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Bride requests make me cringe. What to do?
Hello, what do you do when a bride (or any client) requests her makeup done a certain way that is totally wrong for her or just plain awful? Like thin lines drawn in half circles with a brow pencil 5 shades too light for brows? Or black liner on the lower waterline, but no liner at all on top? Or false lashes that are too long and actually meet the brows? If these women want the makeup done the way they always do it, then why hire a MUA? These clients are few and far between, but I had this type of bride recently, and I'm not excited to do her wedding makeup because what she's asking me to do is just plain BAD. I don't want her to tell anyone I did her makeup because they'll think this is what I chose for her. Do I just smile and do whatever she wants? I already explained why what she wants is not a good idea for everyday life and certainly not for photography/wedding day. Just wondering what other MUAs do when faced with requests for what we as pros know to be awful makeup. Thanks! Jul 07 14 10:34 pm Link You turn down the client. If it's going to make your skill level look horrible, the best thing to do is walk away if you are unable to change the clients mind. You're reputation isn't worth a few bucks. Jul 07 14 11:33 pm Link Say no and watch some episodes of Bridezillas (you will feel better about walking away) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmGCD1u … 50&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hdVygpTNIE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAFiNndw8MA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ8PL9f3g6s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv6_UPPvys8 Jul 08 14 06:00 am Link I'm not a make-up artist but as a stylist, especially when doing personal shopping type work I've gotten similar requests and while I understand the initial reaction to cringe, I also think that as a professional that you have a couple of options here. First, you could as others have suggested walk away. In fact this may be a necessity if the client is particularly problematic and unreasonable. Second, you can strike a compromise. When you're doing photo shoots or runway shows you're generally working with people who understand that your role is far greater than just applying make-up, you're executing a vision, and it's often one you've carefully considered, this isn't the case when working outside of the niche though so sometimes you have to go beyond explanations. You say that you "explained to the bride why what she wants isn't a good idea for everyday life and certainly not for photography/wedding day." Really read that last sentence. Even when phrased in the nicest way it can sound like an attack. I never tell clients that how they currently dress is wrong or that the idea they have are bad, instead I show them something better. Rather than dismissing the client's idea, why not show her a side by side comparison of the make-up she wants along with a look that you think would be more suitable? To further illustrate your point, take a quick image of each and tell them to take a day or two to really look them over and decide. Not every client is going to be receptive to this but at least then you know you've offered a real alternative option. Third, you can actually do what the client wants and take the money. This may sound like blasphemy but at the end of the day you're being hired to do a job to the satisfaction of the client, and if she's happy with a certain look then you've done your job well. No one says that you have to use the images in your book or on your site if they're not up to par. Jul 08 14 07:05 am Link MICHEAL BOTS is correct. You can say no thank you to job requests. Jul 08 14 07:09 am Link Why not... ... Articulate your objections once. ... Offer your recommendations once. ... And thereafter, give the client what she wants? There is no universal standard for taste. It's her day, not yours. If you can't make her happy, you shouldn't take the job. Jul 08 14 07:31 am Link Looknsee Photography wrote: If she doesn't complain do it multiple times in different ways. Best way is with a compliment. "Oh, with your lovely xyz, how about if we try abc, that has worked tremendously well with other brides and their photographers." Jul 08 14 10:42 am Link Tamara Bickley Makeup wrote: Give the client what they want as long as it is not illegal. or stay out of the Kitchen. Until you are Picasso, you paint whatever the client wants. Jul 08 14 11:17 am Link Definitely do the TRIAL!!! You can start by doing it their way, then educate her and offer alternatives... it helps to provide PICTURES Also, see if the bride will give you examples of what LOOK she’s going for as pros we defiantly considered ourselves procurers of GOOD taste,,, however sometimes even I’m surprised when a client has some 'idea' that I’m rolling my eyes at... but in the end totally works and goes with THEIR look... Working in fashion, I learned that sometimes we’re DESIGNERS and sometimes (begrudgingly) we’re DRESSMAKERS.. In the case that I’m a dressmaker I still to the dam best I can,,, My goal personally is to please the client, always! I have the work that I cringe at ,,, but those jobs kept my title… ya know ,,, so don’t hate it… Just don’t do it if your gnna hate it,,, I had to see the value in in busting my ass getting a “stupid screen printed t-shirt” to market…. But you will only see Rhianna in the jean jacket I designed in my portfolio… Don’t hate them for having bad taste- they know not what they do!! Good luck! Jul 08 14 12:05 pm Link Been there. I have asked myself the same question. Why hire me to apply your makeup the exact way you always do it? Well, for them it's the idea of having someone pamper them for the day. And believe it or not there have been times I have learned something new! When I'm asked to do a hairstyle that I believe will not work on any level I will explain my reasoning and then give them what they want. I then tell them please don't tell anyone I did this. I don't feel comfortable putting my name on it. They are shocked I would say that and surprised that I did what they asked. The next time they always let me do what I want. It's called professionalism and trust. And the money isn't bad either! R- Jul 08 14 01:42 pm Link Thank you all for the advice. Already did the trial before I posted. I was complimentary to the client. I already (gently) gave her my professional advice. She wants it her way. She wanted to hire me, signed the bridal contract. Weddings are my bread and butter, so it's hard to turn them down, especially when - like in this case - there are bridesmaids also, and the pay is decent. I definitely won't be using the photos for my port. It's a shame, because she's beautiful, and with the right makeup, would be the epitome of the perfect bride for a port! Oh well, like one of you said, this is the service industry too. I'll just tell her not to tell anyone who her MUA is! Jul 09 14 05:31 pm Link Sal W Hanna wrote: The reputation of turning away customers because you don't like their style? Jul 09 14 05:44 pm Link Stop doing brides. Just kidding. Sort of. Successful, established artists become so by doing their best work at every job, listening to their clients, giving their best advice as is appropriate, doing what the client asks, and wisely choosing how they market themselves. I work in print, theater, and some film and many times have been asked over the years to do something I don't think is the best option artistically. But I do it anyway, after giving my 2 cents, and choose to move on from that job and not look back. I got paid, so who cares if it's not something I want on my CV or if the resulting photos will not make my book? As my kids won't stop singing, "let it go..." One job with so-so results does not make or break an artist who does good work. It happens. Jul 10 14 11:40 am Link Did you do a trial already? Let her see herself in a different look, surprise her sometimes we don't know what we want until we see it in the mirror. Suggest that she asks for her bridesmaids opinions and her family, the result might make her change her mind but if it doesn't then I guess do it and get paid  good luckJul 10 14 03:05 pm Link Michael Bots wrote: Bridezilla gives you a good idea of what you are marrying. Jul 14 14 12:19 am Link Register your concerns with the bride, suggest some &/or a look that you think would look good for her. If she persists, you'll have to decide whether the price she's paying is worth the potential headaches. There is nothing wrong with a client making a decision contrary to their own self interest. It happens all the time. Jul 14 14 07:42 am Link Tell her if you do what she wants she'll look like a Mexicali hooker!!:-)) that should get the point across. Jul 14 14 07:50 am Link Tamara Bickley Makeup wrote: that's odd that she really wants you to do the makeup, but you really don't want to do her makeup in the style that she wants. Jul 14 14 08:02 am Link I am a professional makeup artist who does mostly brides and some commercial work 5-7 days a week. When I work with a bride I start by consulting with her for a few minutes about the look she wants. If she suggests something that I don't think will work well for her I will gently and politely suggest an alternative BUT if that is the look she really wants (long lashes whatever) that is what I will provide. When you are hired by someone to do a job you are hired to do it the way they want it done. Makeup is a very personal thing, many people only wear their eyebrows super thin or only wear very long lashes. This is how they are used to seeing themselves and this is how they want to look on the wedding day. Although that might not be your personal style your job isn't to criticize them and tell them that look is ugly and you won't do it, your job it to give them the most polished version of that look possible and make the client happy. I've done makeup on many brides that I would have personally done different had they let me do whatever I thought was best but at the end of the day they were extremely happy and that's what matters. If you don't want to use those images for your portfolio then good, I don't see why this is such a big deal. Jul 23 14 08:11 am Link This is a really good reply :-) Jul 24 14 06:31 am Link oh boy.. ive had a few of these... my most recent wanted no foundation, little to no eyeshadow and hot pink lips... it was like pulling teeth to get her to wear foundation... finally she said "ok ill wear foundation on just my nose"... I said "look, normally i do spot foundation on mature skin, but you're young, your skin is also uneven.. when the photographer takes your picture your skin is going to look funny" ... so she thought about it and let me add a very light wash of foundation... it turned out really nice... she let me do a nice lip (whirl lip liner by mac) for pictures but i noticed by the end of the night in photos she was using her hot frosted pink lipgloss that i hated lol then i had a trial where the bride told me "i love makeup i want it to look like im wearing makeup, i like kim kardashians makeup, i want her dramatic eyes and contouring" I did just that, and she told me the eye makeup was too dark... i literally used the smallest amount of black in her outter corners! so i did her whole look over to look more natural (what she originally told me she didnt want) and she loved it. sometimes u just have to work with them and you end up getting your way Jul 25 14 03:32 pm Link I would offer my suggestions ONCE. Or even offer to "play around" with some different looks. That's probably the easiest way to sway your bride. I've worked with quite a few people who "don't need a lot of foundation" because they just dislike the way it makes them feel. However once I slap some on they realize that not all foundation is heavy or discomforting. A lot of women have no clue what they actually want. They just assume that foundation=cake face/over done. However if your bride is firm on the look she wants...give it to her. She is the client. If I turned down every client just because I didn't support what they wanted I'd never work. I do a smokey eye 2-3 times a week; they're boring and I can bang them out in less than 10 minutes...but hey it's what my clients want. Just make sure she doesn't tag on you on Instagram and avoid before and after pictures if you take them lol. Jul 30 14 02:04 am Link You cannot simply turn a client away because you do not like their style. Everyone is different and if thats what they require for the wedding day then so be it. I have so many brides say they have trials and the MUA just does what they want and doesn't listen to them. Hence why they come to me. I work with them at every step, makeup is so personal, if i feel they have made a choice that is not for them, i will gently say so. If for example its an eye makeup look i would do one eye they way they like and the other in my own style and then we discuss and compare the 2. Usually they choose what i have done but this has to be their own decision. Those that don't choose my style usually end up booking a retrial anyway! Just say to them that they have to be comfortable in the style they choose. A look they like now may look ridiculous in their wedding photos in 20yrs time. Show they some dodgy 80s bridal photos...they soon get the gist! x Aug 06 14 01:35 am Link |
