Local Love Blog Series – Sam Marvell Makeup

Welcome back to the Local Love Blog Series!

I’m so excited to be featuring Sam from Sam Marvell Makeup – a Banff-based makeup artist primarily focused on making brides and their bridal parties look stunning on their big day! 

Staying away from caked-on makeup or unnatural looks, Sam likes to focus on the little details that make a difference. She takes inspiration from other makeup artists who can find the perfect balance between adding their own style and flair to a look while still creating a natural and beautiful look. 

Focusing on Bridal and Special Event Makeup, Sam keeps herself busy in the Bow Valley. 

Her passion and love for makeup keep her going through busy times! It’s a blend of the people she meets, the creative process of putting together a look, and the reactions her work elicits at the reveal that she loves. The reward for Sam is getting her clients to see themselves in a different light, to see their beauty from someone else’s eye, and recognize amazing features that they may have overlooked on their own. 

Every new client is a blank slate for Sam and she gets to give them a fresh take on their look! 

Sam recognizes that we all look at ourselves every day and fall into a habit of how we present ourselves (be it doing our own makeup or not). As a makeup artist, Sam can look at each clients’ features with fresh eyes and bring them to life. She loves the creativity that makeup artistry allows, all while blowing away her clients with the finished product. 

However, she didn’t think of it as a career until halfway through university while she was pursuing a non-makeup-related degree. Sam went right into a Special Effects makeup course as soon as she was finished with her university degree. In this course, she discovered her interest in beauty makeup and it’s all been history since then. She graduated from her course and dove into editorial work. 

Originally from Australia, Sam eventually made her way to Banff during a North American trip. 

When she first arrived, Sam’s work as a makeup artist paused while she explored the area and settled in. A few years later, friends who owned salons in town asked for Sam’s help with some wedding and the makeup spark was reignited.

Sam has made some amazing connections in the Bow Valley and with that comes lots of Local Love shout-outs to make! 

First up are some artisans in town that she loves, including Bec from Bec Design, Nikki from Nak Creative, Graphic Designer Dee from Phaneric, and Ciara from Ciara Jayne Ceramics. She also loves the work done at Banff Gift Baskets, The Tune Shop, The Crystal Sparrow, Natt Millar Reflexology and Reiki, and Remedy Skincare & Spa. She regularly partners with several businesses around town and had to make sure none were missed being mentioned here: Rocky Mountain Weddings & Events, Bec Design, En Vogue Salon, Natalia Nevpornaya, Beatnik Salon, B-Towne Salon, The Hair Company, Banff Mountaintop Flowers, Rock & Rose by Mel Manning, Elope in Banff, and Kim Payant Photography.

Sam works hard to find the balance between work and play! 

Originally thinking that she wouldn’t be able to make it work as a full-time makeup artist, Sam was blown away by how many weddings actually happen in the Bow Valley and how many brides would be needing her services! With amazing support from partners, friends, and family Sam has been able to combine her passion and work together to make a sustainable career. 

And missing out on family time throughout the summer is a tough blow, but at the end of the day always worthwhile. With COVID restrictions changing often and impacting weddings almost constantly, Sam looks forward to a time when a bride will no longer have to put a mask on over top of all her hard work and just let their perfect look shine for everyone to see. 

So if you’re walking down the aisle this year (or next) or have a special event coming up for which you want to add a little pep to your step, be sure to check out Sam’s work! You can find her services and rates online, or keep following her on Instagram and Facebook for amazing photos of her beautiful work. 

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