Top Beauty Tips on Twin Cities Live For Professional Headshots

Makeup For Professional Photos on Twin Cities Live

Jessica Mae, Makeup Artist and Founder of WarPaint International, is a renowned expert in the beauty industry. With her extensive experience and expertise, she has shared her top tips on how to look and feel your best for professional headshots and company branding shoots. Recently, Jessica had the opportunity to share a few of her top product tips on Twin Cities Live, a popular show on KSTP 5.

During her appearance, she provided valuable insights and advice on makeup techniques and styling that can make a significant difference in your photos. To benefit from her expertise, be sure to check out the segment on Twin Cities Live and discover the secrets to achieving a flawless and captivating look for your professional endeavors.

Skin and Lip Hydration

When it comes to looking and feeling your best, hydrated skin and lips are essential. This is especially important on days when you have a photo shoot scheduled. One product that I absolutely love for skin hydration is the Water Balm from Sonia Roselli. It serves as the perfect skin prep for makeup application or can be used alone to enhance your skin's natural glow. The Water Balm is a highly recommended Japanese facial moisturizer that will leave your skin feeling nourished and refreshed.

Water Balm: Sonia Roselli - Best Japanese Facial Moisturizer Water Balm

In addition to hydrating your skin, it's equally important not to neglect your lips. For everyday lip hydration, I am a huge fan of Kind Lips, a local Minnesota company. Their lip balms are not only incredibly moisturizing but also made with natural ingredients. By incorporating Kind Lips into your daily routine, you can ensure that your lips stay soft, smooth, and ready for any photo opportunity.

Kind Lips: Kind Lips - All Lip Balms

Color Correct and Conceal Your Under Eyes

When it comes to makeup for professional photos, one important technique that is often overlooked is color correction. Even with the use of concealer, dark circles can still peek through and create a muddy appearance in photos. To address this issue, it is recommended to use a peach or orange color corrector specifically designed for dark circles. One color corrector that I personally like is the Huda Beauty FauxFilter Under Eye Color Corrector. This product effectively neutralizes dark circles, providing a smooth and even base for your concealer.

Huda Beauty Color Corrector: Huda Beauty FauxFilter Under Eye Color Corrector

Speaking of concealer, a go-to option for achieving a flawless under-eye look is the MAC Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer. This long-lasting concealer offers excellent coverage and a smooth finish that will help you achieve a seamless and natural-looking complexion in your photos. By incorporating color correction and a reliable concealer into your makeup routine, you can ensure that your under-eye area looks flawless and camera-ready.

MAC Concealer: MAC Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer

Mattifying Loose Powder in the T-zone

When it comes to being in front of the camera, achieving the perfect balance between avoiding shine and maintaining a natural glow is crucial. The last thing we want is for our skin to appear overly shiny or flat in photos. To combat any unwanted shine, a simple and effective solution is to sweep a loose powder over your t-zone area just before stepping in front of the camera. This technique helps to control excess oil and keep your skin looking fresh and matte without compromising your natural radiance.

One loose powder that I am currently loving is the Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking Setting Powder. This powder is specifically designed to set your makeup and provide a flawless finish. It helps to blur imperfections, minimize shine, and prolong the wear of your makeup, making it an ideal choice for photo sessions. By incorporating this loose powder into your makeup routine, you can ensure that your skin looks picture-perfect and camera-ready.

Huda Beauty Loose Powder: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking Setting Powder

Tame Flyaways

When it comes to professional photoshoots, saving time in post-production is a valuable consideration. One trick that can greatly assist your photographer is taming flyaways without compromising your hairstyle or volume. To achieve this, you can use a clean mascara spoolie sprayed with a soft hold hairspray. By combing the spoolie through your flyaways, you can secure them in place and ensure a polished look. This simple technique not only saves your photographer precious time in post-production but also helps you maintain a flawless appearance throughout the shoot.

For this purpose, I recommend using the Pureology Soft Finish Flexible Hold Hair Spray. This hairspray provides a soft hold that keeps your hair in place without making it stiff or crunchy. It offers flexibility and control, allowing you to tame flyaways while maintaining the natural movement and volume of your hair. By incorporating this hairspray into your routine, you can confidently keep your hair looking sleek and polished during your photoshoot.

Pureology Soft Finish Flexible Hold Hair Spray: Pureology Soft Finish Flexible Hold Hair Spray

Book WPI Beauty for Onsite Services and Save!

If you're looking for convenient and professional makeup and hair styling services for your headshots and branding shoots, look no further than WPI Beauty. Our talented team specializes in on-location services, meaning they will come to you, saving you time and hassle. With the expertise and attention to detail of WarPaint International Artisans, you can trust that you'll look and feel your best in front of the camera.

Booking is easy and can be done online at warpaintinternational.com. And here's an exclusive offer for Twin Cities Live viewers:

Use the code TCLWPI15 when booking and enjoy a 15% discount on your services.

*This offer is valid through 5/31/24, so don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your professional image with the help of WPI Beauty. Book now and let our team help you “Prepare For Battle” to ensure you shine in your headshots and branding shoots.

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10 Tips for Matching Bridal Makeup with Wedding Themes and Decor

Featured image by Ali Leigh Photo Co.

How To Match Bridal Makeup with Wedding Themes

Your wedding speaks volumes about who you are as a person, your journey as a couple, and, of course, your tastes, so you want it to be as unique to you as possible.

The bride is usually the center of attention, with everyone’s focus on her gown, hair, and makeup, and to leave a stunning impression on your wedding day, you must look your best.

While designers and hairstylists will cover the rest for you, we’re here to help you out with the bridal makeup, which can be tricky if you don’t know what you want.

In this article, we have included tips to help you choose a wedding makeup look and ensure it matches the theme and decor perfectly!

Incorporate Your Personal Style

One of the most crucial factors about your wedding makeup look is that you have to feel happy wearing it, so don’t forget to include your personal style in your bridal makeup instead of just going with what the makeup artist suggests.

Understand the type of daily makeup you like - moderate, minimalist, or full-out glam. For example, if you’re someone who just puts on lipstick, eyeliner, or mascara, you’ll feel pretty uncomfortable if your makeup is overdone, and you don’t want that for your special day. Natural beauty is a trend in professional makeup artistry for weddings.

Visualize Your Makeup Look

Have a discussion with your makeup artist about what you specifically want or don’t want in your look. You must communicate your vision well. Find out details about the cosmetics and foundation they use in the event you have sensitivities or allergies. Communication is a key part of having your service professionally done so as not to run into sudden breakouts from cheap products or beauty products you may have specific issues with.

Plus, discussing this in advance means you can also ask for tips to prep your skin before your big day. Makeup artists have a lot of tricks, and these can certainly help you get the bridal glow for your big day. When hiring a beauty agency for your professional hair and makeup needs, all of these questions and concerns should be covered up front in your bridal consultation, and then again in your trial run.

In addition to your makeup, selecting timeless wedding bands is another crucial aspect of your big day. Just as with your makeup, it's important to communicate your preferences clearly to your jeweler. Discuss the style, material, and any special designs you have in mind. Ensuring that your wedding bands match your personal style and complement your overall look will help make your wedding day even more special. Taking the time to choose the perfect bands means you'll have a beautiful symbol of your love that you can cherish forever.

Include Wedding Elements

If your wedding is themed around a specific location or vibe, then let it reflect in your makeup as well. For example, if you are planning a destination wedding somewhere, maybe include a flower or leaf in your hairstyle for a natural, vibrant touch to your overall look.

 If you choose coast-inspired venues like these in Southern California, eye makeup with sandy tones and pink blush will give you an ethereal, sun-kissed bridal makeup look that will have all eyes on you as a beautiful bride!

Bride Leanna
Beauty by WPI Minneapolis
Photography by Emily Paulson

Key Wedding Colors

If your wedding has a statement color scheme going on, don’t forget to include that in your makeup look. Whether it’s bright, bold colors or simple all-white decor, you can wear complementary eye or lip makeup to match it with your wedding colors cohesively. Suppose your wedding colors don’t match your skin tone; you can use muted shades of the same colors to tie your whole beauty look together.

Consider The Wedding Attire

As strange as it may sound, your wedding dress, especially the fabric, plays a key part in wedding makeup inspiration. For example, if your wedding dress is soft and flowy with fabrics like chiffon, a “no makeup” makeup look would pair well with it, but light makeup on a fuller, satin gown would look rather bleak. Bridal makeup, even in its simplest form, is an art that requires a professional to capture your vision and natural beauty.

Match It To The Season

The season is important, not just to inspire your bridal makeup colors but also to check what products you should use. For instance, long-lasting, waterproof products are a must for hot summers because there will be a lot of sweating, but this isn’t necessary during the cooler months. As a general rule of thumb, know that cool tones look great in Summer and Winter, while warmer tones match the Autumn and Spring colors.

Venue Theme And Decor

While some couples choose a single theme across their wedding venue, some include bits of everything that showcase their love story; use this in your makeup as well! For example, if your venue shares similar features to Watermill Grove in Tulare County, a natural glam look will perfectly complement the rural, nature-inspired setting with gardens and ponds. Whereas having your wedding reception in a palace-like setting means you can go the extra mile with high-glam makeup like bold red lips or smokey eyes. As the bride, you'll likely want your bridesmaid's makeup to match the theme as well.

Pick A Focal Feature

You must choose which part of your face you want to stand out. Whether you want your eye color to pop or draw attention to your luscious lips, choose one area of your face to play with. This way, you prevent your entire face from looking overdone.

You don’t want too many features fighting for attention because it may only look like a mess or just too much. If you’re going for a bold eye look, then keep the lips minimal, and vice versa. Your bridal makeup look should reflect your personality and style while accentuating your favorite features.

Bride Meredith in Chicago
Photographer: TWA Photographic Artists
Beauty by WPI Chicago

Do A Trial Run

We can't stress this enough.

Be sure to check out the complete look before the day itself. Once you’ve narrowed the ideas for your makeup, request your bridal makeup artist for a trial to know what it looks like so you can make the necessary adjustments.

Don’t forget to wear something similar to your gown, or the gown itself, to get a taste of what you’ll look like. Ask a friend to take pictures indoors as well as outdoors; this way, you know if the makeup looks dull in different lighting. Your skincare routine will also lend to the outcome of your desired look. The best way to embody your vision of being a beautiful bride is to implement your skincare routine months before the big day.

When booking a Beauty Agency like WarPaint International, the trial run is a mandatory part of our bridal contracting process. This helps you avoid disappointment and know what to expect on the day of your wedding. Professional artists will also know what worked for you and how to make subtle changes on your big day to perfect your look effortlessly. Trials ensure confidence and everyone wins.

Listen To Your Gut

In the end, it’s all about how you feel and what you want. After doing your trial, don’t forget to address what you didn’t like or felt uncomfortable with so your makeup artist knows what to avoid on your big day. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or request changes because you get to decide how you look at your wedding, and it should be absolutely breathtaking.

You are, after all, the bride.

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Top 5 Wedding Day Skin Care Tips for Brides.

Your wedding day is here but your skin is FREAKING OUT!

One of the biggest concerns that a Bride-to-be has on her wedding day is what her skin is going to look like. Brides and wedding parties will often spend quite a bit of time and money investing into Wedding Day Beauty services such has hair and makeup, but will then be disappointed by the appearance of their skin. There is a way to help...

Wedding day advice from our preferred Skin Care Specialist. Call today to talk to Jill.

Jill Schierholz | Owner of Skin Savvy

Aesthetician & skin care specialist.

Stress, weather, and other external forces will often dictate what our skin looks like but there are many things can be done leading up to your big day in terms of a skincare ritual that can help alleviate this from happening. I'll address the most common questions about wedding day skin care tips below. 

1. How long before a bride's wedding should she start a skin care regimen to improve tone and texture of her skin?

A consistent treatment and product regimen should be between 2-4 months prior to the wedding. For more mature skin, where there can be more concerns with uneven color, laxity, lines and wrinkles; 4 months is crucial. Acne problems can be stubborn and controlling, so it can take more time to get it under control- start earlier for better results. For someone with little concern, but looking to get a fabulous glow and texture improvement to the skin; 2 months can be enough. All the while for all people, using an AM and PM skincare routine to maximize and maintain is important to ensure the BEST results for the big day!

2. What is the difference between a facial and a peel? What type of results can you expect to see from each?

A facial is deep cleansing, mildly exfoliating, and hydrating. A chemical peel is regenerating, smoothing, pore minimizing, tone evening and can be antibacterial depending on which used. The two compliment each other so much, the best results can really be seen when done together.

3. For brides that are looking to reduce the appearance of acne scars, what treatment would you recommend?

It can really depend on the skin color and skin type for this one. More olive skin types can get brown discoloration on spots of acne, which would then be treated best with IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and/or a medium-depth chemical peel. For lighter skin types with red/pink scars, Derma-pen treatments would be the best. For "ice pick" or any scar that causes an indentation in the skin, Derma-pen would also be ideal.

4. For us "oily-skinned" gals, what products and treatments do you recommend to help reduce oiliness?

Being an "oily gal" myself, I've always tried to find the best combination to conquer the shine! For treatments - definitely peels. These help to shed the built up layers of dead skin and thickness that can lead to excess oil. The best are medium depth peels. (The Vitalize Peel or The Perfect Peel)

The best products to help exfoliate to maintain the results of the peels and flush out and shrink pores are professional strength Retinol, Alpha Hydroxy acids and the amazing Clarisonic Cleansing Brush with deep pore or acne brush head.

5. For the night before wedding prep; what can a bride do to ensure a radiant flawless glow?

The night before, exercise if possible to stimulate circulation, a hot bath with a mask suited for their specific skin type, drinking TONS of water to flush toxins and hydrate the skin from the inside out and of course plenty of sleep. Using a satin or silk pillowcase will prevent "sleep lines". All this along with topically applying a professional Retinol cream or Alpha Hydroxy cream along with an individually suited luxurious eye and lip cream will have the skin canvas perfect for a WarPaint International Makeup Artist to work their magic for impeccable skin!

Below are some examples of skin care procedure before and afters. Click them to expand and have a closer look at the results.

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I offer the "Perfect Derma Peel", which is a bride and mother-of-the-bride favorite. 

What ingredients are in Perfect Derma Peel?

Glutathione - an anti-aging ingredient and skin lightener.

Kojic Acid - skin lightener. (The combination of both these ingredients are unique to this peel)

Trichloroacetic Acid

Salicylic Acid

Phenol

Retin-A

Vitamin C

- The percentages are not noted as this is a proprietary blend, however this is proven to help with Melasma, Rosacea, Hyper-pigmentation, acne and some other skin problems.

Is it safe for all Fitzpatrick's (Skin type scale - 1-6, 1 = super pale white to 6 = dark black)?

Yes, the "Perfect Derma Peel" is safe for all skin types.

How long do you leave it on?

Six hours. Overnight if there is no discomfort for you. 

How long does the Perfect Derma Peel last?

Results with maintenance can last a long time. It can be done 3 - 4 times per year (4 - 6 weeks apart) and with the Perfect A it will elongate the effects. How long this procedure lasts depends on how well you care for your skin (i.e. staying out of the sun, tanning, etc).

What does a kit cost and what does it include?

Its $300 for a kit. It includes six customer take home kits with six peels in a kit and A moisturizer and Retin-A pads.

You can see them in action on WCCO | CBS Local

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Should I Hire a Makeup Artist or Hair Stylist for my Wedding?

Are you having your hair and makeup done?

So you're getting married. Details and planning galore for the day you've been waiting for and somebody asks you... are you having your hair and makeup done?

Bridal Hair & Makeup. WarPaint International. 

Wedding Day Makeup. Jessica Mae of WarPaint International.

This question comes up every day. Do you ask the advice of your friends? Do your friends do it for you? Do you hit the internet? Do you need these services? The answer largely depends on you and you alone, but I do have a story to tell. This story is for both brides-to-be and beauty service providers. There are many pitfalls to arranging the day of your wedding. My story and advice on how to master the beauty aspect of it is in these following paragraphs.

I am a makeup artist. I also operate a beauty agency called WarPaint International, so my team is full of professional hair and makeup artisans. We help our clients "Prepare For Battle", in that life is a stage and everyday is a showcase to the world. We focus on special evenings (nights on the town), life events (such as weddings), print / editorial and corporate jobs. These are all special occasions that require 100% attention and talent from myself and my team. But in all my years of working in the beauty industry I have been taught the best (and hardest) lessons from my bridal clients.

I have been a bride and I know what my own expectations of that day were. But it wasn't my expectations alone that weighed heavy on the decision process; it's the mother of the bride, the best friend, the mother-in-law's best friend, the groom. Everyone will have their opinions and directives on how your day is supposed to go. So let's answer a few questions from the point of view of an artist, a bride, and a perfectionist.

1. Do I need to have my hair and makeup professionally done? I mentioned above that it's entirely up to you, but you have expectations of your day. Chances are you've hired a photographer to capture these moments and quite honestly they have expectations of you. I work with many photographers and though many of their styles are different, they all hope and ask for one simple thing. Makeup. 

The beauty of being a bride is the ability to focus on the essence of your natural beauty. Often times, we work with brides that are seeking a flawless, natural look to simply enhance their own features. Even the slightest bit of high quality foundation, applied by a professional that is analyzing your jaw line and looking for your natural curves, can create a photographer's heaven. The time they {the photographers} will spend cleaning your photos up will be significantly reduced, possibly saving you money and certainly short cuts on your photos. Time is money in all service industries and every photographer will only deliver the photos to you that they feel exemplify their skills. High definition pores, redness and shiny spots are their least favorite thing in the world.  If you're talking to a makeup artist that is selling you on the fact that you need a lot of makeup to be in front of a camera on your wedding, you should keep looking. If you're seeking advice from a family member or friend telling you that you're beautiful the way you are... keep looking. Not that you aren't beautiful just as you are, but I think you get my point. Minimally hire a pro to help enhance your natural features, you'll still look like you we promise. A little mascara and foundation {applied correctly} makes all the difference ladies!

That "ah ha" moment when a bride first looks in the mirror... It's what drives me to keep going.

2. Where do I find quality makeup and hair artists? This is a tough one. As I've grown in this industry, I've come to realize there are so many "artists" out there that are simply selling something that they are not. I started at ground zero too, but my credentials and skill sets (along with my team) have built along the way. Many times we have brides that come to us after having hired other company's or independent artists whom have willingly lost their down payments (if not more) to walk away because they came out of the trial completely orange, unfinished, or looking like they were going to the club. When your livelihood depends on listening skills and mastering your craft, you simply can't deliver poor service. Do your research, ask your friends, read online reviews, ask other vendors you've hired (tip: your photographer and wedding planner should have a few great recs for you!).

Your makeup & hair artists should make you feel cared for, confident and beautiful. They should offer suggestions of what will look great on you, but also respect your input and redirect the vision if you're not feeling it. A true professional will ask you lots of questions to find out what your personal style is so they can mesh it together with their artistic vision. 

So where do you find great talent? I think it requires diligence on your part. WarPaint International advertises on the Theknot.com, amongst other avenues. There is a lot of great talent there, but there are also some that lack the necessary qualifications. Here are my recommendations for selecting a great Artisan to knock your day out of the park. 

A. Communication. It starts with you. Provide your phone number when filling out an inquiry; don't passive aggressively price shop through email. It hurts you and it hurts the service provider. There is no harm in having a good conversation to feel out the other person, listen to their mannerisms, and ask detailed questions. Get on the phone or meet in person.

B. Product. Do they use quality products that stand up to heat, time, different skin types, etc, etc. Ask your artists what products they use! Professionals use a variety of products so if you're not familiar with a line that someone is using, give yourself time to check into it. Are they cutting corners? Also knowing what products you will need to have on hand for touch ups later in your day is good information to have too. Ask your artist.

C. Trials. You must have one. I do not waiver on this topic. The trial is the perfect time to test out your vision for your wedding day hair and makeup, not only to see how it will look on you and if your artist can execute it to your liking, but also to see how your look stands the test of time. Knowing if your beachy waves and nude lip will last 12+ hours is a necessity. Some people's hair just doesn't hold a curl well, so perhaps trying a different hair product or opting for a half up half down style will better suit your needs. These are all things {and more} that you will go over and try out. Never skip a trial, specifically if you're a makeup artist. Skin allergies, acne, sensitivities and other unknowns can destroy a wedding day and cause a lot of un-necessary friction. Don't do it. For out of town brides; find some time even if it's only 30mins for a "mini" trial. You will be thankful in the end, because who wants to try to pick out what eye shadow shades they want on the morning of your wedding? You will most likely have no clue what you want and it will cause undue stress on you. Have a trial done so you know exactly what to expect from your hair & makeup on the day of the wedding.

D. Presentation. In my opinion branding is everything. Does your artist show up on time? Do they have a makeup trunk or organizer? Are they organized & clean inside? Are their tools clean? Do they conduct themselves professionally, balancing chit chat with completing their mission? Do your personalities mesh well? Do you have fun with your artist?  Getting ready for your wedding should be and is the pre-party and these are the details that can make or break your day.

E. Skin & Hair recommendations. Talk to your artist. A good beauty professional understands skin and hair and the products that help it. When WarPaint is hired by a bride we ask specific questions about her skin, hair and other details of her day. This ensures that myself and my team are prepared with necessary products prior to the trial taking place. We also have tons of pre-wedding day and day of skin care tips. It helps our brides get through stress related breakouts and makes our job that much easier by arriving to a clean palette. Also, finding out how close to the big day you should have your color & cut done or if any other hair treatments are needed to get your hair in shape are essential steps for a successful style. Ask your beauty professional what preparation they want you to do before your day arrives.

F. Contracts. If you're a bride or a service provider, a contract will save you in the end. Think of this as a legal relationship. Everything that you agree upon should be in writing; the cost of the service, how many people are having services done, is there travel? If so, how far and what does that cost? Are there extra add-ons? Are there special needs? When discussing these items and and signing off on them, you are freeing yourself from ambiguity, poor customer service, and disappointment or unrealistic expectations. Furthermore contracts protect you as the client. Over the years we have had brides call us in tears because the artist they hired months ago bailed on them and even worse - they DIDN'T SHOW UP on the day of the wedding! Contracts, they are an absolute must and a professional will require it. 

G. Deposits. A true professional should require one to secure your date during a busy wedding season. Brides should be happy to pay a deposit to their beauty professional. There is a lot of room for error on both ends and tying the date to a financial amount up front makes things more seamless for both parties. I worked with a couple of brides this year that "hired" a makeup artist and just days before their wedding they cancelled on the bride to travel or engage in some personal endeavor. These are not professionals working in the industry; rather a side gig artist that does not take your special day for the urgency that you require them to. 

F. Price. This is one area where price often equals quality. As many artists grow in their career, they develop skills and experiences that can only be gained through hard work and time. A bride or any other client should expect to pay for this. If you are seeking a rockstar to deliver incredible results that were exactly what you had hoped for, you will most likely pay rockstar prices. Price points in the $150 - $350+ range for a bridal makeup package (including the trial) are not uncommon, hair packages (including the trial) can range from $190-$400+ and can be dependent upon the city/location. Remember you're not just paying your beauty pro(s) for the 45-60 minutes of service time for your trial and day of wedding service. You are paying for their expertise, time, their undivided attention for your wedding day, the days leading up to it and everything in-between. On average WarPaint International will spend 12-18+ hours on one wedding from the time the bride first inquires to when we send her a thank you note. There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that most brides don't realize. So before you go thinking that you're going to pay $50 for your wedding makeup and have service like a queen, think again. 

G. Day of appointment schedule. This is another key element for a successful wedding day beauty experience. We provide all of our brides with a day of appointment schedule. This ensures you, the bride, that you and your wedding party will finish on time. It also keeps the beauty team focused and on point. A good rule of thumb is to allow an additional 30 minutes on the back end in case someone needs a touch up, runs late or for any other reason- a wedding day is a day to expect the unexpected so be prepared. And to be quite frank; brides if the beauty pro that you are looking into doesn't offer to do this for you as part of their package...keep looking.

H. Reviews. Does the artist/company you're looking into have any online reviews or testimonials? How many do they have? Do the reviews give you a clear idea of what to expect with this artist? This can help you narrow down your search.

I. Website. Important! Does the artist/company have a professional presence online? This is another piece that can give you a clear picture of what to expect if you hire this artist/company. A website, in my opinion, is a first impression. It should be treated as though you're on a first date. Obviously we can't always judge a book by it's cover, but part of being a professional is setting a professional image.

J. Portfolio. This is an important tool to see the artist's experience and style. However, I don't believe this should be the end all be all. Professional artists are able to create any desired look a client requests {within reason of course}. It's important to remember that the images you see are looks that were requested by the client. **Disclaimer: Pinterest & Instagram...while these are great places to source inspiration please keep in mind that these images have been "doctored" up. Keeping a realistic vision of your look is really important. We all want to look like Kim K, but if you've got blonde hair and blue eyes the chances you'll be her twin are slim to none. ;-)

3. How far in advance should I hire my beauty team? Don't wait until the last minute! We recommend booking your beauty team 8-12 months in advance. Not only will this give you piece of mind and the ability to check this off your list - but many high end, professional teams/companies book out that far in advance. If you want the best, you need to plan for it girl!

Above all else, remember - this is your wedding day! Your beauty choices are critical, not only so you look great for one day, but so that you can look back on the memories of getting ready that morning and feel happy about who you spent the morning with. Furthermore your makeup & hair will live on forever in your images. Pamper yourself. Do it right. Set aside the money to relax and "Prepare For Battle". 

Here are some guidelines for professionals in the beauty industry to help maintain your brand, integrity & reputation.

1. Always require a trial for bridal hair & makeup. Even for out of state brides. The trial (also known as consultation or preview) is meant to not only "test" out the brides look, but to get to know her and work out any kinks. In the event your bride is out of town insist that you get some face time with her even if it's only 30 mins the night before the wedding.  If you don't do a trial you are only setting yourself up for a mess the day of. That's not good for you or the client. 

2. Having a client contract signed along with a deposit should be required to book/secure a wedding date. Just do it. Trust me. For many reasons this is important, one is that your client will take you more seriously. Two, it protects you as the artist. Your time is valuable, weddings are a lot of work and the last thing you want is your bride canceling on you at the last minute because her cousin is now going to do her hair and makeup for free. A contract and a deposit makes the client less apt to cancel at the last minute. 

3. Ask your clients several questions. For example "What is your skin health like?', "Do you have any tattoos that need to be covered?", "What is your daily makeup routine like?". That way you will come prepared to the trial and also the wedding. If you need to purchase additional tools to cover a tattoo you will have ample time to do so and also try it out. 

4. Be prompt in responding to your client. Remember- this is one of the most important days of her life. If she emails you asking a question it's because she needs an answer. I discourage text message communication unless it's the morning of the wedding and you are shooting the bride (or member of the wedding party) a message to find out what room number they are in etc.

5. Communication. The second time I've listed this because it's so important. Be clear in your expectations of your client(s). Provide them with all and any information they need to know about pricing and billing. No one likes sudden changes in what is expected, so be clear with her/him.

Northeast Minneapolis Urban Princess Styled Shoot

Luxury Bridal Hair & Makeup Artistry.

Urban Princess, a Northeast Minneapolis Styled Shoot, took place in the fall of 2014 on the back drop of Stone Arch Bridge and The Astor Café.

WarPaint International had the privilege of working with Forever Bride to deliver hair and makeup looks for this fun and artsy project. Master Artisans Jessica Mae & Benjamin spent a day in September with a Glam Squad of models to make this styled shoot a ton of fun. You can read more on the Dainty Obsessions Blog.

Forever Bride is an intimate wedding planning network. They showcase the best wedding vendors in the Twin Cities, an array of ideas with their real wedding stories and styled shoots, and a place where brides can feel connected to their vendors and not get lost in the corporate shuffle of a big name planning site. But I think the thing I love the most about them is their VIB (very important bride) membership. The membership is FREE to join and gets you exclusive access to the network of local vendors they have, plus most of the vendors offer a VIB exclusive discount. Who doesn't love that?! So if you or someone you know is a bride to be, head over to foreverbride.com and sign up today! Below are our favorite images from the Urban Princess Styled Shoot. Thank you Forever Bride for including us in this awesome day!

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Vendor List:

• Stylist: Forever Bride | http://www.foreverbride.com/

• Photographer: Jody Savage Photography | http://www.jodysavagephotography.com/

• Event Planner: White Room Event |  http://whiteroomevent.com/

• Venue: The Aster Cafe & The River Room | http://www.astercafe.com/

• Decor & Rentals: I Do Two-Bridal & Consignment | http://www.idotwobridalconsignment.com/

• Florals: M Studio Flower Affair | http://www.mstudiofloweraffair.com/

• Cake & Desserts: Sugar Love Bakery | http://www.mysugarlovebakery.com/

• Jewelry: Sheer Addiction Jewelry | http://sheeraddictionjewelry.com/

• Invites & Paper: JB Originals | http://jboriginals.net/

• Gowns: Inspire Bridal Boutique | http://www.inspirebridalboutique.com/

• Grooms Attire: Heimie’s Haberdashery | http://www.heimies.com/

• Hair & Makeup: WarPaint International | http://www.warpaintinternational.com/#about

• Headbands & Belts: JolieUSA | http://jolieusa.com/

• Videography: Flow Event Group | http://www.floweventgroup.com/

• Transportation: Silver Rolls Royce | http://www.silverrollsroyce.com/