, after being satisfied with the look and products used, they couldn't even purchase a lousy tube of lipstick. Didn't they think it would need touched up at some point? Maybe I'm old school, but I could never take advantage of anyone like that, nor be that frugal on the biggest day of my life.
Sexy Sadie
Well-known member
To me charging $50 is too low. If that's the case, they could go to the counter and get their make up done instead. You are traveling to them and giving them extra attention without having to stop and ring customers at a counter. Once you guys get more freelance bridal work under your belt, you'll understand what us vets are talking about.
I do not want to bash any people who work at the counters, but their brand loyal kits rarely make work it during the day. Their work is not often good enough either.
Sexy Sadie
Well-known member
Your point is?
MISSRED
Well-known member
Well, I feel that it's a bit rude to insult every single person who works behind a counter by insinuating that our work 'sucks' or we don't have enough experience. Believe it or not many of us do work outside of our employment as well. After this post I'll take the high road and not waste my time responding to prejudice any longer.
Sexy Sadie
Well-known member
And a night mask.
