SESSION TIPS

Ready for Your Closeup?

“Makeup is the finishing touch, the final accessory.”

—Marc Jacobs

You, Only Better: Advice and suggestions on skincare and grooming to enhance your session. Above, makeup artist Makena Couture applies her brand of magic to 7News Boston television anchor and reporter Jadiann Thompson for her Improper Bostonian magazine cover portrait.

Your Face, the Artist’s Canvas:
Makeup is transformative, according to legendary beauty guru François Nars. It is “the ultimate vehicle for personal expression,” he asserts in his seminal book Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself.

Tips & Recommendations

Headshot Wardrobe

We encourage clients to bring a range of options to wear unless they are sold on a particular look. As long as you love it and it doesn’t distract from your face, it’s your choice! Just keep in mind that simple lines and solid colors are always best. And no need to be concerned with seasonality. Also, know that we have a steamer in the studio, so we can deal with wrinkled garments. Keep jewelry minimal, avoiding big chunky pieces. If in doubt, bring options. If you wear glasses and have several pairs, bring them along in case there’s an issue with glare. 

Headshot Hair and Makeup for Women

Makeup is not required but is highly recommended. Makeup applied by us is intended to smooth skin tones and highlights from studio strobes or hot lights. We prefer a light, natural look appropriate for business. For clients who prefer a little heavier makeup application—or prefer to handle it themselves—we are happy to comply.

For DIY Makeup, Please Read:

For clients who prefer to handle their own makeup, please note that not all foundations perform equally under studio light or outdoor flash. The best foundations contain properties that absorb and spread artificial light for a soft, healthy glow, rather than harsh highlights. Take a moment to review the 7 top foundations as recommended by leading makeup artists, linked here.

Another source for helpful makeup tips to maximize your photographs is this brief article at FashionMagazine.com.

Women’s Hair

We prefer that you arrive with your hair done how you love it. But we can arrange for a stylist if you’d like a refresh or are naturally curly and want to go straight. Whatever you like, just let us know.

Skin Preparation for Women

A well-moisturized skincare regimen is a key to beautiful skin. Remember that even oily skin can be dehydrated. Use a well-formulated moisturizer at least once a day, but avoid those with an SPF on the day of your shoot since most SPF ingredients cause undesirable reflections when illuminated with studio lights. If you prefer to wear an SPF, our makeup artist can remove the moisturizer and apply a non-SPF moisturizer on set. We recommend moisturizers free of alcohol, witch hazel, fragrance, or essential oils. 

My makeup artist, Tonya Brewer, taught me the importance of moisturizing daily. Hydration is a must if you want pretty, dewy skin.
—Bella Thorne

Foundation looks better and more radiant on adequately exfoliated skin. Scrubs are too abrasive for most, and we don’t recommend them. We suggest applying a cleanser to a damp washcloth, which is gentle enough for everyday use. Here too, avoid products with fragrance and other irritants. 

If you want a facial, allow at least two days before your session to calm your skin. Since we prefer minimal retouching for a natural appearance, good skin care and preparation make all the difference. Remember that hydration is essential. And it’s best to avoid alcohol the days before your shoot to ensure a healthy glow and eliminate puffiness around the eyes.

Don’t forget to exfoliate and moisturize your lips. Apply a warm, wet washcloth gently over your lips, followed by a soothing balm. In the case of chapping, gently massage your lips with a soft-bristle toothbrush to exfoliate, followed by a nourishing lip balm or Vaseline.

Remove unwanted facial hair at least two days before and avoid tweezing the day of your session. If you wax, allow even more time. While hair grows at different rates for everyone, the further in advance, the better, especially for sensitive skin. Stray growth can be fixed in retouching, though it’s best to get it right in-camera.

Ideally, arrive fresh-faced, without makeup or moisturizer. However, if you’re not comfortable with that or will be coming directly from work with full makeup, that’s OK, too. We’ll work around it. 

Skin Preparation and Grooming Tips for Men

A common issue with men concerns skin flakiness. Covering flaky skin with makeup only emphasizes the problem. Fortunately, it can be usually remedied with a gentle moisturizer applied before bed and, if possible, twice daily. Avoid products with irritants like fragrance or alcohol, which are common in men’s skincare. (For more in-depth content on male skincare, check out WorldlyGentleman.digital.)

Proper exfoliation is another fix for flaky skin. However, the drugstore scrubs tend to be harsh, resulting in micro-tears over the skin surface. This can lead to dehydrated and red skin. Seek out quality products like those found here for your particular skin type or condition.

Lips, too, need exfoliating and moisturization. In the shower on the morning of your shoot, gently massage your lips with a warm, wet washcloth. Follow up with a quality lip balm.

For men with the problem of ingrown hair from shaving, chemical exfoliation is recommended. Scrubbing away at ingrown hairs not only doesn’t work but can also exacerbate the issue. Soothing aftershave products like PC4Men are effective at treating and preventing ingrown hair. Avoid cooling aftershaves, which feel good in the moment but sensitize and compromise proper skin function, leading to other problems.

It’s good practice to use product on your beard after trimming. We like Detroit Grooming Company’s Beard Conditioner. And be vigilant about maintaining well-trimmed eyebrows, nose, and ear hair, all steps essential to a complete hygiene routine.