Should bridal makeup include the trial?

Both models work. Including the trial makes one simple price; charging separately (and crediting it when she books) protects your time from brides who are only comparing artists.

How often should I raise my prices?

Review once a year, and raise prices when you're consistently booked up for peak dates months ahead. Honour quoted prices for brides who have already booked.

How to Price Bridal Makeup: Rates, Trials & Packages

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In this video: How a working bridal artist sets her rates

In this lesson

What sets you apart, and why that shapes your price
How to research local prices properly
Calculating your minimum price from real costs
Pricing trials, bridesmaids, travel and early starts
Packages and extras that win bookings without discounting

Pricing is where most new artists go wrong, usually by charging what they would pay rather than what the work costs. A bridal booking isn’t just two hours of makeup on the day. There’s the enquiry, the trial, the travel, the 5 a.m. start, the admin, the product and the kit you replace. Price for all of it and your business grows. Price for the two hours and you’ll be busy and broke.