Lemin Studios

I’m so happy to feature this months vendor spotlight About Face Artistry! Focusing on Randee  an extraordinary Make up artist here in the Dallas Fort Worth area. I feel like I’ve known her forever she is just that kind of person.

Thanks Randee for taking the time  to do this for us.

How long have you been in the business of making people gorgeous?  

I’ve been in the industry for over 12 years now and I started my own company, About Face Artistry, five years ago. I loved working for great lines like MAC, but working for a line is more about selling products. I really wanted to focus on each individual client’s needs and what they really desired.  I felt it should be about the whole experience, not just making women look great, but I wanted them to feel great too! 
 

What got you interested in working in the wedding industry? 

I had worked with celebrities, and had done makeup for television, stage, pageants, and advertisements, pretty much every medium, but on-location bridal makeup seemed to be in high demand, and there really weren’t many professional artists fulfilling this need. I knew I could offer the entire experience of applying specialty makeup that would last, using quality products, and doing it at the client’s location so it was relaxing and convenient for her.  

I basically wanted to give my client’s what I would look for in an artist, and that is obviously someone with talent and technical knowledge when it comes to the art of beauty and makeup.  But, the most important ingredient is someone who listens to what the bride wants. Brides are special clients, and it takes the perfect blend of artistic talent, technical skills, psychology, and personality to specialize in wedding makeup.  

I am easy going and honest, I am here to show each woman what is going to look best for her features, also taking into account her personal preferences.  This is all about her, not what I want or what I am trying to sell or what the latest trends are, this is about the bride. Yes, I need to be able to incorporate things that as a professional I know will enhance her beauty, but I also listen very well.  I am not a diva, so my clients can ask me to make changes without a fight! 
 

What type of clients do you find yourself most working with?  

I typically have two types of clients; the first would be all of my teachers, nurses, and ladies who love soft, natural, clean makeup. The art of creating a “no makeup” look requires great skill in order to give her the appearance of a natural and radiant look. Lots of women choose me because I understand how to give them a “better version” of themselves. For these women, who typically wear little or no makeup on a daily basis, it is important to balance the makeup so it looks great in photos, but is not too heavy in person.  The bride is going to be meeting many of the groom’s friends and family for the very first time, and it is very important that she feels like herself, while also looking fabulous in the wedding video and photos.

Then, I have my “makeup divas” – these ladies love their cosmetics and know how to use them! These clients are confident with applying their own makeup on a daily basis, but they typically don’t have a thorough understanding of how the products will appear in photographs. Lots of cosmetics look fine in person, but they look awful in photographs. This is why it is so important to hire a professional with extensive product knowledge and experience in color and contouring.

You’ll find that the really great makeup artists have lots of “tricks of the trade” to help your makeup application last. These include special products and application techniques that come only with specialized training and years of experience. For a bride, this is one of the most photographed events of her entire life, so you want an artist that uses quality products and techniques that will keep you tear-proof and fresh all night long!   

 
What do you love the most about the wedding business??  

Love! I mean come on, what isn’t exciting about someone getting married?! I love knowing that someone has chosen me to be a part of this very special time in their life, and to see their smiling face when I am finished is very rewarding.  To make someone not only look great, but feel great, is the ultimate satisfaction for me.  Seeing my clients face when I’m through and hearing the people that love her “ooh” and “ahhh” is just such a beautiful thing! I love getting my clients excited about their wedding and making their vision a reality.   
 

If you didn’t do makeup for a living what would you be doing instead? 

Hmm?  I love music, so maybe a D.J.  I also love to make people laugh, so maybe a comedian. No, come on, I would still TOTALLY be a makeup artist, who am I kidding! I would still be Randee who brings music and makes you laugh while she does your makeup! Ha! Ha!

What is the craziest wedding experience you’ve ever had?

Several stories, but here is an interesting one . . . I had a “high strung”, nervous bride who apparently wasn’t crazy about the hairstylist she had just come from on the day of her wedding. She didn’t look bad, but the hairstylist wasn’t very nice to her and the bride wasn’t particularly jazzed about the final results, besides the fact that she didn’t want to be late for her own wedding. Everyone except for the bride was at the church and I had finished all of her bridesmaid’s makeup and was ready for her.  The bride, obviously flustered and upset, finally arrived in the bride’s room at the church and immediately one of the bridesmaids made a derogatory comment about having to wear her (ugly) dress and the bride lost it.  She was hyperventilating and got down on all fours, someone handed her a paper bag and it was apparent to me that no one was bold enough to try and calm her down.  I got down on my knees and gently rubbed her shoulder.  I asked her very calmly if she loved her groom-to-be and she said yes.  I then asked her if he loved her, again, yes was the reply.  I told her that despite all of the crazy “little” things that go wrong, today should be the happiest day of her life.  I asked her if she agreed, she said yes.  I then slowly looked in her eyes and asked her if she was excited about getting married to a man that she loves and that she knows loves her.  Yes, she said. So I smiled ever so gently and said, “Sweet girl, then why are you breathing into a bag down on the ground on all fours?”  We all laughed and I got her up into the chair and gave her the best makeup of her life.  She was so happy, and everyone else was so glad that she was okay, and the wedding was amazing.  Yes, she is still happily married!  I even ran into one of her bridesmaids at another wedding years later and we laughed about the situation.  She said, “Oh my gosh! I remember you, you saved my cousin’s wedding!”  
 

What is the best wedding experience you’ve ever had?

Well wouldn’t I have to be crazy to not say that MY wedding was the best experience?! Ha! Ha!  I mean it’s the one time you get to make it what you want it to be!

I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of wedding parties and they are all so different and fun.  Each bride is special and no two faces are the same, so what is not to love about each new experience?!   

 
What is your inspiration?

People inspire me! You know, beauty is a gift from God – everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. I have learned that I can have a positive influence on others by helping them feel better about themselves. When your makeup looks great, it gives you confidence, so I love making people feel fabulous on the outside to give them the confidence to let their inner beauty show through. Nothing is more beautiful than when your client’s eyes light up as she looks in the mirror at herself and you can tell she feels beautiful!   

Why do your clients choose you over some of your competitors?

I am very fortunate because I truly love what I do and my client’s see that.  If you read any of my bride’s reviews or talk to any vendors that know me or have worked with me, you will see I am consistent.  I show up on time, I listen, and I have not only the talent, but the passion that makes me do my best for you!  I realize that this isn’t just a party, this is YOUR WEDDING!

I personally think that really understanding who my client is and what overall look she is trying to convey is so important! Actually listening to the client and building a rapport is key. Talent and skill are only part of what I offer, a client should also like who they are working with and feel comfortable with the people they choose to be a part of the wedding process.  Brides spend a lot of time with their hair and makeup artists, and I want them to know they can count on me to make them look the most beautiful they have ever felt, as well as someone they can count on to show up. 

One of the characteristics my clients often tell me they love about working with me is that I get THEM excited about their wedding, and that I helped them stay calm and have fun while getting ready for bridals or the day of the wedding.  This, to me, is what it’s all about! Not only do I use the best professional products, but I offer the most superior customer service too. Bottom line, I care about YOU!     
 

What is the best piece of advice you can offer a bride on their wedding day? 

I think that brides that are looking for a “deal” learn the hard way.  There are a lot of choices you have to make for your wedding and sometimes you have to cut back in certain areas, but looking your best should not be one of them.  You pay all that money for a beautiful dress, your veil, and an amazing photographer, why on earth wouldn’t you invest in a reputable, professional makeup artist?  Your photographs are the one thing you can’t change, so do it right and don’t regret it later. Plus, remember amazing makeup done by a professional is much cheaper than hours of Photoshop, and its waterproof too!        

 
Now, tell us about your business? 

At About Face Artistry, I offer on-location and in-studio services. I primarily use M.A.C Cosmetics for the most superior staying power, as well as additional professional products to ensure long-lasting, tear-proof results throughout the night. There are hundreds of colors to choose from, as well as a wide variety of products for all skin types, age groups, and ethnic backgrounds.  You are not only going to love the way you look in your photographs, but you will also feel beautiful and never cakey, a better version of you!         
 
I love my career and giving my client’s the very best service, so last year I took time off and moved to NYC, in Manhattan, for three months to study updated makeup techniques. Makeup is an ever changing world and I feel it is part of every great makeup artist’s job and responsibility to be “in the know”. Continued education and training keeps you on top. I was lucky enough to study with some incredible celebrity artists and really get the inside scoop on lots of new and exciting products and techniques. New York is the fashion capital, so I figured what better place to tap into the brilliant minds of many successful artists there. Most wedding videographers are switching over to HD (High Definition) so it is important for me to be on my game since I specialize in wedding makeup. I stay busy providing my clients with the most current, beautiful makeup techniques and of course, I always offer the most superior customer service!

 
And a few irrelevant questions that we just had to ask: 

What do you love to do when you’re not working a wedding? 

I like to play with my daughter Daisy (my Pomeranian) and hang out with friends and family.  I love jamming out on the guitar on Rockband or Guitar Hero.  I also like to watch movies and in the summer go swimming.  I love being outside when it is warm!   

Favorite color? 

You know asking a makeup artist this is kind of like a trick question, because I love all colors.  Overall, I guess hot pink & black with a splash of lime green would be as narrow as it gets. Ha! Ha! I do also love yellow right now, definitely smitten with yellow!  Obviously depending on what the color is going to be used for can make a difference in my answer too.  Don’t worry ladies, I am not going to put lime green eye makeup on you for your wedding day! Ha! Ha! 

Favorite flower? 

I am a sucker for flowers! I loooove flowers, but especially Gerber daisies!  They are just so vibrant and happy, I mean seriously, who doesn’t love a big bunch of beautiful Gerber daisies?  

Favorite food? 

Mexican food, seafood, sushi, sweets . . . yum!