You do not need a full glam team for senior portraits. Most of my seniors do their own hair and makeup, and the ones that look best are the ones that still look like themselves. The camera sees texture, light and expression — not perfection.
Here is what I have noticed works well for sessions outside in Central Oregon.
Makeup: a little polish that still looks like you
Aim for one step up from your everyday look. Even out your skin, add a little blush or bronzer, define brows and lips, and add mascara. Foundation with SPF can flash white in photos, so if you normally wear SPF, consider a non-SPF option for session day.
Matte or satin finishes tend to photograph more cleanly than heavy shimmer, which can catch the sun in unexpected ways.
Consider false lashes — even natural ones
This is the one place I gently push people past their comfort zone. A strip of natural-looking false lashes, or a few individual lashes at the outer corners, gives your eyes definition without looking overdone. In open sunlight and backlit conditions, lashes can disappear and eyes lose shape — falsies help them hold up in photos.
If you have never worn them, practice once before the session so you are not figuring it out in the car.
Hair that can move
Loose, touchable hair photographs beautifully when the wind picks up. Tight updos can feel stiff, and a perfectly smooth style rarely stays that way on a trail. Soft waves, a half-up look, or a simple braid all hold up well and still look like you.
If you want your hair down, bring a clip or tie for when the breeze gets too friendly.
Skip these the day of
- A brand-new hairstyle you have not tested in wind.
- Self-tanner or spray tan — it can photograph orange against natural light.
- Heavy contour or overlined lips; soft and blended reads better on camera.
- A bold lip color you will worry about smudging.
Pack a small touch-up bag
- Blotting sheets or a pressed powder compact.
- Lip color and a small mirror.
- A comb and a few bobby pins.
- Lash glue, just in case.
The best hair and makeup decision you can make is to show up feeling like yourself. A little polish is great; a complete costume is not necessary.