A Word About Hair & Make Up
The secret to looking good in portraits is strategically preparing ahead of time. (I know, not what you thought I was going to say, but there it is.)
If you have carefully selected the outfits you will wear in your session, made sure your outfits will complement your portrait session location, and arrive to your session with your hair washed and face clean and moisturized then our amazing hair and makeup stylists can get to work. We always recommend having a professional do your hair and makeup. I cannot stress this enough.
Having Professional hair and makeup done always adds that extra “wow” to your portraits. It’s also a great reason to pamper yourself. Pampering yourself by having your hair and makeup done will make you look amazing. When you look good, you will also feel good. And feeling good during your session is a must. Whether you choose to hire a professional hair and/or makeup artist, or choose to do your hair and makeup on your own, here are some tips to use when preparing for your next portrait session.
If you plan to have your hair cut before your session, you should plan to have it cut 2 weeks before. Freshly cut hair may not lay correctly. Also, if planning for a haircut, I would recommend keeping the style in line with your typical look. It’s not recommended to try a new haircut or color change. Stick with what you are comfortable with and what you like for your hair.
Style your hair on the day of your session with a natural look in mind. Adding light curls can look complementary.
Apply hairspray to your hairstyle on the day of your session. Also, plan to bring your hairspray with you. This will help control fly-away hairs. Be careful not to apply too much hair product as you want to avoid creating a sticky and/or heavy look with your hairstyle.
Your foundation should even out your skin tone, cover any redness, and cover the majority of blemishes. I would recommend using at least medium coverage. The camera may not pick up the effects of your makeup application if it’s too light. If the makeup application is too heavy, it can appear caked on or overdone.
Choosing matte makeup works best for portraits. Avoid using makeup that has shine or shimmer. This can include eye shadows with glitter, make-up with SPF, and/or mineral makeup. Using these will create shine that could provide unflattering results. Applying translucent powder can help reduce shine. Please bring your powder with you to re-apply in between outfit changes.
When it comes to your eyes: makeup should be applied slightly darker, and thicker, than normal. The goal is to have the camera pick up the contrast and definition in your eyes. Using neutral eye shadows can help accentuate your eyes. Golden brown shadows can typically match to most outfit color combinations.
Eyeliner: The use of eyeliner should define your eye shape without reducing the appearance of your eye shape. To do this, choose darker browns. Brown or brown/black is recommended. Applying your eyeliner too thick could make your eyes look small.
PLEASE DO NOT line the inside of your eyes. This looks horrible in photos and automatically ages you.
Applying mascara will help add definition to your eyes. Be sure to apply the mascara so that there are no clumps. One to two coats of mascara should work perfectly. You should also consider applying false eyelashes to add more length and dimension to your eyes. Eyelashes help open up the eyes.
For Lips, make sure they are moisturized. Apply lip liner and lipstick. Choose a neutral color that is close to your natural color. Your lipstick color should also complement the colors within your planned wardrobe.
Be sure to blend when applying your makeup. If you apply concealer, blend it into your skin and foundation so that it isn’t noticeable. The same goes for eye shadows. You want the layers of your eye shadows to blend into each other to provide a complementary look.
Lastly, let’s not forget your nails. Be sure to have your nails trimmed, filed, buffed, and clean. Natural nails, or neutral color painted nails, look best. If going to a nail salon for a manicure, ask to have your nails buffed out. This provides a very beautiful natural sheen for your nails. If you’d prefer having your nails painted, choose neutral colors that complement the wardrobe choices for your session. To ensure well manicured nails that are free of chipping, plan to have your nails done the night before your session. Lastly, be sure to also groom your toenails if you plan to wear sandals or go barefoot. Having your feet moisturized will look great especially since we often have bare feet in the studio.