I've been wanting to do some interview articles with some great wedding vendors in Northwest Indiana for quite awhile. I do have my Vendor Page with website links, but I thought some in depth articles would be great for new clients to really get to know some of the great talents and personalities I see every wedding season.

I'm so glad to feature the wonderful Krissy V. for the debut of interviews. When I arrive to the Getting Ready portion of the wedding day and I see her there, I know that I not only do we have a professional on hand who is going to "get it done", the warmth of her personality is going to already have calmed any potential nerves in the room. So thank you Krissy for warming up the crowd and making it that much easier to point my lens toward the bride and her bridesmaids. And thank you for teaching me about the artistry of what you and other make up artist do!! Now, on with our interview...

How did you get your start as a make up artist?

Although I have always had a love for makeup and art, I was not sure what direction I wanted to go after high school. I decided to start working at my dad’s photo studio, until I could decide what career path I wanted to take. He specialized in photography for actors and models, so there was always a new beautiful woman walking out of that dressing room for her photoshoot, after spending time in the hair and makeup chair. I was mesmerized with the transformational power of makeup and how much it made their already beautiful features stand out even more.

The makeup artist he worked with at that time was planning to make her move out to LA and she was actually the first person to put the idea in my head, that I could do something I loved and make a living. She said “Krissy, you seem so interested in makeup, and are always asking questions. Is this something you would ever consider doing yourself?”. From that point forward, there was no turning back. She helped me put my kit together, told me where to begin my training, and left me with a lot of her connections when she moved. I will never forget her and the way that she helped inspire my start as a makeup artist.

You obviously enjoy doing make up for weddings. Can you tell me what makes it a fulfilling job?

Weddings are definitely where my heart is, when it comes to the world of makeup. I love to do makeup in a way that doesn’t necessarily change the way that a woman looks, but enhances what is already naturally beautiful about her. That is exactly why weddings are the perfect match for me, because that is how a bride should look on her wedding day…the most beautiful version of herself. And then there is the atmosphere! Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by happy people, celebrating love? It’s my favorite!

How far in advance should a wedding couple book their make up artist?

If getting married during a peak wedding month (May-October), I would say a minimum of one year in advance for Saturday dates (all of my June Saturday’s for 2017 are already booked, and it’s February 2016, to give you an idea). I would say that as soon as the bride knows her wedding date, and is set on having a professional makeup artist, I’d look into securing the date. If it’s a more “off season” date, or a Friday wedding, it may be easier to secure an artist a little closer to the date, but I’d still book with your artist as soon as you know.

Tell me about trials and what they involve?

A trial run is a time where I meet with the bride, typically 2-3 months prior to the wedding day. This involves a thorough consultation, discussing what type of look she is going for on the wedding day, while also going over all of her details (dress, flowers, colors, themes etc). Once I have those details in place, a full makeup application is completed & I work with her to finalize the wedding day makeup look.

What can you do for the person who doesn’t know what they want?

I love making suggestions and trying different things in these situations. However, it all starts with the right investigative questions, so that I can get a little better idea as to what her comfort level with makeup is. I will ask her questions like “Is your fiancé used to seeing you with makeup?”, “What makeup do you wear on a daily basis”, “How often do you wear makeup?” If she says that she barely wears any, then I know that I’ll be keeping her look very clean and natural. If she says she’s very comfortable with makeup and never leaves home without it, I’ll know that I have room to play a little more with the intensity of the look. This is not the time to try out the newest makeup trends, as you don’t want to look at your photos in 10 years and question your decision to wear that look. Wedding day makeup should be classic and timeless.

Should a bride go first, last, or in the middle on wedding day?

I feel that the best spot for the bride to go is somewhere in the middle, or second to last (at the latest). I almost never recommend that she go last. There is too much going on at that time, and this can make the bride feel very flustered, rushed and pressed for time. She will want to have time to take a few deep breaths, maybe sip on that mimosa, and relax a bit before getting into her dress.

What are some of the things that can be done to stay fresh all the way to the first dance?

I personally leave my brides with a little touch up bag, to maintain that fresh look throughout the day. This will include a mini translucent loose powder & puff, to eliminate shine, as well as a lip product to touch up lip color throughout the night. Fortunately, the makeup is SO long wearing that there is usually not much of a need to touch up, outside of that. I use the highest quality makeup in my kit, and I like to waterproof everything that I can, while also using primers to extend the wear of the makeup.

In my photography, I like to use lighting to bring out the eyes in my clients. What do you do as a make up artist to achieve the same thing?

The eyes are always my favorite feature to play up in general, but especially on a wedding day. I use color theory when selecting eyeshadows, to best enhance the bride’s eye color. I also love to strategically place highlights on the eyes, to catch and reflect light in photographs. Another must is false lashes! They may sound intimidating at first, but I promise that once you try them you will be in love. They instantly pop the eyes and make them look so much bigger and brighter.

What can men do for their skin to look their best on wedding day?

If the skin is problematic, I would highly recommend seeking the advice of a licensed esthetician several months prior to the wedding day. The esthetician will be able to help balance the skin and calm any inflammation before the big day. At a minimum, beginning weeks before the wedding, (and certainly to be used on the wedding morning), I highly recommend a good exfoliating face wash. This will help to remove dead skin cells & reveal fresher looking skin. If shine is a problem for the groom, blotting papers can be used to keep that to a minimum throughout the day.

What are your top tips for adding make up and general prep on wedding day?

It is very important to make sure that your skin is properly prepped and hydrated for the wedding day. As I mentioned in the above comment, (regarding men’s skin), if you feel that you have problematic skin, (whether that be dealing with acne, dryness, excessive oil, etc), it is best to begin seeing an esthetician about 4-6 months prior to the wedding. This is not something you will want to start only weeks before the wedding, as it will initially purge the skin of toxins and may cause a temporary breakout. Your esthetician will be able to custom suggest a regime for you, that will have your skin in tip-top shape for that big walk down the aisle.

Here are some basic wedding skin prep tips and tricks:

Use an exfoliating face wash/scrub 1-3 times per week, to eliminate dead skin cells and dull looking skin.
Use a daily moisturizer and sunscreen (do not use higher than SPF 15 on the wedding day, as it will cause your face to look white in photos)
Do not have your face waxed closer than 5 days prior to your wedding. The skin will be so fresh that often times the makeup does not want to adhere to the area that has been freshly waxed.
To eliminate puffiness and water retention, limit sodium and alcohol the night before the wedding. Also sleep with your head elevated on a few pillows, so that fluid doesn’t pool under the eyes. If you do notice that you have puffy eyes on the wedding day morning, you can always try the age old “cold spoon” trick, or apply a cold, wet washcloth to the eyes.

To learn more about Krissy, please visit her website and inquire about your big day. I know she will treat you well and if booked, she is known to recommend some other terrific artist for your make up and wedding day needs.