Looking good and feeling confident for professional photos goes beyond just what you’re wearing. It’s all in the details. Below are a few tips for my clients and anyone getting their photo taken.
Wear Clothes That Fit
This might seem obvious, but I myself will put things on and gaslight myself into thinking that it fits better than it does. Don’t wear clothing that you’re drowning in and don’t wear things that squeeze your body in a weird way. It’s also about comfort. If you’re wearing uncomfortable clothing or you feel self conscious, you might not end up loving the way you look in your photos.
Tan Lines
If you’re about to get professional photos taken, please do not go out and tan for six hours in a fun shaped bikini. Tan lines can be really difficult to edit out. If the tan lines can’t be helped, wear clothing that covers them up. I find it best to keep it natural, but if you’re set on being tan for your photoshoot, I really just recommend getting a professional spray tan a couple days before. Self tan hands can look kind of messy.
Appropriate Undergarments
I always recommend that the ladies wear the “least amount of bra possible.” By that, I mean, if you can get away without wearing a bra, do it. If you can do nippies or a sticky bra, do it. If you put your outfit on with a regular bra and you can’t see the straps when you stand up straight in the mirror, try moving around, move your arms up and down, look at yourself from the side and the back. Editing out bra straps can add three or more minutes of editing to EVERY photo. That’s five hours for a 100 image gallery. You also want to make sure you can’t see the line of your bra cups through whatever top you’re wearing.
Makeup – Too Much or Too Little
I think wearing at least a little makeup for photos is a good idea, just to draw attention to the right things and enhance your natural beauty. For the girlies who aren’t huge on makeup, I recommend a skin tint, translucent powder, mascara, and definitely bring some sort of chapstick or lip balm to the shoot. These things will even out your skin tone, enhance your smile, and draw attention to your eyes. There is such a thing as doing too much though. Fake eyelashes are great for photoshoots but I recommend staying away from ones that are super heavy or big. I also would stray away from heavy eyeliner or dark eyeshadow.
Practice Makes Perfect
Definitely do a run through of your hair and makeup with your outfits the week of the shoot. I have a tendency to be overconfident with how I plan on doing my hair for a special occasion and then totally going in a different direction because I couldn’t actually figure it out the day of.
Unwanted Accessories
This is normally something I double check before we start shooting, but look at your wrists and make sure everything you’re wearing, you want in your photos. Hair ties? Apple watch? Take them off.
Wrinkle Free
Get rid of the wrinkles! Steam your outfits before your photoshoot and if you have multiple, put them on a hanger and hang them up in your car if possible, or lay them flat on the seat of the car.
Bring the Essentials
When you’re getting ready to head to your photoshoot, bring a bag with a few extra things to make sure you stay looking good during your shoot. I have my own emergency kit that will include some of these things, but bringing your own is good too. I recommend bring a hairbrush, bobby pins, and whatever lip product you’re wearing. If it’s hot outside, definitely bring paper towels to pat off any sweat and some powder to touch up if need be.
Be You!
Maybe you get photos done a lot, so you want to step out of your comfort zone, and I totally love that. If you are getting pictures taken for a specific reason (senior pics or an engagement) I think it’s important to be yourself. Dress in a way that fits your personality. Do you hair and makeup similar to how you usually do it. You’ll feel like your best self if you look like yourself. You’ll want to look at these photos in a few years and see yourself.
