My birthday is on a holiday that involves fireworks – and lots of them – all across the country. As a child – maybe around 10, I accidentally caught on fire during a birthday celebration. I don’t know how it happened. The idea to Stop! Drop! and Roll! NEVER occurred to me as the back of my romper burned to a crisp. I just remember telling my mom that I was on fire and she and all of the other adults proceeded to literally beat my ass until the fire was out. Thankfully, I suffered no longterm physical injuries, but the experience left me deathly afraid of fire and fireworks that are not professionally done.
Here’s the point…During a bridal appointment, my assistant and I were working with the bride and bridal party at her hotel bridal suite when the fire alarm suddenly went off…just as I was finishing up the Bride’s gel liner. Yikes! Remember, I am deathly afraid of fire. I had an internal freak out to save myself. BUT, I kept it together.
Although on the inside I felt like THIS:
THIS was me on the outside:
I finished the Bride’s liner and then quickly got out of there leaving my kit behind, but grabbing my Sony a6000 camera because it wasn’t included in my insurance policy yet.
Here’s the tip…As a makeup artist, ESPECIALLY a bridal makeup artist, WE get checked at the door. Our personal feelings and experiences, the argument we had with our significant other, the mess left behind by our children, deaths and illnesses of loved ones and friends…that ALL gets left behind when we cross that threshold into the Bridal Suite. The only thing we bring into that room is our talent and the ability to keep our Bride happy, calm, and relaxed on her wedding day. Not only am I protective of the energy I expose my Brides to, I am also very conscious of the energy others try to expose them to. I’m usually sweet and easy going, but that’s only until you try to walk up to my Bride with some mess while she’s in my chair. Not. Gonna. Happen.
This is a skill that all makeup artists should have because at the end of the day, it is NOT about you. It is not about your puppy being sick, your favorite uncle’s funeral, or anything else that disrupts the positive energy flow for the Bride on her day.
Weddings are such an emotional day for a Bride that talent alone will not always get you through. We have to focus on and and sharpen our soft skill set. If you are an aspiring makeup artist be sure to brush up on your soft skills just as much, if not more, as investing in and mastering your technical skills.
Love, light & happiness!
