6 Headshot Preparation Tips from Makeup Artist Vanessa Baudner.
“You want your headshot to reflect the best version of you and to do that we need your skin and hair looking their best. Here’s a list of what’s going to optimize your look for your Headshot :)”
-Vanessa Baudner
Toronto makeup artist Vanessa Baudner is my long time go-to makeup artist for shooting headshots. Here are just a few simple recommendations you can do leading up to your headshot session to help ensure you look your absolute best.
Makeup
Drink Water - might sound obvious but dehydrated skin happens from within and can cause breakouts, flakiness, redness. It will also help diminish puffiness & dark circles around the eyes - all things we want to avoid in flash photography.
Get A Facial 2 Weeks Before - Your skin will thank you for it and so will your makeup artist - Hydrafacial will plump up the skin giving it a youthful fresh appearance and/or Microdermabrasion to deeply exfoliate the skin removing debris are my recommendations.
Gently Exfoliate your face 2-3 Times A Week with a microfibre cloth to gently lift dirt and cleanse your pores. Makeup clings to dry skin and settles into pores which will cause it to look cakey on camera - yuck!
Hair
Wash your hair A clarifying shampoo to cleanse your scalp of product buildup in your roots the week of your headshot. Hydrate the mid shaft to end of your hair with a moisture mask so your hair is shiny, smooth and easy to work with.
Hair Root Touchups for greys and typical colour maintenance are great!
Please come with freshly washed, blow-dried or air dried hair - second day hair if you find your hair holds style better this way.