One thing I hear A LOT, are people asking when the word wedding is added, then the price goes up. Why does it cost more because it’s a wedding? Now, I can’t answer this question for other Services, but I do know there will be a valid reason. I can however, answer this as a Wedding Makeup Artist with 9 years working in the wedding industry.
One of the biggest differences between Wedding Makeup and Ocassional/night out makeup, is the venue. Usually, when you are getting makeup done for a night out, you will travel to the Makeup/Hair artist as their home or salon. For a wedding, the artist is more than likely coming to your wedding venue, location of choice on the morning of the wedding. And for many artists in Scotland, this can mean a long drive, so more often than not a very early wake up call. On that note, when it comes to night out makeup, it’s usually not an early start, or is later in the day so again, doesn’t require an early start like a wedding does.
As well as the super early start, the number of services needed on the day comes into play. Bridal parties can be big and often require a second artist or assistant, something the main Artist has to take into account. Finding assistants and second artists for Weddings isn’t as easy as you would think, and a second artist will often have to travel from somewhere else so travel would be required for them too.
Timing comes into it too, wedding hair and makeup often takes longer, so Artists have to take that into account. If they are doing a night out hair or makeup from their salon, they could fit in more people as they are already set up and don’t have to move kits etc, and don’t have travelling on top.
Wedding Makeup needs to be applied to not only last all day, but it has to show up on professional cameras, and will be photographed all day. Night out makeup can look great on phone cameras and isn’t going to be photographed by a camera so the application and products used can vary. The same applies to wedding hair, it needs to last the whole day, veils or flowers often need to be added to the Brides hair.
Lets talk products. If you have seen any professional Wedding Hair or Makeup Artists kit, you will see they are full of the best products on the market. Often high end brands and products are used, dupes don’t always cut it when it comes to long lasting makeup and hair so they will often be the real deal.
Experience is a large factor too when it comes to pricing. Many Wedding Makeup Artists and Hair stylists do this as a full time job, it’s not a hobby or something they are doing just for fun, but it is their main income. They have likely spent a lot of money to invest in their kit and training and development. How they behave professionaly too is a big factor. I have worked with many Hair and Makeup Artists over the years and can say there is a big difference in how a professional full time artist behaves compared to someone who is doing the job as a hobby. I have seen Brides let down by their hair or makeup artists because they didn’t have a contract in place, or hadn’t paid a deposit, by someone who is just playing at being a wedding hair or makeup artist.
Then there’s all the additional kit required for weddings, professional lighting, hard wearing bags and cases, makeup chairs, cameras and phones to take our own photos and much more. Investing in Social Media and branding in order to stand out in the saturated market where any Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist is claiming to be a wedding Hair or Makeup artist.
Training and Development, any good Artist will regularly update and refresh their skills by attending training courses and classes, sometimes having to travel for courses. You are unlikely to find a training course for less than £100, often costing £400 upwards for a good course.
Other things that often get overlooked, car Insurance, wear and tear, business insurance, business banking, fees invoicing systems, accountants, equipment for admin (laptop etc). Many artists also have monthly subscriptions for things like ongoing training, systems like Studio Ninja, Freedom Creative, Website platfroms, Accounting apps etc.
Advertising is a big one too, in this day and age being visible is more important (and harder) than ever! In order to stand out from the saturated market, artists will have to have a good social media and marketing strategy, often having to pay for this. Facebook and Instagram ads, Google Ads and more. Logos and branding are things most professional artists have to take into account these days, and a home made logo from canva often won’t cut it.
The list is endless, but these are all things to consider when charging for wedding services.
Images by Chris Guthrie Scott Photography
