Kiama's Making Faces Makeup Studio has won the Wedding Industry Award for Bridal Hair and Makeup in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands.

The Wedding Industry Awards recognise excellence over 30 regions of Australia and are considered the pinnacle of recognition in the Australian wedding industry.

Owner of Making Faces Makeup Studio, Meryll Faulkner, and her team of six, bring world-class expertise to South Coast clients.

Meryll has trained under Oscar-nominated makeup artist Tina Earnshaw in Los Angeles, in Paris with Atelier Maquillage, and with renowned fashion artist Victor Noble in New York.

“It’s good, it's not just for me, it's for all of us. Which is really lovely. I run it and I do the hard work behind the scenes and stuff. But no, it's great for all of us,” said Meryll.

“I think it's great for the industry to know that you've been around a long time. You know what you're doing. You're pretty professional”.

After establishing Making Faces Makeup Studio in Sydney in 1998, Meryll made the decision to relocate her business to Kiama. The move was a significant shift for someone who spent years building a reputation in Sydney’s beauty industry.

“I was just married to the business…I love what I do and people say, ‘Meryll, are you going to retire?’ and I go, ‘I don't think so.’ I still hold a brush and people still want me,” said Meryll.

“I think you can have it run you, instead of you running it. So, I think that coming down here is a good thing”.

As a multi-year winner of the Australian Bridal Awards for Excellence and nominee for Australian Makeup Artist Awards, Meryll has trained leading makeup artists and worked across television, film, and high-profile events including a Channel Nine Today Show wedding segment.

What distinguishes Meryll’s bridal work is her combination of skill and personal approach to each client's unique style and needs.

“Brides have to connect, they have to connect with you. I think that's really, really important, and it's such a special day,” she said.

Beyond weddings, Meryll actively supports the Illawarra’s growing film industry, working as a lead makeup artist for ‘Mass to You at Home’ and local productions including ‘I’ve Got You’ and ‘Lesley’. As a NSW and ACT distributor for Atelier Maquillage professional makeup, her company supplies artists across television, theatre, and film.

“You're there and you're patient and make people feel good,” said Meryll.

“It's really not about me, it's about them and it's about being reliable and being on time and things happen...experience just tells you how to get out of trouble”.

Meryll’s achievements demonstrate what’s possible for creative professionals based outside major cities. She successfully navigates servicing local and Sydney clients whilst gaining herself national recognition for her work.

“I choose to do what I want to do, and that's getting older and loving what you do,” she said.

“If I'm already booked, I'll look at my team and I'll say, ‘right, there's a bridal party in Batemans Bay, who wants to go?’”

As Making Faces Makeup Studio grows its local presence, Meryll remains committed to supporting local creative industries and emerging talent.

The Wedding Industry Award recognises not just individual achievement, but the quality of talent in the area. For Illawarra brides, having access to award winning artists in the local area reinforces the region's growing reputation for wedding excellence.

Making Faces Makeup Studio is located in Kiama and services the South Coast, Highlands, and Sydney regions.