Pamper Yourself

Seriously, treat yourself like a goddess. 

Hair & makeup trial

Trial your hair and makeup before your session. I do not photoshop on makeup and makeup mistakes will not be photoshopped, so do not rely on or ask for that.

One of the big differences between a fun sized and a full session is that for this session it's your responsibility to arrange your own hair and makeup. All of my MUAs are busy doing weddings on Saturdays/Sundays, and you'll likely find that's the case for any other MUAs you reach out to. Salons might be an exception to this - check your local salons and/or blow out bars to see if they have availability on your date. 

The good news is that you're not totally alone here! YouTube, IG, and TikTok are FULL of tutorials on how to do your own hair and makeup. The benefit is that once you have the knowledge, skill, and products, you'll be able to doll yourself up whenever you want! Figure out what style you want in the shoot and search for that.

I would recommend avoiding complicated hair and makeup styles unless you already have experience with them. Especially anything that needs a precise hand or symmetry (cat eyes and winged liner, I'm looking at you!) Many of my full length boudoir clients, who have access to MUAs, still opt for a more natural look because it's timeless and classic. You don't need full glam to look gorgeous! (But if full glam is your style and you know how to do it, then glam the house down, girl!)

Make sure your makeup matches your complexion - THIS IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT. If you can get professionally color matched, even just at Sephora or Ulta, this will save you from having a face color/tone that doesn't match your neck. 

Consider your outfit and the set of the mini when choosing your eye makeup. Neutrals are a safe bet, but feel free to add color that matches your skin tone and your outfit selections.

Make sure your hair can move. It can be tempting to solve your problems of volume, lack of body, ability to hold a curl, etc. by plastering your hair in hair spray, but this simply won't look good. You'll need blow dry technique for volume/body. And for curls, if you know your hair really won't hold a curl then skip it OR learn to pin or roll your hair. Hair spray is just the final step in a good blow out / style. 

No matter what you do, definitely give it a trial at least a week before your session, so that if you need to change anything you have time to do so.

Nails

I recommend getting your nails done 1-3 days before the shoot so they look polished and photo ready. Chipped nails are super distracting and not a good look. And bare nails can show dirt and grime underneath. Keep your outfit colors in mind - try not to clash. Neutrals are a great choice. Consider avoiding bold colors, especially red, because this will draw attention straight to your nails instead of your other...assets.

Facial

Avoid charcoal masks before your shoot because they can cause break outs in order to clear out your pores (if you do this kind of mask, do it at least a couple weeks before your session). Also avoid chemical peels and anything that might inflame the skin. For over the counter masks, look for ones that say hydrating and/or calming. Booking a hydrofacial a week before the shoot will give you a fresh, dewy look & is an amazing way to treat yourself. Spa day? Yes please!

Exfoliate

You know your skin best and don't experiment with anything new right before the shoot, especially if you have sensitive skin. Dry brushing, sugar scrubs, exfoliating pads, etc. are a great way to slough off any older skin and leave you looking bright and shiny. Personally, for my body I use regular coffee grounds - mix coffee grounds with just enough water to make a paste and rub all over your skin. 

Lip scrub

Dry, flaky lips are not something you're going to want to see in your images - and editing them is not possible. Get ahead of it by scrubbin your smoocher in the days leading up to your shoot. You can easily just use your toothbrush on your lips before or after brushing your teeth and then generously apply a good lip balm. Or use a lip scrub - it's easy to make your own with sugar and your oil of choice! I generally just put a little bit of sugar in my palm and then add a dash of oil, then do a little scrubby scrub.

Double up on lotion or body oil

On the week leading up to your session, use a quality moisturizer or body oil twice a day. I like sweet almond oil and/or tallow based butters the best because it absorbs so quickly but still feels super nourishing. This is a great time to say some loving affirmations to yourself about your body! Morning and night give your body and spirit some loooooove

Body hair

If you love your body hair and rock bushy arms, pits, legs...wherever, that's amazing bring on all the fur. If you opt for smooth skin, I recommend sugaring a few days to a week or so before your session and/or shaving the day of your shoot so you're not stubbly anywhere. Use a fresh, sharp razor to do any shaving so you're as smooth as can be. I do not edit extensive stubble. 

Head hair: touch up roots / get a trim

If you dye your hair, make sure you touch it up before the shoot. And if you need to trim or refresh your haircut, schedule that before the session.

Make a playlist

I've got a good set of speakers and a Spotify membership - let's crank some tunes that will make you feel like yourself, having fun, and confident.

Get your stretch on

Particularly on the day of the shoot, I recommend doing some nice stretches to loosen up your body. Posing can be a workout! Even poses that look effortless can feel really unnatural. Give your arms, neck, legs, and especially back a good stretch before coming in - your body will thank you!

Sleep

Get good sleep leading up to the shoot: especially the night before the session, get some good zzzzs in. Maybe take a bubble bath the night before (add some oil to the water and it'll be so nice on your skin).

Calendar your prep

Make a timeline of when you need to have your beauty treatments and put them in your calendar so that you remember to schedule and/or do the prep.

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Major Don'ts

Spray Tan (do not)

You might not see streaks or color aberrations, but cameras "see" differently than your eyeballs and will pick up some nasty looking stuff on your body without you being aware. You will also photograph looking very orange. If you regularly get tanned by a professional you might be ok. But at home tanners are an absolute NO. Do not wear tinted lotions or bronzers. (Or anything else that can come off on my sheets)

Experimental hair (do not)

Getting a trim or touching up your dye a few weeks before the shoot is great, but please don't try out something completely new. Right before a photoshoot is not the best time to experiment with a whole new look. 

Party the night before (do not)

Hangovers aren't sexy. Puffiness and low energy are not what we want - we want radiance, glow, and excitement. If you're feeling nervous take a bubble bath or do some yoga.

Drink heading into the shoot (do not)

Drunk doesn't photograph well. One drink before the session is fine and will get you feeling great without a lazy my-face-is-sliding-off look.