How to prepare for your beauty portrait session
Most people book a portrait session and then quietly panic about what to do beforehand. Here's the short version, from someone who shoots these every week.
You don't need to do much to prepare for a beauty portrait session. The whole point of booking a photographer is that the hard parts are my job. But a few small things in the days before will make the shoot smoother and the photos better, so here's what actually matters.
The week before
Skin photographs best when it's calm, not when it's been through three new products in a row. Don't try anything new on your skin in the week before a shoot — no first-time facials, no new actives, no experimental fake tan. Drink water, sleep what you can, and keep your routine boring.
- Skip new skincare or treatments you haven't tried before
- Book any facial at least a week out, never the day before
- If you tan, do it two or three days ahead so it settles
- Keep lips and hands moisturised — they show up close
What to wear
Bring more than you think you'll need. Two or three looks gives us range without dragging the session out. Plain, well-fitted pieces photograph better than loud patterns, which date quickly and pull attention off your face. If the photos are for a specific use — a brand, a portfolio, a particular platform — tell me, and we'll choose with that in mind.
- Two to three outfits, ironed and ready
- Solid colours and simple shapes over busy prints
- Bring options that fit how you'll actually use the photos
- A couple of accessories if they're part of your look
Hair and makeup
You can do your own, or I can arrange an artist I trust. If you're doing it yourself, go a little more defined than your everyday look — cameras soften things slightly. Matte over heavy shimmer, and bring your lipstick for touch-ups. If you want hair and makeup arranged, just say so when you book and I'll quote it in.
On the day
Turn up a few minutes early so you're not rushing. You don't need to know how to pose — that's the part I direct from start to finish, and I'll show you the back of the camera so you can see it working. The clients who get the best photos aren't models; they're just the ones who relaxed and trusted the process.
That's genuinely it. Keep your skin calm, bring a few good outfits, and leave the rest to me.