Whenever possible, I always recommend booking a professional hair and makeup artist for your photoshoot. Not only does it help you look your best on camera, but it also allows you to relax and enjoy the experience. I’ve written a post about why I recommend professional hair and makeup for photoshoots, which you can read here >>>
That said, many clients choose to do their own hair and makeup, and that’s absolutely fine. If you’re preparing for a portrait or boudoir photoshoot, here are a few tips to help you look your best on camera.
MAKEUP
Choose a matte base
Avoid very glowy, dewy, or shimmery foundations and primers. What looks fresh and radiant in real life can often appear shiny or oily in photographs, especially under studio lighting. While that glossy look can work beautifully for fashion, beauty, or editorial shoots, it is usually less flattering for portraits and boudoir photography. A natural matte or satin finish tends to photograph best.
Bring powder with you
Even if your makeup is freshly applied, skin can become shiny during the session. A small compact powder is useful for quick touch-ups.
Go slightly stronger than usual
Photography naturally softens makeup. What feels like a normal everyday look can almost disappear on camera, so don’t be afraid to apply your makeup a little more strongly than you normally would.
Make sure your foundation matches your skin
One of the most common things I notice is foundation that doesn’t quite match the rest of the body. Even if you blend it well onto your neck, your chest, shoulders, or hands may reveal the difference. Before your session, check that your foundation matches not only your skin tone but also your undertone, whether that’s warm, cool, neutral, or olive.
Contour and define
A touch of contouring can help create dimension and enhance your natural facial features. Studio lighting creates shape, but makeup can help define it even further.
Define the eyes
Make sure to fill in the upper lash line (the space between the eyelashes). This small detail makes a surprising difference in photographs and helps the eyes stand out beautifully.
Avoid eyeliner on the lower waterline
Dark eyeliner applied along the lower waterline can make the eyes appear noticeably smaller in photographs, even if it looks flattering in person. Unless you’re going for a close-up beauty or editorial look, it’s usually best to leave the lower waterline bare and focus on defining the upper lash line instead.
Avoid overly metallic eyeshadows on textured eyelids
Metallic eyeshadows can create bright reflections under studio lighting and flash, while also drawing attention to fine lines and eyelid texture. Matte or satin finishes generally look more beautifully.
Choose fresh lipstick shades
Very dark brown, chocolate, or deep plum lipsticks can sometimes make the face appear older in photographs. Softer, fresher shades such as berry, rose, peach, or coral (depending on your skin’s undertone) tend to look more flattering and timeless.
Don’t forget brows
Well-defined brows frame the face and help balance your features in photos.
Avoid products with SPF
Some SPF products can create a white cast or flashback in photographs, particularly if flash is used.
Avoid body shimmer
Body shimmer, glitter oils, and highly reflective products can create bright hotspots under studio lighting and flash. Moisturised skin usually photographs far better than sparkly skin.
HAIR
Clean hair is essential
Please arrive with clean hair. Greasy roots tend to become more noticeable in photographs than they do in real life.
Volume is your friend
Hair with some lift at the roots generally photographs more beautifully than very flat hair. A little extra volume helps frame the face and creates shape and movement in photographs.
If you have long hair
Consider how you’d like your hair to look both from the front and the side. Soft movement and volume tend to photograph beautifully, while hair that sits completely flat against the head can sometimes make the face appear wider in photographs.
Bring a brush
We’ll often adjust your hair throughout the session, so having a brush handy can be useful.
NAILS
Your hands and feet may appear in close-up photographs, so it’s worth paying a little attention to your manicure and pedicure before the session.
If possible, avoid nail polishes with heavy shimmer, glitter, or reflective particles. Studio lights and flash can catch these reflections and create bright white hotspots in photographs. Solid colours, sheer shades, French manicures, or classic nude tones usually photograph best.
Don’t forget your hands
Apply hand cream before your shoot to keep the skin looking smooth and hydrated. If it’s cold outside, wear gloves on your way to the studio. Red, cold hands can look quite different from your face after makeup has evened out your skin tone, making the colour difference more obvious in photographs.