Alison’s name came up in conversation with brides and vendors alike as an excellent make up artist who really loves what she does – two qualities that get big stars in my book!

Business Name: Alison Feamster – Freelance Makeup Artist
Name: Alison Feamster
Phone Number: 614.327.9632
Email Address: inquiry {@} alisonfeamster {dot} com
Website Address: www.alisonfeamster.com

How did you get started doing makeup professionally?
I got my start in the industry in 2001 while working in Public Relations and Marketing at a medical spa in San Francisco, California. It was during this time I discovered my passion for makeup and the beauty industry. I desired to learn more, so I went to school to become licensed as an esthetician. Though I have always worked in spas doing makeup, it was not until after my own wedding in 2006 that I decided to pursue my freelance makeup career. Planning my wedding, I had a difficult time finding a reliable, inexpensive, yet talented makeup artist to come on location to do my makeup, as well as the bridal party’s. I ended up doing my own makeup for my wedding and upon returning from my honeymoon, I decided to launch my own freelance makeup business and have loved every minute since.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?
I love meeting and working with new people. Since no two faces are alike, no two-makeup applications are the same. Also, there is something special about helping a person look and feel beautiful, especially on their wedding day.

What is your specialty?
I create a wedding day look for the bride and bridal party that is you, only better!

What is the starting price point for makeup for a wedding and what is included (trial, travel fees, etc.)?
I offer both traditional and airbrush makeup services. My wedding rates range from $30 to $140. The rate for the bride includes a full makeup trial and false eyelashes if desired. All rates are based on services offered on location.

Anything else we should know about your company?
I love my job and hope all of my clients have a beautiful day!

Childhood ambition?
Teacher

Favorite beauty tool?
Mascara because it can completely change a woman’s look.

Dream vacation?
Australia or an African Safari

Something in your beauty toolbox that might surprise us?
You never know what will come up when on location at a wedding so with that in mind I keep a first aid kit and some double stick fashion tape in my kit. The first aid kit is for if someone needs a band-aid or something and the double stick tape has come in handy when a bridesmaid needs a quick alteration on her dress.

Last time you laughed until it hurt?
My husband Jimmy seems to find a way to make me laugh every day.

Personal lipstick shade?
I usually go pretty neutral on my lips and focus on my eyes but when I do wear lipstick or gloss my favorite shades are Chanel Glossimer in Blizzard and MAC Viva Glam V lipstick and gloss.

Last thing you bought?
A new pair of shoes from DSW…a girl can never have too many shoes!!

Hidden talent?
I am an equestrian rider.

Can’t live without?
My husband Jimmy and of course my makeup kit!

Favorite quote?
“Live life with no regrets.”

Best compliment ever received?
There is no greater compliment than when a bride sends you a note of thanks after her wedding letting you know how much she loved her makeup and how beautiful she felt.

If you weren’t a makeup artist, what would you be?
A Marketing Executive ideally in the fashion or beauty industry.

Finally, tell us your absolute favorite makeup/beauty tip…
I have three: 1) Less is more when it comes to makeup, 2) Blend, blend, blend and when you think you are done blend some more, 3) Focus on either your eyes or lips, not both at the same time.

Please share a few of your favorite before and after pictures of brides…

Thank you Alison for answering my questions!

Coming up tomorrow: Pearls and a Black Dress.

Just as a head’s up – I am heading to Indianapolis this morning to attend Eventology 2009 – a educational conference and gathering of some of the best and brightest wedding and event planners in the country.  I am looking so forward to meeting and learning from and with these ladies (and one gentlemen that I know of).

I will still have access to email from time to time but might be a touch slow on responses – please forgive any delays and I’ll return any non-urgent emails and phone calls on Friday when I am back.

One of my super wonderful couples, Aimee and Ryan, recently spent the afternoon having their engagement pictures shot by Lisa from Red Gallery Photography.

Aimee and Ryan are my favorite kind of couple – they are fun, sweet, compliment each other beautifully and most importantly, they are deeply in love.  You can’t help but fall in love with them as soon as you meet them.  Here are just a few of my favorites from the huge gallery and there are more over on Lisa and Clay’s blog.

I think the next couple are so dreamy…

Thanks for sharing Lisa!  Can’t wait to see the wedding pictures!!!

By way of intro for MelissaRoshan, I will just re-post what I said after she did my makeup for my new headshots:
“She did an amazing job and for me to say that is a big deal – I never think makeup looks good on me but she even did some fun false lashes and still managed to make me look like myself.  Exactly what I was hoping for!”

Business Name: Makeup By MelissaRoshan
Name: MelissaRoshan
Phone Number: 614-282-8197
Email Address: makeup {@} melissaroshan {dot} com
Website Address: www.melissaroshan.com
Blog Address: www.melissaroshan.blogspot.com

How did you get started doing makeup professionally?
I started out in Seattle, Washington as a cosmetic counter manager for Borghese Cosmetics, an Italian line. I gained further experience as a professional commercial print model.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?
Seeing my clients faces light up after I have done their make-up. I really feel that I can bring a sense of joy with a whip of my make-up brush.

What is your specialty?
Providing flawless pretty make-up that looks like you, but enhanced.

What is the starting price point for makeup for a wedding and what is included (trial, travel fees, etc.)?
My rates are as follows:
$55.00 make-up trial run. Includes extensive consultation, and full make-up.
$110.00 Bridal make-up fee. Includes lashes in either strip, or individuals. Stay-proof water proof make-up, and mini touch up lip gloss
$55.00 per bridesmaid. Includes stay-proof make-up, and a mini touch up lip gloss
$45.00 mother of the bride/mother of the groom

Anything else we should know about your company?
My philosophy has always to make each client look like herself, only flawless, and enhanced. I have a service gurantee that promises each, and every client will be happy with my work. I put my heart, and soul into my work, and convey this through my work.

Childhood ambition?
To be a singer, dancer, and actress. I accomplished all three. I am the lead singer in my families Rock Band on Playstation 3. I dance all the time for my children, and actually like to breakdance. I’m always acting out silly puppet shows for my children, nieces, and nephews. Stay tuned for the dvd! (joking)

Favorite beauty tool?
By far, I love my Shu Uemera eyelash curler.

Dream vacation?
St. Tropez. I have a post card on my refrigerator with St. Tropez’s beach on the front. Whenever I get stressed out, I gaze at this post card, and imagine myself there.

Something in your beauty toolbox that might surprise us?
I have mini electrical fan. This is perfect for drying eye-makeup, or the client who may have a hot flash from seeing how beautiful she looked after I am done with her!

Last time you laughed until it hurt?
Listening to my son sing Lady Ga-Ga with such conviction…

Personal lipstick shade?
‘Almost There’ by Trish-Mcevoy

Last thing you bought?
A ‘Stop Wars’ t-shirt from www.stopwars.com.

Hidden talent?
I can hula-hoop non stop for like, thirty minutes!

Can’t live without?
My family, my blackberry

Favorite quote?
One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar”

Best compliment ever received?
Your the best make-up artist I have ever met. This compliment was given by actress Mira Sorvino when I lived in New York City.

If you weren’t a makeup artist, what would you be?
A veternarian

Finally, tell us your absolute favorite makeup/beauty tip…
To find your proper blush tone, simply squeeze the tips of your fingers. This is your natural blush tone. Or, take a peek at the inside of your cheeks.. This is also your natural blush tone. So the next time you go to a make-up counter, squeeze your finger tips, and inform the counter girl you’re not giving blood—you need a new blush!

Please share a few of your favorite before and after pictures of brides…

Thank you MelissaRoshan for answering my questions!

Coming up tomorrow: Alison Feamster.

I feel the need to point out that although I live in the land of the Buckeye – I still bleed green and white!

I will be cheering on my alma mater, the Michigan State University Spartans as they take on the Tarheels in the Big Dance this evening!  I wish I could be in Detroit this evening to watch the game in person!

GO GREEN!  GO WHITE!  GO STATE!!!

When I ask former brides (whether they were my client or not) which vendors they were most anxious about hiring but most happy with in the end, the makeup artist is often on the list.

Makeup probably inspires anxiety because of there is a lot riding on it – a good makeup artist can make you look like yourself just even more amazing or they can make you look not at all like yourself and not amazing at all or as I like to say like a clown who moonlights as a streetwalker.  You know what I am talking about – too much blush and too much eyeliner is never a good combo!

A good makeup artist also knows how to balance the need for camera ready makeup so your pictures look amazing and the kind of makeup you want when you are up close and personal with your new hubby and your guests.

While I am highlighting independent makeup artists in this series, there are tons of  salons and spas that also offer makeup at their location.  I get a lot of questions about makeup artists who travel to the bride so I decided to focus on that aspect.

My standard disclaimer: none of the makeup artists featured have paid anything and no one requested to be a part of this series – I picked them because first and foremost I love their work.  In addition, I either have had the pleasure of working with them personally or someone I have worked with very highly recommends them (i.e. someone told me, “when I am booked, I recommend…”).  Obviously, this is not every makeup artist in Columbus but this is a very good start.

Click for the 101 on Freesia

I spent a lovely day yesterday learning all about the nuts and bolts of blogging from a true expert – Liene Stevens from Blue Orchid Designs and The Smart Planner.

We had a great turnout of about 20 wedding pros from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia and Kentucky.  The attendees included planners, photographers, videographers and a choreographer.  Watch for some great new blogs and amazing revamped blogs to come!

Liene is doing bootcamps all over the country this summer – very possibly in a city near you.  Whether you have a well established blog or just want to start one, the blogging bootcamp has something for everyone and I highly recommend it!

A special thanks to my co-hosts Kasey from Bliss, Julie from Blue Skies and Lisa from Red Gallery for all their help and to Liene for coming to the frigid north all the way from Arizona.

In the pictures above – picture credit to various iPhones and Twitpic:
1. Quenetta from Something Blue, Saundra from Planning Forever, Aletha from Pearls Events and Me!
2. The group during a breakout discussion session.
3. Liene – in my borrowed sweater – she’s from Arizona and was freezing!
4. Aletha, Kasey and Quenetta Twittering during a break. iPhone addicts – all of them!
5. Saundra and Liene – trouble and insight and intelligence in tiny packages.