Where I travel and how long it takes
I include the travel in the plan for the day and in your individual quote. Approximate driving times from Giżycko:
| Town | Distance | Drive from Giżycko |
|---|---|---|
| Węgorzewo | 26 km | about half an hour |
| Kętrzyn | 31 km | about half an hour |
| Orzysz | 31 km | about half an hour |
| Ełk | 54 km | just under an hour |
| Pisz | 57 km | about an hour |
On top of that there are smaller villages and towns along the way and in the area, for example Wydminy, Miłki, Ruciane-Nida or Biała Piska. In summer, especially at weekends, Masurian roads can be busy, so I always plan a margin of time.
Kętrzyn and Święta Lipka
Kętrzyn has a 14th-century Teutonic castle that houses a museum, and the Gothic Basilica of St George. Nearby is Święta Lipka with its baroque sanctuary, one of the best-known churches in Warmia and Masuria. These are places that look beautiful in wedding photos.
Baroque and Gothic church interiors have a lot of gold, dark wood and light coming in through tall windows. In this light, makeup should be defined but not heavy: I gently sculpt the face, define the eyes and do not skip the blush, so that the complexion does not look flat. If the photographer uses flash, I choose products that do not create a pale cast in photos.
Węgorzewo on Lake Mamry
Węgorzewo lies on the Węgorapa river, at the northern end of Lake Mamry, and has attracted sailors for years. For a wedding photo session, photographers often choose the lake shore, the harbour and the waterfront.
Mamry is a large, open lake, so it is usually windy by the water. For an outdoor session like this, I go for waterproof mascara, well-set brows and makeup that survives wind and sun. In the evening, during the golden hour, a blotting paper and a lipstick are enough to look fresh.
Orzysz
Orzysz lies on the lake of the same name, halfway between Giżycko and Pisz. Weddings in the area are often held in wedding venues, farm stays and country estates by the water. The preparations are often in the family home, so I come to wherever you are getting ready, and all I need is a spot by a window, a chair and a small table for the cosmetics.
Pisz and the Pisz Forest
Pisz lies on Lake Roś and the Pisa river, on the edge of the Pisz Forest, and Ruciane-Nida is also nearby. It is a good place for couples who dream of a session in the forest or by a calm river.
In the forest the light is more diffused and cooler than by an open lake, and the greenery reflects onto the face. That is why I gently warm up the complexion and choose a warm-toned blush and lips that bring the face to life. The forest and the river also mean mosquitoes: apply repellent to your body, away from your face.
Ełk on Lake Ełckie
Ełk is the largest town in this part of Masuria. It has a promenade on Lake Ełckie, the ruins of a Teutonic castle on an island and a historic narrow-gauge railway. Weddings here take place in the churches in the centre, and receptions in hotels, restaurants and wedding venues.
The promenade and the jetties on the lake are popular spots for a session. The setting sun over the water gives a warm, soft light in which a natural glow looks best. In town venues, under artificial light, the same makeup looks softer, so the eyes and lips can be a little more defined.
How makeup with travel works
It all starts with a message. Tell me the date, the time you need to be ready, where you will be getting ready and the number of people who need makeup. I will check my availability and prepare a quote that includes the travel.
- I book a single makeup appointment once I confirm it by email or text message, with no deposit, and a bridal package date once we have agreed the terms and you have paid a deposit, which counts towards the price.
- For bridal makeup, the makeup trial is included in the price of the package; we set the date of the trial to suit you.
- On the day of the celebration I arrive with a full kit of professional cosmetics and lighting, with time to spare for the journey, and with the bridal package I stay with you all day.
- It is worth planning about an hour per person.
You will find the details on the bridal makeup and occasion makeup pages.
A sample plan for the day
Let us take a 3 pm wedding in Ełk with preparations at the family home, where I do makeup for the bride, her mother and the maid of honour. I leave Giżycko so as to arrive at around 11 am, with a margin for the journey and for setting up my station by the window.
First I do the makeup for the mother of the bride and the maid of honour, and the bride last, so that her makeup is the freshest. When I have finished, there is still time to put on the dress, take photos of the preparations and receive the parents’ blessing. If a hairdresser is working at the same time, we agree on the order so that we do not get in each other’s way.
Several people in one place
When the drive is longer, it is most convenient if I do makeup for several people in one place: the bride, her mother, the maid of honour and the bridesmaids, or several guests before a wedding. Let me know straight away, and I will prepare one quote for the whole group and plan the order so that everyone is ready on time.
If the preparations take place in two different places, for example the bride is getting ready at home in Kętrzyn and the groom’s mother in Węgorzewo, we will agree on a plan that includes the drive between them.
Frequently asked questions
Do you travel to Kętrzyn, Węgorzewo, Pisz, Orzysz and Ełk?
Yes. From Giżycko it takes me about half an hour to drive to Węgorzewo, Kętrzyn and Orzysz, and roughly an hour to Ełk and Pisz. I come to the home, hotel or venue where you are getting ready.
Is the travel cost included in the price?
The travel cost is included in your individual quote. Tell me where you will be getting ready and the number of people, and I will prepare one quote.
Will you come early in the morning?
Yes. For towns further away we set my arrival time with a margin for the journey, so that everyone is ready on time.
Do you also travel to smaller places?
Yes, among others to Wydminy, Miłki, Ruciane-Nida, Biała Piska and Olecko. Ask about your town or village.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
Not for a single makeup appointment. For the bridal package, I book the date once we have agreed the terms individually and you have paid a deposit, which counts towards the total price of the service.
See also my portfolio and the article Bridal makeup in Masuria.