Whether you’re taking family photos, engagement photos, or “just because” photos, there’s plenty to think about prior to the day of your photography session.

Just about everyone puts some forethought into clothing — coordinating between family members, changing outfits partway through, etc. What often gets overlooked, however, are the finer details like hair and makeup, and I don’t just mean the ladies. Gentlemen can also benefit from bit of planning: getting a haircut a few days before or going in for a luxurious beard treatment. Hey — we all need a bit of pampering now and again. Right, guys?

But beards aside, here are a few tips (largely for the ladies) to get that perfect hair and makeup in all your Boise photographs.

Wear your hair down

Nothing looks nicer than hair blowing in the wind or a kiddo’s chubby little hand tangling itself in your flowing locks. Curled or wavy hair always looks wonderful in photos, since it adds another level of texture to your look. That said, if your style is updos or sleek and straight, that’s great too. Do what makes you feel your best, because in the end, confidence is what comes through most in photographs, and the first step to confidence is being comfortable in your own skin.

Go a tad heavier on the makeup

Spice up your routine just a touch for your photos. The camera tends to take away some of what you are wearing, so adding a bit more is sometimes necessary for looking your best. If you are normally au naturel, maybe just add a light swipe of mascara or some colored lip gloss. If you usually wear a full face of makeup, add a set of false eyelashes, or darken your contouring. For a cool look at how adding a little extra can help enhance your natural beauty in photographs, check out this interactive page from buzzfeed.

Eliminate the flyaways

Everyone’s got ’em. Those pesky little baby hairs that poke up near your temple or in the back next to a cowlick. For up-close headshots, you’ll want to tame these down with a bit of spray or shine serum like this one from Joico.

Don’t forget the setting spray

All hail makeup’s greatest ally: the setting spray. If you’ve never used it, prepare to be impressed. Setting spray will keep your makeup in place, looking flawless, all day. Basically, if your face were a photograph, setting spray would be like the layer of glass on top, protecting what’s underneath from sweat, humidity, and even rain. I highly recommend picking up a little bottle of this prior to your session, so that as we venture out, no matter the temperature or length of the shoot, you can feel confident in knowing your makeup hasn’t faded or creased.  

Invest in a professional if you can

This can help for several reasons. Hair and makeup is an art, and the pros have it down.  Makeup shows up differently on camera, and professional makeup artists know how to apply it best. Professional hair and makeup can also give you an extra bump of confidence if you are feeling nervous about being photographed. Finally, most parents are crazy busy, and having someone show up at your house (that’s right, they come to you) to take care of this preparation is a treat you deserve! Pro hair and makeup can be booked through me when you schedule your session!