What to check before you book
Ask for a real, varied portfolio. One perfect photo means nothing. Look for consistent results across different skin tones, ages, and lighting — daylight muhurtham shots and evening reception shots both — not just a highlight reel of the artist's best five faces.
Insist on a trial session. A trial is where you catch anything that needs adjusting — a base that oxidises differently on your skin, an eye shape that needs a different liner, a colour that photographs off. Any artist confident in their work should welcome this, not charge it as an afterthought or skip it to save time.
Understand HD vs airbrush before you pick one. HD (cream and powder-based) suits most Indian skin types and gives a natural, buildable finish; airbrush gives a lighter, second-skin finish that some cameras and some skin types render better. A good artist asks about your skin and the venue lighting before recommending either, rather than offering only one technique.
Check hygiene practices. Sanitised brushes and single-use applicators per client should be a given, not a selling point — but ask anyway. It matters more in Chennai's humidity, where shared, poorly cleaned kits are a real skin-irritation risk across a full wedding season.
Ask what happens if the artist is unavailable. Illness, a family emergency, a double-booking — it happens. A studio with a trained backup artist on call protects your date; a solo freelancer with no contingency plan does not.
Get the pricing broken down, in writing, before the day. A quote should say exactly what is included — trial, touch-up kit, on-location travel, bridesmaid add-ons — so nothing is negotiated at the door on the morning of your wedding. Bridal packages in Chennai commonly range from roughly ₹15,000 for a single-function look to ₹40,000+ for a full multi-event, hair-included experience; if a quote is vague about what sits inside that number, ask again.
Confirm on-location service and travel coverage. Getting ready at home or at the venue keeps your morning calm — check whether the artist travels across Chennai as standard, or charges extra beyond a certain distance.
Book early. Good artists are booked out months ahead in wedding season (roughly October to February in Chennai). Reach out as soon as your date is fixed rather than a few weeks before.