Tricks and Tips: Prepare to Look Your Best in Photos
Everyone wants to look and feel their best when it comes time to jump in front of the camera. It’s easier said than done, but there are a few tips and tricks to fighting the toll that age, life and negative self-talk takes on us! These tricks will help you feel confident, make the most out of your photo session and at the end of the day, help you fall in love with the final product.
TRICKS TO PREPARE TO LOOK YOUR BEST IN PHOTOS
1. Focus on your skin
If you don’t already have a strong skincare routine, a week before your photo session is a good time to bring the focus on your face! Exfoliate your skin 2-3 times per week. Exfoliation exposes the fresh, healthy skin underneath, making your skin prepared for flawless makeup application. Moisturize. In the week leading up to your shoot, use a rich moisturizer daily. The boost in hydration will ensure your skin glows on camera. Use a gentle toner to brighten your skin. Apply your favorite hydrating eye cream to reduce puffiness and fine lines. When applying makeup on the day of your shoot, avoid SPF as it reflects the light and may cause your face to appear lighter than the rest of your skin. Use a translucent powder on your forehead, nose and chin to reduce shine. Dark lipstick tends to make lips look smaller, so go for a bright, juicy color!
2. Reduce inflammation
In Texas, year-round allergies are pretty much a thing. If you are prone to under-eye puffiness associated with allergies, make sure that you are monitoring the situation in the week leading up to the shoot. On the day of your shoot, take a (non-drowsy!) antihistamine to alleviate swelling.
3 days before the shoot, you should avoid red meat, alcohol, nicotine, nuts, caffeine and spicy foods to help eliminate swelling.
3. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
I cannot express the important of this enough. Drinking enough water each day is crucial, but especially in the week leading up to your shoot. Beyond helping your vital organs function properly, hydrating also helps nourish your skin (which is, in fact, the largest organ of your body). If you want to fight wrinkles and give your outer layer a healthy glow, don’t allow yourself to get dehydrated.
4. Relax
If you are stressed about anything (outfits, angles, special conditions, lighting, etc.) leading up to the shoot, take a deep breath in, exhale and then ask your photographer about it. Have faith in them. After all, you chose them for a good reason! The best photographers will put your mind at ease and help you to feel super comfortable leading up to and especially on the day of your shoot.
In addition to tricks listed above, here are some of my favorite ways to prepare for a photo shoot:
- Get a facial
- Get a (spray!) tan
- Get a manicure
- Get a hair cut (and deep condition!)
- Use a sheet mask
- Get plenty of sleep the night before
Confidence is beautiful. Find that and you’re golden.
More Tips: HOW TO PREPARE FOR A LIFESTYLE SESSION
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