Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Ward.
Stephanie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, I’ll start by saying that it is no surprise that I am where I am today. My whole life I have always been the biggest girly girl, always getting my hands on any beauty products that were in front of me! My mother put me into Irish Step dancing at a young age where the love for makeup grew more and more! One of my favorite parts of dancing was all the glam! Fast forward to high school and there, I was being the go-to hair and makeup girl for all my friends.
After finishing high school, I did what everyone did or what I thought I “should do”. I went to college for a major I had absolutely no interest in (of course always doing makeup on the side). I then decided to get my real estate license thinking that would be a better alternative. But after a few years of finding myself, I finally knew what I wanted to do with my life. I told myself “ Why can’t I do makeup for a living?” “Why can’t I make a career out of what I LOVE to do”. So, I did and I went for it. I never went back to college and signed up to get certified in makeup at the Elizabeth Grady School and then to Spa Tech where I went for my esthetics license.
My first big job after school was on Newbury Street, where I learned from some of Boston’s best makeup artists. From fashion shows to high profile weddings, I have done it all. I have learned from celebrity makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic and have been certified by the Temptu Airbrush Academy in New York City.
Fast forward to today and I am running my own business. I always knew I wanted to be my own boss and open up a salon one day. Stephanie Ward Makeup has given me the opportunities I would have never imagined. I not only do makeup but I get to make relationships with the women I am doing it on. The fact that I get to be a part of someone’s wedding day is amazing to me. I have always loved love and to witness it all the time is truly so special. I love being able to give a woman confidence and make her feel like the queen she is. I can finally say I LOVE what I do and I have never been more at peace in my life.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my favorite things I like to say is “If you don’t go through the hard times you will never appreciate the good times”. No one has a smooth road in this life and if they tell you they have, they are lying (haha). For me, the hardest part of my journey is being able to balance work and family. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and two BEAUTIFUL sons. Jackson who is 4 and James who is 2. Being a young mom with children is the greatest gift of all. Being able to balance being a mom and owning a business is the challenging part.
Between bridal trials, marketing, weddings, waking up at 5 am with the kids, school, doctors appointments, play dates, and everything else, it can be a little crazy at times! I always say my mind works better when I am busy! Even though my life can be chaotic at times I still wouldn’t change anything about it! I love what I do and I do what I do for my children. No matter what I do I always try and give it my all. Sometimes, I am not perfect and I have learned to be ok with that. Because at the end of the day, I am living a life I love. If I were to give advice to someone who is just starting his or her journey it would be, GO FOR IT! If you want something in this life you can have it. There will always be a million reasons why you cant or shouldn’t but if you can ignore that then you can do anything.
what should we know about Stephanie Ward Makeup? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am the owner of Stephanie Ward Makeup and I specialize in wedding and event makeup. I am a Boston based makeup artist but have and will travel all over New England for a wedding. I also offer private lessons and group workshops. There are so many women who love makeup but don’t know how to apply it the right way. I love being able to share my knowledge with other women to give them the confidence boost they want.
My long-term goal is to be settled and open up a beautiful, luxurious beauty boutique either in Boston or on the South Shore. I am a freelance makeup artist which means I travel to you! What sets me apart from other makeup artists is I will travel to a bride’s home for a bridal trial prior to her wedding. In today’s world, convenience is key. Being able to offer a service in the comfort of your own home is very convenient and relaxing for the bride.
Stephanie Ward Makeup is continuously growing and I couldn’t be happier. Again, not only do I get to do what I love but it is the people who I meet along the way that brings me joy. I always get asked, “ how many terrible clients have you dealt with?!” and honestly, the answer is NONE. I have met so many beautiful women who have made me feel like a part of their family on one of the biggest days of their lives! I have made so many wonderful relationships with my clients and traveled to so many beautiful places I can not wait to see what’s in store for the future!
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I believe that if a woman wants to do something then she should go for it! Like I said in my first response, if there is something you want in this life then DO IT! There will always be a million reasons why you shouldn’t but if you can ignore that then I promise you will reach your goal.
Pricing:
- Bridal Trial $100
- Bridal Makeup $175
- Bridal Party $90
- Event Makeup $90
- Makeup Lessons/Workshops TBD
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stephaniewardmakeup.com
- Phone: 617-877-2789
- Email: stephaniewardmakeup@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram: @stephaniewardmakeup
- Facebook: Facebook: Stephanie Ward Makeup
Image Credit:
Kelly Cronin Photography, Shutter Eyes Photography, 21 Summit Studios
KRphotography Katie Robbins
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