Wedding Wisdom + Brides by Lisa + Makeup Artist

If you are a bride, you will want to look your best on your wedding day. One way to help you achieve that is to consider hiring a makeup artist. A makeup artist is not only trained to make you beautiful, but one who is experienced in preparing brides for their wedding knows exactly what to do to make sure you look your best in your pictures as well! An experienced wedding makeup artist knows exactly what to do to make sure that you glow in front of the camera!

For this week’s installment of Wedding Wisdom, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Lisa with Brides by Lisa. She is Wedding Wire’s 2009 and 2010 Bride’s Choice Award winner, and her portfolio speaks for itself! I love her clean, natural, and fresh style! I encourage you to visit her site, take a look at her work, and consider hiring a makeup artist for your wedding day to help you achieve the look you want! And be sure to contact Lisa to see about setting up a trial!

Brides By Lisa

How many years have you been in business?

10 years – 4 years full time freelance..

How did you get started in the wedding industry?

I started working part-time for Lancome at Nordstroms in San Francisco after a layoff from an office management position – I shadowed the regional and national makeup artists when they came to town. I wanted to do much more than just sales and offered to help whenever they came to my store. I had an art background and was well versed in color theory, and was pretty comfortable talking to the customers and sitting them down for a makeover. I built a good client following which in opened me up to store events and more freelance type makeup work.

What do you like most about working in the wedding industry?

I love beautifying brides and their entire party. Seeing everyone’s face glow when they see their makeup finished is really satisfying and why I think I got into makeup to begin with. I’m pretty intuitive and enjoy the creative challenge of working with all types of people, skin tones and ages – and you get that in spades at a wedding! It’s about finding out what the bride wants, or any client really, and making them happy.

What product or service do you offer that will help make a bride’s wedding special and unique?

I think my eye – I like makeup to look effortless on everyone – Nothing too heavy or contrived. Every makeup artist is unique, just as every face is unique. I take great pride in my artistry – I paint watercolor, draw and love to create art – so I consider making up the face an extension of that spirit.

How would you describe your style, product, or service?

My style for bridal makeup starts fresh, clean and modern – washes of sheer layers of color or neutrals – like a watercolor technique. I like classic with a modern twist – incorporating new products and techniques. I like to take my cues from listening to the bride and always sharing my recommendations to her. It’s all about what the bride wants and how to show her features best.

What advice would you give a bride when choosing a vendor in your field of expertise?

Look at their portfolio on their website. Look at the models and clients – can you see a lot of makeup, is it well blended? Do they have pictures only of themselves – that’s not what you want. Can they do a clean beauty look? Clean, commercial makeup (like an Olay or Dove ad) is about beauty, not seeing the makeup – it takes a good eye and a LOT of practice to achieve that level of expertise. Make certain you see a myriad of looks, not just one or that may be the only look you get. Also look for images shot in natural light vs indoors or studio. And of course – the Trial – that’s always a good time to find out how you get along and their ability with makeup and communication.

What about the wedding in general… What words of wisdom do you have to share with a bride who is planning her big day?

Enjoy the process! Enjoy the moments because they will not come back. It’s your big day so be happy! Breathe. Eat! I think that most brides stress way too much and don’t live in that very special moment they’ve been dreaming about for so long.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do when you aren’t working with a bride?

I never stop painting or doing something that makes me feel happy with art. I love travel and reading too. Gardening and cooking – everything creative.

QUICK! List three random facts about yourself!

Wicked sense of humor – Muscle Car lover – I like to speed – I used to surf waaaaaaaay back in the dayYou would never know that last part. LOL!

How can a bride find you to get more information about your company, your product, or your service?

Check me out at www.bridesbylisa.com for my bridal portfolio and www.lisajohnsonmua.com for my fashion/commercial portfolio.