When you book your portrait session, it’s totally normal to begin to thinking about (read stressing over) your upcoming photoshoot. I usually hear the same usual worries: a few blemishes on the face that magically showed up the morning of the shoot, dark circles under her eyes from being too anxious to sleep the night before, having a MAJOR wardrobe malfunction and either worrying about having TOO much makeup caked on your face that you feel like Bozo the clown or not having enough makeup on and looking totally basic.

Making you feel comfortable is one of my main priorities as we both prepare for your session. After all, when you feel comfortable and confident, your true beauty radiates from within, ultimately giving you the portraits you dreamed about…ones both you and family will treasure for years to come.

Today I’m going to share with you the five areas where a little advanced prep goes a long way.  So let’s get to it

1.YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE!
When preparing your face for a shoot, less is more. But here are a few things that are a MUST:

• Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! and take good care of your skin at least 2 weeks before. As women, sometimes we can get really busy, not put ourselves first and not take as good of care of our skin as we should, but if you want your skin to be clear and naturally radiant, taking time to pamper your skin is really important. If you can, get a gentle facial 1-2 weeks prior to your photoshoot! I promise you, your face and your skin overall will love you LONG TIME! Since facials tend to cause redness, getting one this far out usually allows enough time to heal.For those of us on a budget, an at-home facial is just as good at a fraction of the price. Some of my favorite at home facial ingredients are honey, coconut oil and shea butter! If you don’t have time to do either, simply making sure you wash all your makeup off, drink lots of water and moisturize your skin goes an INCREDIBLY long way!
•  Tame those eyebrows Girlfriend! I for one can’t deal with myself when my eyebrows become unruly. Threading is my go-to-choice for my eyebrows, but whether you decide to have your eyebrows waxed or threaded, be sure to schedule your appointment at least a few days prior to your photoshoot. The last thing you want is any redness, puffiness or irritation showing up hours before you grace the camera!

2. YOUR CROWN

It’s said that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory. And like with any other crown, keeping your hair looking its best is necessary…especially before going in front of the lens. Doesn’t matter if your hair is long or short, naturally kinky or bright blue, here you definitely want to:

• Get a Trim. Neat, healthy hair is youthful and vibrant. If it’s been a while since your last salon visit, trust me…it’s AMAZING what even a subtle trim can do.

• Deep Condition. Your salon can do a professional conditioning treatment, or if you’re like me and do a lot of your haircare at home, you can use your favorite deep conditioner or protein pack. Just wash it, deep condition. Wrap it in a white t-shirt, grab you a glass of your favorite adult beverage and tune in to your favorite reality show. Or read a book…or call up your girlfriend and have some good ol’ fashioned girl chat. Either way, when you’re good to your hair, it will be good to you. 🙂

  3. YOUR SKIN AND NAILS

• Make sure you WAX…OR SHAVE. I was once told by a friend that no self-respecting woman over the age of 21 should not be getting waxed. I took that advice to heart and for years I’ve been getting full body waxes. They cause less irritation than shaving, my hair doesn’t grow back as fast and I don’t have to deal with those nasty razor bumps. Nevertheless, whether you prefer to shave or wax, prepare for your photoshoot by making sure your skin is free of any body hair you want…and don’t forget to get under those arms!
• Make sure your nails are done! Our nails are part of our personality, which is why…hey while you’re at it, get a pedi too. The last thing you want is for everything else to be looking good and your cuticle bed looking like who did it and why. The same goes for your sweetheart! If you’re planning on bringing your #1 man with you, a simple mani wouldn’t hurt. You two could even make a date out of it!
• Also, Make sure you get your jewelry cleaned! It’s not something most people thinking about, but the camera picks up everything. And if you’re going to shine bright in front of the lens…shouldn’t your jewelry?

4.YOUR WARDROBE

• Bring 4-5 outfits. Your portraits are the purest reflection of you. So you want to choose outfits you not only love, but feel comfortable in. When you’re not comfortable, it shows. Think of those special pieces you might not wear often because they’re impractical for day-to-day use, or the go-to blouse you always wear when you’re going somewhere nice. Try them on to make sure they fit the way you want them to. The last thing you want is for you to find out the day of your shoot that your clothes don’t fit.
• And don’t forget to bring something dark and something light. Bring at least one dark outfit or top. Black, Navy or Charcoal work best here and on the flip side, also bring some light colors as well. Think something angelic…soft, pastel-like and maybe even sheer. When paired with the correct lighting, magic happens. 

Avoid Prints. The truth is, as much as we love them, patterns and prints can be incredibly distracting. When you hang your portraits and people see them, I want them to see YOU…not your clothes. For example, check out the photo below. I bet one of the first things you noticed about it was her top. It’s a beautiful top, but she has great eyes..and a killer smile – but they aren’t the first thing your eye naturally goes to.

and finally,

5.RELAX. RELAX. RELAX.

I know how anxious, nervous and excited you can fell when you have shoot coming up, especially if it’s the first time you’ve been photographed in a long time. Nevertheless, it’s always a good idea to get a good night’s sleep the night before your shoot. Don’t worry about how you’re going to look. Don’t worry about all the things you forgot to do. Silence your fears and quiet your doubts. This experience is all about you being your best and letting your genuine joy and confidence shine bright. So say a prayer and go to bed at a decent time. Showing up feeling refreshed, ready to have fun is half the battle.

These tips are here to help you think of ideas for preparing for your shoot, but are definitely not required, or even necessary for everybody. Just choose what fits in with your budget, lifestyle, current beauty regimen and go from there! I hope this really helps you look and feel your absolute best for your next shoot! Don’t be nervous…just relax. Trust me, you’re going to totally OWN IT.

Happy Planning! 🙂