Image Upgrade: Getting Photo-Ready

You are a walking billboard. We all are. 

Nonverbal communication is a powerful thing. Your hairstyle, makeup, wardrobe, and accessories can tell a stranger in the first few seconds of meeting if you are in tune with the latest trends and at the top of your industry or ready to hit the refresh button.

“A proper business portrait is one of the most worthwhile investments for yourself and your business,” said Realtor Michelle Mariacher of MARIACHER MASUCCI Home Selling Team at Compass.

“If you want to look your best, you must work with the best! My business partner Danielle Masucci and I hand select vendors we work with based on the consistency of their work product. The finished product should be amazing no matter what the theme or look.”

When it comes time to update your professional portrait, there are a few essential steps to take to ensure the photos are on point with your brand and messaging. Here are our favorite pro tips on getting photo-ready for your next portrait session. 

1. Book the right vendors. Your glam team is just as important as the photographer you select. Experience and professionalism matter. Start paying attention to business portraits that pop up in your feed and ask which vendors were used. 
2. Schedule a trial to feel more comfortable with hair and makeup before the actual shoot. A professional hairstylist and makeup artist will be able to make suggestions on what looks and styles photograph best.
3. Good makeup starts with ample sleep and a proper skin care routine. Seeing an esthetician will offer optimal results, but some simple and effective at-home care includes exfoliating twice a week and moisturizing. Makeup will often enhance texture, so if your skin is dry, it will be even more obvious with makeup. After cleansing your face, while still slightly damp, apply a moisturizer and/or face oil to add and lock in moisture. 
4. Work that calendar. Be sure to schedule out your normal hair maintenance  appointments such as hair color, highlights, and haircuts in advance. Nobody wants to be stuck with gray roots when the camera gets clicking. Ideally you want your fresh hair color and cut to settle a few days before it’s photo time. A translucent hair color gloss can be done a few days before to add a little sparkle. A rich gloss can add loads of shine and make your hair look and feel super healthy. 

The best outcome for your photoshoot is that these images become your new “go-to” and will replace all outdated photos floating around the digital world. You will be able to update your website, marketing materials, business cards, and social media content. Your image can often play a huge role in attracting new clientele and gaining their trust. Take the time to do it right so you get the most out of your next photoshoot. 

DIY

If your photoshoot snuck up on you and you have to do your own makeup and hair, here are some pro tips:

Darcy’s photo-ready makeup tips:

1. Tidy brows add instant polish to your look. Learning how to properly define and shape them is a must. See a trusted professional for a brow wax and tint a few days before your photoshoot.
2. Tightlining the upper waterline defines and adds extra pop to the eyes, and makes the lashes look fuller.
3. A business portrait is not the occasion to experiment with bold lip choices. A nude lip color that doesn’t blend into your skin and isn’t too glossy or too matte is ideal. 

Brittney’s photo-ready hair tips:

1. Dirty hair does not style better. Clean, dry hair is best to work with. 
2. Wavy or curled hair photographs better — add a little texture.
3. Massage your scalp in between wardrobe changes to keep hair volume pumped up.

BIO
Brittney Robbins spent the last 18 years in New York City and recently relocated to Brevard County. Her expertise in hair color led her to an expansive career in education for Estee Lauder. She is published for her styling and has participated in multiple shows for New York Fashion Week.

CONNECT

Brittney Robbins Hair Artistry

IG & FB @Brittneyrobbinshair

917-524-6909

brittneyrobbinshair.com

BIO
Darcy Manning enjoyed a nearly 20-year career in public relations where she worked with a variety of corporations to develop and manage their public image. Since becoming a professional makeup artist in 2016, an interest she has had since childhood, she has refined her craft to focus her services mainly in education where she specializes in private makeup lessons for executives and professionals across all sectors and industries in Brevard County and beyond.

CONNECT

DARCYMM Makeup Artistry 

IG & FB @makeupbydarcymm   

321-987-6082

linktr.ee/darcymm