Glow+Co: The Auckland Hair and Makeup Duo Behind Film, TV and Wedding-Day Glam

Vendor Spotlight: Hair and Makeup

There is a certain kind of hair and makeup team that treats a wedding morning like a film set, calm, organised, and completely unfazed by a tight timeline. Glow+Co is exactly that kind of team, and it makes sense once you know their background. Between them, founders Rani Shortland and Ambika Venkataiah have worked on New York Fashion Week, Shortland Street, and more magazine covers than we could count, and they bring that same level of professionalism to every bridal party they touch up.

Rani Shortland and Ambika Venkataiah, the founders and directors of Glow+Co.

Why We Recommend Them

Rani trained in New York and worked freelance across Sydney's television networks before returning to Auckland to co-found Glow+Co in 2023. Ambika trained locally at Cut Above and Serville, has worked with MAC and Shiseido, and has been behind the scenes on shows like Shortland Street and The Bachelor. That mix of high-fashion editorial precision and on-set adaptability is exactly what you want on a wedding morning, when timelines shift and everyone still needs to look flawless on camera.

What They Offer

Full bridal party hair and makeup with published, transparent pricing, always a relief for couples trying to budget a wedding morning. A bride's hair and makeup runs from $380, bridesmaids from $330, and mother of the bride from $300, with hair-only or makeup-only options available at each tier. Lashes are included in the price, hair extensions can be hired separately, and they offer trials so you can lock in your look well before the big day. Their artists are based across Auckland, Tauranga, Coromandel, and Queenstown, and they travel nationwide for destination weddings.

Bridal detailing captured during a Glow+Co wedding morning.

The Experience

What stands out to us on set is how methodical the Glow+Co team is about timing. Because they have worked to broadcast deadlines and film call sheets, they know exactly how long a full bridal party actually takes and build in buffer for the inevitable extra person who decides they want lashes at the last minute. That kind of planning keeps the whole morning on schedule, which as photographers we genuinely appreciate, since a relaxed getting-ready room always photographs better than a rushed one.

Our Tips

Book your trial early, especially if you are after a specific look you have seen online, and bring reference photos rather than just describing it. If your venue is on Waiheke Island or somewhere further out, factor the travel fee into your budget from the start so there are no surprises closer to the date. And take advantage of the published pricing to plan exactly how many of your bridal party you want to include, it makes the budgeting conversation much easier than most vendors in this category.

Glow+Co at a Glance

Service area: Auckland, Tauranga, Coromandel and Queenstown, with nationwide and international travel available

Bride pricing: Hair and makeup from $380, hair only from $200, makeup only from $200

Bridesmaid pricing: Hair and makeup from $330, hair only from $190, makeup only from $190

Contact: rani@glowandco.co.nz or ambikaglowandco@gmail.com

Founders: Rani Shortland and Ambika Venkataiah

Website: glowandco.co.nz

A wedding morning that runs smoothly and calmly sets the tone for the entire day, and it is one of the details we notice most as photographers. If you are still building out your dream team, we would love to talk with you about how Popin Wedding can capture everything from the first curl of your hair to the final dance. Get in touch and let's start planning your day together.