Portfolio: look for faces similar to yours
A portfolio tells you the most, but only if you look at it carefully. Look for photos of real brides, not only styled shoots with models. Pay attention to photos taken in daylight, up close and without heavy filters, because only these show what the skin looks like and whether the makeup is evenly blended.
Makeup on someone similar to you will tell you the most: someone with a similar skin tone, eye shape or of a similar age. If there is no such photo in the portfolio, ask for one. A good makeup artist will be happy to show you more examples.
The makeup artist’s style and yours
Every makeup artist has her own way of working. One feels most at home with bold makeup, another with soft, natural looks. If you dream of glowing skin and light makeup, but the portfolio is mostly strong eyeliner and heavy contouring, that is a sign your tastes may not match.
I go for timeless elegance: luminous, natural-looking skin, defined eyes and lips in a shade matched to you and your outfit. This kind of makeup looks good both in person and in the photos you will return to for years. Take a look at my portfolio and see whether this direction suits you.
A local makeup artist: Giżycko, Mikołajki, Mrągowo
A makeup artist who works locally knows the local conditions. She knows what the light is like in the hotels on Lake Mikołajskie, in the manor houses near Mrągowo and in the venues on Lake Niegocin, how long the drive takes on a summer Saturday and where the traffic builds up in high season. From Giżycko it takes me about 40 minutes to drive to Mikołajki and to Mrągowo, and less than half an hour to Ryn.
A local makeup artist also means a lower risk of delays and a lower travel cost. You can read more about weddings in particular towns in my articles about Giżycko, Mikołajki and Mrągowo.
A makeup trial shows more than photos
A makeup trial is the best way to test a makeup artist in practice. Pay attention not only to the result, but also to whether she asks about your preferences, your dress and the plan for the day, whether she explains what she is doing and whether she is happy to make changes. It is a good moment to sense whether you feel comfortable together, because on your wedding day this person will be with you from early morning.
With me, the makeup trial is included in the price of the bridal package. You can read more about how to prepare for it in the article The bridal makeup trial.
Hygiene and cosmetics
You can, and should, ask about hygiene. A professional makeup artist washes and disinfects her brushes after every client, uses disposable applicators for mascara and lipsticks, and takes cream products out with a spatula, not her fingers. Her cosmetics should be fresh, kept in a clean case and suitable for different skin types.
If you have sensitive skin or allergies, or wear contact lenses, tell me before the makeup trial. Then I will choose products so that nothing surprises you on your wedding day.
Organising the wedding day
Beautiful makeup is one thing, a calm morning is another. Ask how much time the makeup artist needs per person, what time she will arrive and how she will plan the schedule if the mother of the bride, the maid of honour and the bridesmaids also need makeup. It is worth planning about an hour per person, and I usually do the bride last, so that her makeup is the freshest. In my bridal package that is not the end: I stay with you all day and take care of touch-ups after the ceremony, before the photo session and during the reception.
It helps when the makeup artist is in touch with the hairdresser and the photographer. Agreeing on the order and times in advance means nobody waits and nobody rushes.
Questions worth asking before you book
- Are you free on my wedding day, and what time can you arrive?
- Is the makeup trial included in the price, and when can we do it?
- How many people can you do makeup for, and how long will it take?
- Do you stay on site to do touch-ups during the day?
- How do you calculate the cost of travel to where I am getting ready?
- What are your booking terms, and is there a deposit?
- What happens if the time of the wedding or the number of people changes?
- Which cosmetics do you use for sensitive or acne-prone skin?
Specific answers to these questions say a lot about how a makeup artist works and how she looks after her clients.
What to watch out for
- A portfolio made up only of heavily filtered photos or shoots with models, with no real brides.
- No clear rules for booking, quotes and cancelling a date.
- Evasive answers to questions about hygiene and cosmetics.
- Several weddings on the same day in distant towns, with no spare time for travel.
- No option to have a makeup trial before the wedding.
How booking works with me
Giżycko is my main place of work, and for weddings I travel to Mikołajki, Mrągowo, Ryn and all over Masuria. Write to me with the date and time of the wedding, where you will be getting ready and the number of people who need makeup. I will check my availability and prepare a quote. I set prices individually, and the travel cost is included in the quote.
I book a bridal package date once we have agreed the terms of our cooperation individually and you have paid a deposit of the agreed amount, which counts towards the total price of the service. Single makeup appointments, for example for a wedding guest, do not require a deposit. You will find the details of the package on the bridal makeup page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a good makeup artist in Giżycko?
Start with a portfolio that shows real brides and photos in daylight, check whether the style suits you and book a makeup trial. Also ask about hygiene, travel and the booking terms.
Will a makeup artist from Giżycko travel to Mikołajki and Mrągowo?
Yes. For weddings I travel to Mikołajki, Mrągowo, Ryn and all over Masuria. From Giżycko it takes me about 40 minutes to Mikołajki and Mrągowo, and the travel cost is included in your individual quote.
How much does a wedding makeup artist cost?
I set prices individually. They depend on the number of people and the travel distance, among other things. Write to me with the date and place, and I will prepare a quote.
When should I book a makeup artist for my wedding?
Ideally as soon as you know the date and place of your wedding. Saturdays in the season from May to September go the fastest.
Do I need to pay a deposit when booking?
For the bridal package, yes: I book the date once we have agreed the terms individually and you have paid a deposit, which counts towards the price of the service. Single makeup appointments do not require a deposit.
See my portfolio and the bridal makeup page.