Makeup Artist in Melbourne

Pricing is usually per face for events and per booking for weddings, where a trial plus the wedding-day application costs more than a single party look. Bridal is the premium tier because of the trial, the stakes and early-morning timing. Travel/call-out fees, false lashes and airbrushing are common add-ons — ask what's included.

For weddings, 6-12 months ahead for popular dates — the best artists book out for peak-season weekends well in advance. For events and shoots, a few weeks is usually enough. Once your date is fixed, secure the artist (and the trial) early rather than leaving it to the last month.

A portfolio of only heavily-filtered images with no real client photos, no trial offered for a wedding, poor hygiene (dirty brushes, double-dipping into products), vague pricing that balloons with add-ons on the day, and no clear cancellation or deposit policy. Reluctance to do a trial for a big event is a real warning sign.

Many do, especially for weddings and events, usually with a travel/call-out fee based on distance. On-location saves you time on a hectic morning. Confirm whether the quoted price is studio-based or includes travel, and clarify any early-start surcharge for dawn wedding calls.

Arrive with clean, moisturised skin and let the artist know about any allergies or sensitivities. For weddings, keep a consistent skincare routine in the weeks before and avoid trying new products right before the day. Good makeup sits on well-prepped skin — the prep is half the result.

Event makeup commonly runs $75-150 per face, and bridal packages $150-600 for the bride (trial plus day), with the bridal party per-person on top. Airbrush, lashes and travel are common add-ons.