Once you have your professional headshot photo session booked and you start thinking about your hair and makeup. Preparing for professional headshots or personal branding photos is important as your hair and makeup play a significant role in how you present yourself. Your personal brand should communicate authenticity, confidence and professionalism, and your look is a big part of achieving that balance.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, job seeker, or influencer, the images you use on your website, LinkedIn, and social media are crucial for establishing a great connection with your audience. The goal is to look like *you* on your very best day – professional, intelligent, confident, approachable, and put together. Attention to hair and makeup can help enhance your features, balance skin tones and help keep you looking amazing on photo day. Here are some essential tips to help you shine in your photoshoot and create polished images that reflect your best self!
- Keep it Natural but Polished
This is one of those “less is more” situations. When it comes to photos light, natural looking makeup that enhances your features without looking overdone is often best.
2. Choose a Hairstyle that Matches Your Brand
Your hairstyle is as important as your makeup in creating a cohesive image for your brand and you. Hairstyles should complement your looks, feel natural and comfortable which will put you at ease in front of the lens.
3. Avoid Heavy Shimmer, Glitter and Gloss Products
For modern looking professional headshots and branding photos, matte products are your best friend. Glitter and shimmer can create unwanted shine, glare and could look overly reflective in high-resolution photos. Stick to matte eyeshadows, powders, and lipsticks that keep your look polished and professional.
4. Should I Work with a Professional Makeup Artis?
It’s often best to leave it to the pros! To that end, If you’re looking for a more polished result, consider hiring a professional makeup artist and hairstylist who has experience with photography makeup. They understand what works best under studio lights and can customize the look to fit your brand while being open to collaborating with the Professional Photographer to help get the results you’re looking for.
Please note these are a few tips based on our experience, as always in these situations refer to your hairstylist and makeup artist for professional advice.
Who’s the best Makeup artist? Who’s the best Hairstylist? Definitely great questions and I think the best is the person you are most comfortable, with, you trust and who may given you a great hairstyle or makeup for past events. If you are wondering who we work with, well we’ve worked with lots over the years here are a few of our favorites:
My Blow Out Bar
Makeup by Kimtasha
Ten Salon
There are lots of choices, speak with the artists, try them out and ask new to you vendors “Have you done makeup (or hair) for studio photo sessions?
We hope these tips, help you to be ready, relaxed, confident and excited to create the best headshots and personal branding photos that you have ever seen! Oh and not to forget makeup is also great for men, particularly in corporate headshots where we strive for consistency.
Booking a professional hair and makeup appointment prior to your headshot session is by no means a requirement but we do recommend it! Why? Well, a headshot will often be the first impression you proffer to employers, clients or coworkers. With this in mind you should be prepared to look your absolute best! Professional stylists can help cover the blemishes, balance skin tones, suggest flattering hairstyles all of which will help to make you look and feel your absolute best!
There are a number of makeup and hair stylists in our area that we love to work with. We think it’s best to check with your regular stylists first as they know you well, If you need further help please feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to make suggestions for you!
Another added bonus of scheduling a professional hair and makeup appointment is that you do not have to worry about the details during your session. Instead you can sit back, relax and focus on showcasing your personality. Besides helping you look your best, your professional stylists will leave you with an added level of self-confidence and belief in yourself that will radiate through your photographs.
If we can offer a little advice it is much better to stick to your ‘normal’ style when talking to your stylists and make up artists about the look you are going for. If you are typically a person that embraces a natural look its best not to go for dramatic heavy makeup and a complex up-do!
Remember, if you are using a new stylist or makeup artist it is always a good idea to do a trial run before your headshot session. This way you can know for sure that you are getting the look you want. If there is anything you feel uncomfortable about you can bring that up in the trial run rather than scrambling on the big day!!
