– So are you thinking about booking a branding shoot and wondering what is involved? Or maybe you’ve booked your session and are starting to prepare. There’s quite a few things to consider, such as choosing the right location and deciding on your outfit choices, but what about hair and make up? Should you book a professional hair and make up artist or is it fine to do your own?

I get asked about hair and make up a lot when helping to prepare clients for their shoot, so thought it would be useful to put together this article. The photos are from a recent branding shoot with Samantha Goddard who opted to book a hair and make up artist. Sam specialises in helping people with anxiety and eating issues using Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) and needed a new portfolio of images for her website and social media. We did her shoot at beautiful Pomalo last autumn (scroll to the end to see some of the images from her shoot).

I hope you find this article helpful, whether you are still considering a branding shoot or preparing for an upcoming session.

Should I book a professional hair and make up artist?

So is it worth booking a professional hair and make up artist (HMUA) for your branding shoot? Well this is completely up to you of course – some clients are confident doing their own hair and make up and that is absolutely fine.

However, having decided to invest in a photographer to create some lovely new content for your business, I think it’s definitely worth considering professional hair and make up as this can really help you feel confident and to look your best on the day. It can also take some of the stress out of getting ready as you can just turn up to your session and let someone else do all the work!

I work with a lovely HMUA, Deborah Hall from Hall of Fame Styling (pictured above and below). I’ve been working with her for a few years now and she meets us on location before the shoot which is really convenient for everyone. Some artists specialise in either hair or make up, but Deborah does both which works really well for a branding session.

I asked Deborah to provide some tips on how best to prepare if you are having your hair and make up done. She’s also given some tips for anyone doing their own…

How to prepare if having your hair and make up done professionally

Here are some tips from Deborah on how best to prepare if she will be doing your hair and make up on the day

• Please wash and blow dry your hair the night before or on the day and avoid using any additional products, especially serums.
• If you need to do a little taming with a straightener, that’s okay, just don’t overdo it. You want your hair to be as natural as possible.
• If you need to tie your hair up or back beforehand, do this as loosely as possible, so as not to flatten your roots.
• In terms of skin preparation, do your usual skin-care routine, but it’s a good idea to gently exfoliate your face the night before, and drink lots of water!

On the day itself…

Deborah says “Please arrive without any make-up on, as starting with a super clean face will save us time”

“Let me know how you usually wear your hair and make-up and feel free to show me pictures if that helps. Let me know if you have any worries or concerns as I’m sure I can answer these and help put you at ease”

Hair and make up products…

Deborah says “The make up products that I use are all premium brands that are cruelty-free. Your make up will be applied in a way that shows on camera but still looks really natural, so you will look and feel like yourself. This is especially important if you do not wear much make up on a daily basis.

I also use several different products and tools to help style, tame and finish your hair on the day itself.

I will be very happy to answer any questions you may have and provide my professional point of view and advice before we start”

Tips for doing your own make up for a shoot

Here are  some tips from Deborah if you are doing your own hair and make up

• Always apply your make up using natural light e.g. near a large window (but avoid being in direct sunlight as this creates harsh shadows and uneven light).
• Use a primer if possible to help achieve an even finish and Deborah recommends a light to medium foundation, blended well.
• Avoid make up with any shimmers as these reflect light back towards the camera. This includes eyeshadows, bronzers and even some foundations. Avoid using a highlighter for the same reason.
• Don’t overdo it with foundation and eyeshadow – less is more, particularly with more mature skin (although 25 years and over is classed as mature!)

Find out more

If you are intersted in booking a branding shoot then please don’t hesitiate to get in touch for a no-obligation chat to discuss your requirements. I would love to hear from you. You can find all the details on my headshot and branding session packages here

You can find out more about how to prepare for a branding shoot in this previous article How to prepare for your personal branding shoot – 5 Top Tips

Find out more about Sam Goddard and Rapid Transformational Therapy on her new website here

Finally huge thanks to Andrea at Pomalo – such a stunning location which was perfect for our shoot. Find out more about Pomalo here

Thank you for reading!