Beauty Tips for a Successful Photography Session

As an experienced make-up artist and hairstylist, I want to share with you a few of my favorite beauty tips to help make the most of your next photo session.

Hair

-Embrace your natural hair. Our area is humid, and no matter what heat styling you do, your hair might revert to its natural settings.

-Be prepared for windy conditions. I sometimes have to pin my client's hair back because the wind has no set direction, and the hair is going all over. My clients often pick a half up and half down look to avoid this mess.

-Heat protection for hair is also necessary to prevent sun-damaged hair.

-Use humidity-proof and stronghold products for added security.

Nails

-Color on or off is what I say. I will more than likely take close-ups of your hands, so make sure they look good. 

-Sometimes to add an extra flair when time is limited, I grab a pack of press-on nails from Walmart. For $10 or less, my nails will look so good.

Skin

-Keep it hydrated. 

-Use a lotion that makes your skin glisten.

-Go easy on the spray tan. I can't fix orange skin.

-Remove any hair bands or Apple watches. Think about anything you may not want in photos later.

Face Prep

-Grab a wet washcloth or a make-up wipe and rub off all your dead skin. Make your skin look happy then moisturize before you put on your make-up. 

- Sunscreen is a must at the beach, even if you are only out for a few minutes. 

- If you are using primer stick with something oil-free. 

Foundation

-Make sure your foundation matches your skin. Your face shouldn't be a different color than the rest of your body. 

-Make sure your foundation isn't too heavy; otherwise, it could appear as cakey. I prefer full coverage for myself, so I add my moisturizer to my foundation, and I only apply to my T-zone since my face is naturally contoured. This method makes my foundation appear skin-like. 

- Don't go crazy trying to cover blemishes it might make your "secrets" as I call them more prominent. We can fix blemishes editing later. 

-Sometimes I add a little bronzer if my foundation is a little too light for my skin once I get a little tan on me.

Contour/Highlight

-Blend, blend, and blend. Avoid streaks when contouring those cheekbones. A heavy unblended contour will give you a muddy appearance. 

-Use a contour shade that is 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone.

- The highlight should help you achieve a sunkissed look, so apply lightly. Avoid heavy usage, especially on the nose and cheeks; you will appear sweaty.

Blush

-Add your highlight under your blush to avoid streaks. 

- Less is more. You might have a natural blush, so adding too much might enhance those red cheeks. 

-Avoid getting blush too close to your nose and apply directly on the apples of your cheeks with gentle pressure upwards to your temples.

Eyes

-Use eyeshadow primer if especially if your eyelids are oily. I love using MacPaint pots in color Ocre.

- Keep eyeshadow colors light and simple. 

-Once again, blend your shadows to avoid hard, unnatural lines. 

-Use waterproof mascara and eyeliner. These are must, especially with the humidity and if you are adventurous and decide to jump in the water. 

Eyelashes

-Use Waterproof mascara. For any beach setting, you want to make sure you do not end up with raccoon eyes. 

-False eyelashes add drama and depth to your eyes. I wouldn't go with the longest lashes, though. Stick with something natural. Trust me, a little will go a long way. 

- Try a few adhesives to see which one works best for you. My eyes are sensitive, so I have a specific brand I can use. 

Lips

-Exfoliate your lips before applying lip color. 

-Find a long-lasting lipstick/stain that will not end up all over your face. Remember, we will be hugging and kissing our family throughout our session. 

- If you need a little more pop, pair your make-up look with a fun lipstick. Find a mauve, peach, cream, pink, or red that makes you feel like a million bucks. 

-Avoid lip glosses as they usually end up all over our face with the heavy winds that the beaches bring. 

Setting Spray

-Setting spray will help keep your make-up in one place despite the wind, humidity, and sweat. Avoid the dewy finishes as you may already naturally glisten.

Some of my favorite simple looks that would photograph well for a photo session.

Below are a few of my favorite long lasting products