Hair & Makeup Tips

Part of preparing for your session is thinking about how you want your hair, makeup, and nails to look.  You have two options – set up an appointment with a professional, or do it yourself.

There are many benefits to letting the professionals help with your pictures:

• Professional makeup artists have experience in makeup application for photography
• Different makeup will appear differently in camera
• They have high quality products in every shade imaginable
• Understanding to know how to contour and choose colors that highlight your best features
• They’ll have you feeling CONFIDENT, BEAUTIFUL, and ready to start your session!

If you can’t afford both hair & makeup, I definitely recommend the makeup application. If neither is in your budget, below are some tips for doing makeup yourself! Contact us to find out more about the professionals we hire.

Makeup

• Apply eye and lip makeup SLIGHTLY darker than normal. Cameras don’t pick up the contrast & definition our eyes see in person.
• Avoid makeup with SPF & mineral makeup. While great for everyday use, they create an unflattering shine.
• Don’t go overboard with layers of heavy makeup because it’s hard to photograph cakey makeup.
• Set foundation with translucent powder that reduces shine. Shine is hard to touch up in Photoshop.
• You might not normally wear lipstick, but I recommend it for your session, even if it’s a shade close to your natural lip color.
• Mascara is a must. Clean not clumpy. At least 1 coat, 2 if you normally wear mascara.
• Pastel eye shadows will look washed out so go for a medium or dark, rich tone. Browns and golds are pretty safe!
• Avoid heavy black eyeliner, which makes your eyes look smaller. Go with gray or brown and blend well if you’re wearing eyeliner.
• Stay away from sparkles and shimmers because matte makeup will photograph better!

Nails - DO YOUR NAILS!!!

• Natural nails look great for portraits – just make sure they’re neatly trimmed, filed, buffed, and clean!
• If you want painted nails, choose a light and neutral color that goes with all of your outfits.
• Chipped nails look terrible, so wait until the night before your session if you’re painting them!
• If you’re wearing sandals or going barefoot for any photos, don’t forget your toes too!