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BEFORE YOUR SHOOT

VIP DAYS include all of these beauty treatments (as well as other things) and even wardrobe styling, but this section has great advice for everyone, including VIPs.

Invest the time and money necessary into your photo shoot. Your photos will be priceless no matter what beauty treatments you decide to take part in.

You will absolutely not regret paying your attention to these areas:

The way I see it is there’s three distinct path’s to go down with makeup for photography -- and of course it will depend on the goal of your shoot. Are you doing a boudoir shoot, a professional oriented branding shoot, or celebrating something?

Regardless of your motivation your choices boil down to 3 categories -- NATURAL, ENHANCED, OR BOLD.

No one can tell you which one that you will prefer, but I’d wager that you already know!

The intention of makeup is to help you express yourself. It's to make you feel different. It's for fun. It's for variety. It's for FANTASY.

Bare faces should be normalized, just like real bodies -- there is no question about that. Makeup should be something that is simply a vehicle of self expression and if makeup feels oppressive vs. expressive, than we're making some mistakes somewhere around here.

Let's discuss that briefly.

If makeup is OPPRESSIVE - it means that wear-er is feeling obligated to wear it.

Whether they're in a professional environment where the handbook states that certain staff members should be wearing makeup to look "put together" or "professional" or because they feel some stigma around not wearing it from an external source.

Choosing to wear makeup because you're going out for a fun night out, or because you're playing a character on a stage are examples of expressive use of makeup.

On a day-to-day basis, whether you are choosing to wear makeup or not, I respect that! I don't wear make up regularly at this time in my life.

Makeup for photography is an incredible way to help you express the character that you want to portray during your session. As the subject of the portrait, you need to "stick out" from your environment, and playing up the features that you like the most is important!

Remember, #2 of the #4 keys to a stellar session?

2. A great style that makes them feel confident, both via wardrobe and beauty.

4 A great photographer who directs the subject into poses — that's me!

"A great style that makes them feel confident, both via wardrobe and beauty."

This is meant to be fun, sassy, and exciting. And this can be a great time for you to investigate what it is that lies underneath your shell. Makeup is an important part of showing up to a photo shoot.

I only mean this from a photographer’s perspective. Makeup helps define your features on the camera, and if makeup isn’t something that you want to define your images, that is totally fine too …. but you'll still be glad to have some on.

If you're not sure which is best for you, the best way to decide is to practice on yourself, or find a friend who is willing to let you play with their collection, if you don’t have very much to practice with. You don’t need to be that great at applying makeup to get a feel for what you would like the most.

You can also go to makeup counters in department stores, or book a consultation with a makeup artist to discuss what they think would be best for you and the kind of shoot you're having too! A lot of times these are free! Just put on your thinking cap and make a couple phone calls.

Regardless how you come to the decision, you should spend some time looking through makeup looks and see which ones jump out at you the most.

I’ve photographed people with every style you could think of from natural to retro to ultra-glam.

That being said, if this is a boudoir shoot here is my advice -- this is the time to try something bold for yourself. It may not mean that you choose a “BOLD” makeup look, it just means that you try something that's a little more out of your comfort zone.

Regardless of the route you choose to take, and regardless of whatever makeup look you choose to express yourself with, I want to make sure that YOU KNOW that makeup artists are working for YOU.

You ALWAYS have the right to tell a makeup artist that you don't like where they are going with your look, that you're feeling uncomfortable, or to make requests to them. They are service professionals, and if you don't like what you receive they won't have done their job.

To get ready find inspiration. Try searches like:

Vampy Makeup Look

Bold Makeup Look

Smokey Makeup Look

Sultry Makeup Look

Swamp Witch Makeup Look

I'm kidding.

Am I?

Natural Glam Makeup Look

Natural Makeup Look

Glam Makeup Look

Retro Makeup Looks

Picking out a wardrobe for your shoot - - especially if you're opting for a boudoir session and choosing lingerie - - may seem daunting but finding options that you adore and can't wait to put on should be one of the most exciting parts of your shoot. After all, you really can make anything stunningly sexy. Many of my favorite looks have included something out of the ordinary!

If you are someone who is dreading this aspect here's my advice.

Stop thinking that you should look perfect. Stop thinking that you can have this as a reward for something. Stop thinking of your body as something to be molded.

Start thinking of your photo session and how much fun it will be if you let it. Start thinking of your most unique and interesting look. Start thinking of the love you have bubbling within you and visualize it exploding out past your skin. Start thinking of your unique beauty blasting past the perimeter of your physical self.

Am I being dramatic?

Barely. This experience can be as transformational and life affirming as you let it.

When you choose a wardrobe for your photo shoot the most important thing is that you FEEL good. If you feel uncomfortable THE PHOTOS WILL REFLECT THAT.

If you are someone who thinks you're too large, do not buy something oversized. This is a fatal flaw of wardrobe selection for women who think they should minimize their bodies with oversize clothing. It doesn't work. It makes YOU look LARGER. I assume this is not your goal. I will resist going into a tangent about celebrating your real body in the present moment, but please take this advice. Oversized and non-fitting clothing does not make you look smaller.

Keep some of these more overlooked options in mind too, to round out your shoot wardrobe:

Cozy Blankets

Oversized Sweaters

Scarves

Men's clothing - Blazers/Suit Coats, Dress shirts, Jerseys, Ribbed Tanks, Sentimental Tees

Daisy Dukes

Crop Tops

Cosplays

Swim Coverups

Fancy dresses

Statement shoes/necklaces/accessories

Crowns + tiaras, floral crowns etc

If you're doing a personal branding shoot wear your branded colors! (duh. :)

If you're doing a boudoir session, my recommendation is, as always, that you own at least TWO of the three categories (Racy, Sweet, & Spicy) when building up a sexy wardrobe.

Catagories of Lingerie --

Racy is what you probably think of when you think of lingerie. It’s usually dark in color, tight fitting, and relatively structured — think of corsets and wired bras. It’s titillating, and exciting — but not super “over-the-top”.

Sweet Lingerie is usually lighter colored, silky, or cozy looking. Usually, I think of silky pj sets and rompers, or shorty shorts and light colored crop tops.

Spicy lingerie is bondage inspired. It’s usually extremely revealing and has edgy details like leather or studs, or lots of cagey-bandage-style wraps.

Once you have decided which category fits your style the best, it’s time to figure out the silhouette that works best for you. Ask your self honestly what parts of your body makes you the happiest, and what parts of you don’t.

Remember we are being fair to ourselves from here on out, it’s okay to not love every detail of your body, but instead of hating it, we’re giving it the space it deserves, and working with it.

Check out this handy-dandy chart to figure out what kinds of outfits you might like the best.

Don't rush the shopping process. Your shoot wardrobe isn't a swim suit that you'll just wear a coverup with and shove it in your closet. Choose something with intention. Invest in the pieces that really will make you feel like a million-billion-trillion bucks, and try to recognize if you're being unfair to yourself.

Don't forget these key components:

Statement Jewelry

Shoes

Proper Bra for the outfit

Sexy Tights

Nipple Petals (if necessary) or Pasties (for fun!)

Remember that buying and wearing lingerie is meant to be fun. Be compassionate with yourself and enjoy the process of finding what makes you feel like a freakin’ divine being.

Find something that will become your favorite. And remember, even if you think this is a gift, this is and will always be FOR YOU.

Your session is your opportunity to be completely yourself.

Comparison is an act of violence against the self.
-Iyanla Vanzant

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BEFORE YOUR SHOOT

Comparison is an act of violence against the self. -Iyanla Vanzant

Comparison is an act of violence against the self.
-Iyanla Vanzant