Wedding Makeup 101

WEDDING MAKEUP 101

with Elizabeth from EB Artistry

What makeup should I wear for my wedding?

How do I choose my wedding makeup style?

How do I prep my skin for my wedding?

I’m not a makeup person - I don’t know where to start!

If any of those sentences sound like something you’ve said or googled recently, this blog post is for you!

I interviewed Liz from EB Artistry live on instagram, and she shared so much good information I had to turn it into a blog post for any of you that missed it.

Liz (first photo) and I (second photo) met at the very end of the wedding fair in January!

Here’s a quick recap of the live video answering questions (:

Liz’s Introduction:

I’ve been doing makeup professionally for 10 years! I’ve worked at a salon, doing hair, and also for MAC cosmetics in Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, and now Alaska. I started doing makeup for weddings specifically 5 years ago. At first I was scared but once I got into it, I LOVED it. And that’s when I started EB Artistry! 

I realized that makeup for weddings was so different and got specifically trained in airbrush. (Rachel: AIRBRUSH IS INCREDIBLE.)

Rachel’s Two Cents on makeup for when you’re being photographed : 

As a photographer, I generally tell my clients to just go a little bit darker, a little more dramatic than they usually would because it won’t be as dramatic in camera as it is in real life. 

I don’t think it’s because you aren’t already beautiful, or need to look like somebody different - makeup is just going to help your already lovely natural features show up the way that you see them in real life and help your eyes pop on camera. You’re adding depth to your face because the camera flattens natural depth.

Liz: Yes! The basic rule of thumb is to do your normal makeup but take it up a notch and focus on making your eyes pop!

Scroll down for the Q&A!

First steps for people who don’t usually do makeup:

1. Find a good makeup artist who will make you feel comfortable and help answer all your questions. 

2. Start with a good mascara and eyebrow powder.

3. For skin, especially if you aren’t ready to jump straight to foundation, find a good BB or CC cream (slightly heavier tinted moisturizer). Perfect for people who don’t wear a ton of makeup!

4. For WEDDINGS, airbrush hands down. It evens out your skin on camera, it’s super light and not cakey, feels like your own skin, lasts forever. Airbrush, airbrush, airbrush.

What should I be thinking through when trying to pick my makeup style? 

• People feel the most beautiful when they feel confident and comfortable and like themselves. 

• Go to the edge of your comfort zone. Find the balance where you feel comfortable but also like a special occasion. 

• Pinterest is honestly an incredible resource - bridal makeup look, natural bridal makeup, dramatic bridal makeup. 

• Based off of what you generally wear for like an everyday look, or your going out makeup look, let’s just go one step farther than that.

• Pump it up for that WOW factor but not so much that you don’t recognize yourself! Example: if you don’t usually wear winged eyeliner, don’t do a wing for your wedding look.

Is a wedding makeup trial important? 

Yes! Trials are SO important. Your trial is when you get to see not only how your makeup is going to look - did it stay all day, did it look like I thought it would on my face - but also, did my makeup artist show up on time? Listen to what I wanted and help bring it to life? Make me feel comfortable, taken care of, and beautiful? I also personally take care of payment and everything on your trial day if you want to, so that’s another big thing that you don’t have to worry about on or closer to your wedding day! 

What skin care routine do you suggest to prepare your skin? 

• The better shape your skin is in the less makeup you will need for sure! 

• DRINK. WATER. Cannot emphasize this enough. The minute you book your wedding date, start focusing on drinking half your body weight in ounces of water and even more if you’re working out. 

• Make an appointment with an esthetician to get more specific input on your type of skin!

• Do a masque (that you have done before - DON’T try anything new once you’ve hit 2 weeks out from your wedding!) the week or a few days before your wedding!

• Get your facial skin/eyebrows waxed! Go to someone you trust and do it a few days before the wedding. 

Final thought from Liz:

If you do your best with the preparation, your day is going to be so good.

Thanks so much to Liz for taking the time to give us all this helpful information. Share this with your bride friends (or anyone that needs skin care tips, honestly)! The next instagram live wedding vendor interview will be on the topic of wedding hair - come hangout on instagram if you want to watch and ask questions live! Rachel on Instagram

And if you have more questions for Liz, head over to her facebook page at ebartistry.com or instagram at @eba907 (:

Grant + Mary :: Alaska Styled Elopement

if you like alaska, mountains, gorgeous boho bridal gowns, and couples who are on top of the world when they’re together, you’re going to love these photos.

I’d been wanting to shoot something simple at blue hour for a while so I reached out to Mary and Grant (two humans dating each other) to see if they were down to do some elopement style photos with me! they were great sports and we had so much fun! (see photos, none of these were fake laughter).

they so kind at the end of the shoot - they told me that they usually feel super awkward in photos, but that I was good at directing and explaining what to do! I’m so pumped that they felt confident in my direction because it shows in these photos, doesn’t it?! like I said, so much fun.

huge thank you to Rachel at Bateau Bridal Boutique for fitting us into her busy schedule, helping us pick out the gown and the gorgeous hair accessory!

looking for a photographer you can trust to direct you so you can enjoy getting your photo taken? or hoping for a simple elopement in a setting like the one above? I can help with BOTH of those things.

click the button below to reach out!

Jared + Faith :: Sweet Pennsylvania Wedding

these guys, they’re just meant to be. beautiful inside and out.

one of the things I loved about Jared and Faith is they’re passionate about all the important things, and then some. I loved getting to know them during their engagement session and had been looking forward to their wedding day for months! these two are full of depth and genuine care for others - and each other. such a joy to be around!

on the vendor side of things, there was a lot of planning and preparation leading up to the day, and a LOT of running around and we loved every minute of it! we were fortunate to work alongside their incredible planner Anita Hatch, and we gave every phase of the day our 100% to give them the wedding day of their dreams AND the photos of their dreams. despite everything on the schedule the feel of the day was FUN and RELAXED. I’m so pumped to deliver these two their photos knowing that we were able to come alongside the rest of their team and give them the wedding day experience they deserved.

to the new Mr. & Mrs. Feister!

first 3 things to do after you get engaged! (hint: it's not your engagement session)

did the holidays leave you with a ring on your finger?!

ENJOY THAT BLISS. and when you’re ready to start planning, here are the FIRST 3 things that you should take care of (even BEFORE engagement photos!)

NUMBER ONE: P R I O R I T I Z E

what are the make-it-or-break-it items for you and your fiancé? is there a venue that is everything you’ve ever wanted? is there a gown the bride has had her heart set on for as long as she can remember? is it essential for the groom that there is a full course meal for the guests? a photo + video team that you connected with months before you got engaged? do you both love autumn more than any other season?

talk about how you want your wedding to feel and the elements you can’t imagine it without. these may change as you get further into the process and realize some things aren’t as important as you thought and others are, but it is SO helpful to have this framework to go back to. for example, my husband and I knew that our priorities were photography, location (venue), and intimacy (feel). we built everything else around that!

NUMBER TWO: B U D G E T

now that you have a good idea of your priorities (things you’re willing to spend the most on), start looking at your numbers. what’s the realistic amount you can and want to spend on your wedding? do you want to wait a bit to save up, or work with what you have? once you have a ballpark, start designating funds to each of your priorities and necessities. re-evaluate. do you need to move things around a bit, or did it land right in the sweet spot? it’s great to do this early in the process because then you aren’t too emotionally attached to one thing or the other! the sooner you have guidelines, the easier the decision making process is later.

NUMBER THREE: D A T E R A N G E

this is the part you probably already know! now that you know your priorities and your budget, you can decide on your date range! the reason I suggest have a date range or a date with a couple backup options is so that you have some flexibility when you start looking for vendors. a lot of vendors are booked up because of covid reschedules right now so you’ll have a better shot at working with the vendors of your dreams if you have options!

and of course…

the next step would be hiring your vendors! finding a location/venue is obviously a big deal, but finding a wedding planner or photographer is pretty up there as well! often, your planner or photographer can help you find a venue around their availability. stay tuned for my next blog post on things to look for when choosing your wedding photographer!

p.s. if you’re at the photographer stage now, message me and I can give you those details right away!

David + Deanna :: Simple Mountain Styled Elopement

David and Deanna spent the day with me back in April. We drove around getting ready for the shoot and then drove up to Flattop Mountain in Anchorage, where we entered into an unexpected blizzard that only added to the magic of the session. It was a collaboration between me and a few other vendors (listed at the end of the blog post) and I can’t thank everyone enough for contributing to this beauty!

These two weren’t able to have a professional photographer at their wedding, so I was honored to be able to take bride and groom style photos for them TEN YEARS and three children later. I can only hope to be as in love and good looking as they are after ten years married! We had so many beautiful moments where I could see them making eyes at each other, and it was a deep kind of best friendship and love that can only come from having weathered many years and adventures together.

So without further adieu, David and Deanna!

Gown and Hair Accessories: Anderson’s Bride https://www.andersonsbride.com

Florals: Tanya Val http://www.tanyaval.com

Hair: Crystal at Opal Hair https://www.instagram.com/opalhair_/

Makeup: Rachelle Enters

interested in your own anniversary session or elopement?

I’d love to help you make it a reality!

Alex + Jessie - Intimate Fall Wedding

Intimate Autumn Camp Wedding

I’m going to steal an instagram caption from one of the bridesmaids of this wedding to describe it.

Alex and Jessie: “We don’t really care about perfection.”

Alex and Jessie: *have literally perfect wedding*

these two had a simple but emotion filled wedding at Lacawac Sanctuary up near the Poconos Mountains. we carved out time for an intimate first look for them before heading down to their ceremony on the lake. everyone spent the rest of the evening enjoying incredible food (and CAKE, oh my) and incredible company. Alex and Jessie are intentional, kind, and above-and-beyond individuals - which makes them an incredible pair, and I am so honored to have been their photographer.

enjoy: the Padron wedding.

(p.s. see how they felt about their photos at the end of this post!)

“Rachel was everything we hoped for in a photographer. She was professional, calming, and super easy to get along with. She is amazing at working with the vibe you’re going for in the photos, while also imbedding her creative vision for each shot.

We wholeheartedly recommend her for anyone looking for a photographer!

-thank you for everything, these photos mean so much to us.”

if you are also looking for a professional, calming, creative photographer, message me here!

Josh & Kilina - Alyeska Resort Girdwood, Alaska First Look

Earlier this year, Kilina sent me a message saying that although she and her fiancé Josh were getting married out in Anchor Point, AK later that summer, she had always dreamed of doing a first look up the tram at Alyeska. I love first looks and I love Alyeska, so I was all in.

Josh is from New Jersey, and Kilina is from Alaska. The two of them met at school in South Carolina where they returned after their wedding as Josh pursues a medical career!

I can tell from their interactions during our session that these two are going to be amazing life partners for each other. They’re a wonderful mix of laughter, confidence, and tenderness. Thanks for riding the tram with me you two!

we were trying to catch the run of the tram so we got ready on the way!

we also had no blindfold so we improvised with Kilina’s leggings. LOL. so good.

Josh had written Kilina a letter to read to her as a surprise. I didn’t hear what it said, but it made me emotional watching them.

when I asked them to dip, they started laughing and said “we just practiced this yesterday!”

Alyeska is so beautiful, and I love it even more in the rain to be honest.

I could NOT get over her skirt draped the bench!

I’ve never done a first look session before, but obviously, I loved it. If you want to do a first look, day before, or day after your wedding session, contact me! I also love riding the tram at Alyeska, so hit me up for that too. (:

Alaska Adventure Engagement Session

Getting to know Kyle and Logan has been one of the biggest blessings of the past year! We’d only met a couple times before their engagement session but I loved that both Kyle and Logan were invested and asked real questions while inquiring with me. I like to think that they had so much fun during their engagement session that they hired me for their wedding in Texas 6 months later (wait till you see it) because well, I had so much fun. These two are fun loving, kind, humble, loyal.

We started our adventure for the evening at Jitters in Eagle River, one of my favorite places. They spent many hours there getting to know each other and working on homework. The four of us (my husband Ben assisted me at this shoot) headed out to Eklutna Lake, where Kyle had proposed on a hike that summer!

healthy adventuring encouraged, always

such affection.

classy outfit change (yeah they changed in the smelly park bathrooms - #worthit)

this progression of photos captures one of my favorite engagement photo session experiences. I wish you could’ve been there to hear how it went down, but at least you get to see it.

girl was HUSTLING in those heels, we were all losing it (and I have it on video thanks to my dude).

Ben getting that #BTS gold LOL

everything about Logan’s dress + ring + hair = heart eyes

tune in sometime soon to see these two tie the knot in Texas!

did you just get engaged? CONGRATS.

shoot me a message and we’ll go on an adventure engagement session tailored to YOU.

New Year's Eve Intimate Alaskan Winter Elopement

when Raven shared with me that she and her high school sweetheart were planning on eloping new year’s eve, I was THRILLED. not only did I love the fact that we had chosen the same day to get married (my husband and I got married that afternoon!), but I’ve shot with Raven and Wyatt before - they are adventurous, kind to others and to each other, and as you’ll see in these photos - so very in love. We met and hiked out to Thunderbird falls for the ceremony. Raven wore her grandmother’s fur coat and Wyatt wore his nice sneakers, and they both laughed and radiated love the entire morning.

Raven was beaming as she barreled past me to her groom.

since I had some leftover flowers from my bouquet I threw a couple together as a gift for Raven - she hid behind them for most of the ceremony because she was crying so much haha!

Wyatt made fun of her after the ceremony for blubbering during their vows, but we have proof that he was JUST as emotional as she was.

they had a short, sweet ceremony officiated by a friend with a few other close friends in attendance, and went out to lunch afterward.

JUST MARRIED LIKE WHAAT?!

there was a windstorm the night before so we had some obstacles getting to and from the location at Thunderbird Falls, but honestly, that just added to the excitement of it.

ALSO WE RAN INTO THIS PUPPY

also guys - he VOLUNTEERED to take his socks and shoes off, walk through ice cold rocky stream, and take his bride closer to the frozen waterfall for photos. can we say groom goals?!

Raven bought her lovely dress at Nordstrom - the mud from our climb over just made it more beautiful.

true love in action, folks

I could not resist ending it on this note. happy marriage, you two.

are you planning an elopement? send me a message, I’d love to be your photographer!