FAQ – Hair and Makeup Tips

FAQ

March 25, 2014

Ahhh so I got the idea for this FAQ post while I was figuring out what I wanted to do for my hair and makeup for some headshots I’d wanted to have done today…but as it turns out, this endless winter STILL isn’t over, and we decided to postpone my pictures. Ugh. At least I get to share these tips I came up with while preparing for the shoot with you guys today!! I’m by no means a professional at makeup or hair, so take my tips with a grain of salt. These are all things I use when I have my own pictures taken, so hopefully they’re helpful!

Q. How should I wear my hair for pictures? Should I do anything special for makeup?? 

A. My first answer to this question is, if  budget and time allow, you should invest in having your hair and makeup professionally done! You’re already investing in having pictures taken, and whether that’s your wedding day images, an engagement session, or another portrait session, you want to make sure you look and feel your best. Engagement sessions and bridal sessions are also a really great opportunity to have makeup trials to test out how your wedding day look will come together!!

If having someone do your  hair and makeup for pictures just isn’t quite in the budget, that’s okay too! I have a few tips for you guys to make sure you’re looking your best in your pictures!

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Start with good products. I suggest investing in some quality cosmetics that are going to be good for your skin and are things you can use over and over again after the session date has passed. One thing I’ve learned about makeup is that for the most part, you do get what you pay for! I’ve started spending a little more money on my makeup and I’ve noticed that not only do the products work better for their intended uses, but they’ve also improved the quality of my skin! Some of my favorite brands: Urban Decay, Smashbox, Bare Minerals, Philosophy.

Prep your skin correctly. When I worked full time in an office, I would wear makeup every day to work. I worked in a corporate office, so it wasn’t professional to not wear makeup and at least look somewhat like I tried to put myself together. I’d wear foundation every day, and by lunchtime I’d notice that most of it was already gone! Or that my forehead was gross and shiny! After I started using a foundation primer every day with my foundation, I no longer struggled with either of those things. I suggest wearing a foundation primer as a base when you’re having your pictures taken, because it helps keep your skin more matte looking and provides a great base to help foundation go on more evenly and last longer. This is especially important when you live in humid Virginia! My favorite primer is Smashbox Photo Finish Blemish Control. If you have extra oily skin, definitely consider bringing blotting papers to your session to get rid of any shiny spots:)

Go heavier. When you’re having pictures taken, you want to wear more makeup than usual. If you don’t wear much makeup on a daily basis, it can feel weird to add extra the day of your portrait session, but you will want that extra bit of definition to really make your features stand out! So it’s a good idea to go a little darker and heavier with your eye makeup and blush or bronzer.

Wear fake eyelashes. Fake eyelashes open your eyes up in a way that almost no other eye product does! If you only do ONE thing differently for your pictures, make it fake eyelashes!! I’d definitely suggest trying them out before the day of the session if you haven’t used them before.

Don’t forget about the lips. I usually don’t wear anything on my lips on a day to day basis, but when I’m having my picture taken, I love to wear lipstick or balm sticks because they really add a little bit of extra interest to my overall look. I used to be really intimidated by lip color, but I discovered these amazing balm sticks by Revlon that are so easy to apply and come in a bunch of gorgeous colors. They’re more of a crayon-like application, so much more idiot proof than a traditional lipstick. Right now I’m loving the Matte Balm!

Or your hair, either! Make an appointment at a blow dry bar or a salon that offers blowouts for the day of the session! I wouldn’t necessarily suggest getting a haircut or a bang trim the day of the session, but if you can get your hair professionally styled, you’ll feel so great about yourself and you won’t have to stress about whether or not you’re having a good hair day.

There you have it! My best tips for ensuring you look your best at your session! Let me know if you have any questions or are interested in specific products I use by emailing me or commenting on this post!

 

 

Leave a Comment

  1. Nastja says:

    Great tips for make up & hair. 🙂 I always advise my brides to get their test make up done for an engagement session, too.

  2. Katie says:

    The first time I ever got my makeup done was for our engagement session with Katelyn! It was definitely a fun experience! 🙂

  3. Maria says:

    I wholeheartedly agree, false eyelashes make such a difference!! I just picked some up yesterday for my maternity session this weekend!

  4. Awesome tips!! Seriously makes such a difference when gals get their hair and makeup done! They feel SO confident!

  5. Great tips! I stand behind all of this, super important to put a little extra time and effort into it!

  6. I couldn’t agree more with this! A little more goes a long way!

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