Fabulous Hair, Makeup, Models and Photographer!

I just received the CD from Susan Stripling of the photos that SHE took at the workshops she held in Annapolis.  The Amie Decker Team styled the workshops and we have received so many beautiful photographs from the very talented photographers who attended and I have been VERY eager to see the photos that Susan took.  So without further adieu, here are some of my absolute favorites that Susan Stripling sent me.

 Model-Lauren

Hair- by Kelley

Makeup- By Amie

Models- Sara and John

Hair- by Kelley

Makeup- by Amie

Model- Stephanie

Hair- by Melanie

Makeup- by JoAnna

Model- Jennifer

Hair- by Kelley

Makeup- by Amie

I LOVE doing photo shoots!!!  The last shot of the day is Moi.  Can you tell I had fun?

Makeup and Lighting

We have another Susan Stripling workshop today that we are styling.  And today we get to work with two former brides so it is especially exciting because I love seeing my beautiful brides again!  I just wanted to share an amazing photograph taken by Susan from last weeks workshop, which shows her master of lighting and photography.  More photos to come!

Hair & Makeup for Annapolis Photographer Workshop

Our team had the most amazing time on Friday when we took on the task of styling the shoot for the Susan Stripling Workshop in Annapolis MD.  Susan Stripling is an Award Winning photographer who travels all over the country to train photographers through her workshops.  Part of the workshop included a shoot in downtown Annapolis with an engaged couple and a bride, and I was overjoyed when we were called to do the styling.  We were given complete creative freedom (which is an artist's dream) and I loved how everything turned out.  JoAnna and Melanie worked on the Bride (who is my friend Stephanie) and Kelley and I worked on the engaged couple Sara and Jonathan.  Yes, Jonathan was also styled (hair cut and beard trim).  These pictures are from Jamie Roberts of Roberts Photographers.  Jamie was one of the photographers who attended on Friday and he took some beautiful images.  It was so fun to meet so many talented photographers and hang out with some I already know and adore.  Check out Jamie's website to see more of his work and we will have more workshop photos coming soon.

 Sara and John were the cutest couple and madly in-love.  They are getting married in October and all of the photographers warned them that they will be crashing the wedding.

Sara seemed to like John's freshly trimmed beard, courtesy of Kelley.

Stephanie's styling was so fun!  Melanie did her hair and JoAnna did her makeup and we went for an "Alice in Wonderland" Black and White Whimsical inspiration.  She looks so hot!

And I even jumped in for a little modeling.  Oh my.

I am still working on my serious face.

Susan Stripling is coming back next Friday (March 26th) for another workshop and we may still need an engagement couple to model.  So if you are interested or know someone who is then shoot me an email.

Sneak Peak

I have a huge post to make from an amazing photo shoot we styled but here is a "sneak peak" of what is to come!!!!

photo by Robert Photographers

Hair and Makeup Trials

I have been receiving some great questions from brides recently regarding trials and I thought it would make an informative blog post.  This is my response to an email I received recently and I wanted to share it with the rest of you. If you think this information is helpful then leave a comment and let me know and I will think of some way to incorporate it into the website.

Let me explain a little about our set up.  We are a team of freelance makeup artists and hairstylists who all specialize in weddings.  Weddings are  a special niche because it really takes a certain amount of knowledge and talent to give the bride and her family exactly what she needs and deserves.  Plenty of hair stylists can give a great cut but cannot do an updo if their life depended on it.  And as for makeup, the balance between looking natural in person and still photographing beautifully can be a challenge.

Our team is comprised of women that I have had the privilege of knowing who are impeccable at what they do.  They have all been personally trained by me and are artists that I would trust to do my hair and makeup on my own wedding day.  When I got married over 6 years ago, I was surprised by the great need for professional makeup and hair artists that would travel to a bride’s location.  I decided that it is a luxury that every bride should have, so that is when I started my company.

Since all of us come to your location our company does not have a salon.  Some of us do the trials in our home and others travel to the client for the trial.  So the trial location may change based on which artist you are working with.  I do my trials at my home in Sykesville (I know, quite a hike) and Kelley, who is a  hair stylist,  does trials at her salon in Annapolis or her home in Crofton.  The factor of a travel fee comes in when the artist you are working with has to travel more than 40 miles round trip for the wedding.  We try and pair brides with a stylist and makeup artist that are close to them so they do not have to pay a travel fee but sometimes based on availability or request, the travel fee cannot be avoided.

We require a signed contract to reserve the date.  A deposit is due at the time of the trial and it is up to you when you decide to have your trials.  Some brides want to do a trial before booking and others do the trial closer to the wedding.  I recommend doing the trial about 4 weeks before the wedding.  When the trial is done close to the wedding, the bride looks most like she will on her wedding day.  Her hair length and color are not going to change drastically, along with her skin type and tan and weight (all which effect the makeup application).  Also most brides have not put much thought into their hair or makeup and what style/mood they are going for until closer to the wedding date.  So what is meant to be a trial run through of the wedding hair and makeup ends up being just a “tryout” for the hair stylist and makeup artist, when it would be more useful closer to the wedding.  This being said, I completely understand why some brides want to do a trial before signing a contract so they feel more confident in their decision.  If a Bride is interested we always offer an additional trial, that she can pay for, so she can have a trial before booking and another closer to the wedding.

Vintage Bride

I have a special fondness for birdcage veils and I have been waiting for a bride to finally use one, so I am sending huge thank yous to Amanda!!!!!  Amanda was married at Turf Valley Country Club on a beautiful September day.  I just loved her look.  She wore a very special and unique lace vintage inspired gown and her hair and makeup went right along with her look.  Amanda's sister-in-law, Melanie, is a fabulous hair stylist based in Chicago and she created a beautiful vintage look. Amanda decided to keep her signature short hairstyle instead of growing out her hair for the wedding and Melanie was able to do a soft finger wave style that was perfection.  Thank you Amanda for sharing your special day and your photos with me.  You are beautiful!