Name: Samantha Reese
Company Name: Samantha Reese, Make-Up Artist
Website: www.samanthareese.com
Why did you choose a career as a professional make-up artist?
I've always been
fascinated with beauty, makeup in particular, from the time I was a little
girl. It was always something that I had an affinity for. When most little
girls were playing with Barbies, I was playing around in my mom's makeup bag,
and trying to re-create the looks in Sophisticate's Black Hair magazine
(it was usually a fail, but fun nonetheless). That love for makeup grew and
grew as I got older, and I eventually parlayed that into a career.
How would you
describe your wedding make-up style?
Definitely 'Natural
Glam', which can be bumped up or dialed down, depending on my bride.
What are some of your
favorite make-up brands to use for wedding make-up?
I'm all over the
place with the brands I use, since I feel different brands have different
products that I love. Some of the brands that are staples in my kit are Makeup
Forever, Nars, MAC, Urban Decay, Lorac, and Kevyn Aucoin.
Do you offer a bridal
trial session? If so, what can the bride expect from this experience and
how should she prepare?
They are mandatory
for all of my bridal clients. In my opinion, the wedding day is not the place
to "figure out" how the bride wants to look, what colors to use, etc.
I want that time to be completely void from stress, so making sure that I am
equipped with everything that I need to recreate the look from the trial is one
of my ways of keeping things running smoothly.
What to expect: Before the trial,
I'll ask for any photos (Pinterest is a great place to search) that illustrate
what type of look you envision for your wedding day, so that when we meet, I
have a starting point to work from. I'll replicate the look, then from there,
I'll tweak the look in any way you'd like, until you are completely happy. I'll
take photos and write down all of the products I used to create the look. Once
that is settled, I'll ask her about her bridal party, and how she'd like them to
look, if she has a specific look or guidelines for their makeup. If she does,
I'll create a cohesive look for her bridal party, based on her direction, and
my aesthetic.
How do you choose
make-up colors (lips, shadows, etc.) for each bride?
It's all based on her
personality and level of comfort with wearing makeup. I've had brides that
wanted a barely there, "more polished version" of themselves, as well
as ones that wanted full-on Glamazon. For the most part, I stick to neutral
colors on the eyes and cheeks, with a gentle pop of color on the lip, unless my
bride specifically wants something bright or smoky.
Should brides and
their bridal party do anything to prep their skin before the wedding day?
Absolutely! Excess hair
removal, GENTLE exfoliation, and your skin and body hydrated, can totally make
the application process go smoother (no pun intended). It's always best to
remember that the better your skin looks, the better your makeup will look.
What advice would you
give to a bride searching for a make-up artist?
If you can help it, do not wait until the last minute! While I've had plenty of 11th
hour brides, I always prefer to have a comfortable timeline to get to know my
brides and schedule their trial(s).
What do you enjoy
most about doing wedding make-up?
Everything! It's such an
honor to be such a major part of my bride's special day. Bridal makeup is some
of the most gorgeous makeup to me, and I just love helping my brides see the
beauty that I see in them, in themselves.
Since I’m a lipstick
fanatic myself, I have to ask, what’s your favorite lipstick at the moment?
Definitely Ruby Woo by MAC. It's a classic Old Hollywood,
matte red. Whether you're headed to a board meeting, the mall, or a black-tie
wedding, it's always appropriate, and looks beautiful on every complexion.
I love Ruby Woo as well! It's a staple in my makeup bag. Special thanks to Samantha for shedding light on wedding day make-up. Ladies be sure to visit www.samanthareese.com to see Samantha's portfolio and email her at samanthareesemakeup@gmail.com to inquire about her services.
Happy Planning!
Raven J.
