“Useful Makeup Tips for a Maternity Photo shoot”

In pregnancy we feel powerful, sexy and radiant. The skin and hair usually give very significant positive changes thanks to the role played by hormones, because they are creating life inside the belly. The silhouette itself is a perfect sculpture, which in most cases, we think of portraying to immortalize this great stage.

When we decide to do a maternity photo shoot, we must not only wait for the right weeks to portray the body at its peak (around 27and 33 weeks), but also take into account the way in which the facial features, femininity and glow itself will be highlighted. This is where makeup comes into play. It can be said that for a pregnancy photo shoot to have an impactful result, you have to be very clear about 4 aspects: the ideal date of the silhouette, choice of wardrobe or nude, hair styling and makeup.

In this post I want to give you some very useful tips on makeup for when you go to a maternity photo shoot, because being behind the lens for so many years, have allowed me to know the trends and styles that most favor the woman, when taking her photos.  

Prepare the skin...

It is very important to prepare the skin in advance, it is very important to give it adequate hydration according to the skin type, so that when applying the foundation, there are no areas where the face is cracked, or there is excess shine, or the pore is very dilated.

For dry skin, moisturize the skin with a cream that provides a lot of water, including a cream for the eye contour. Do not apply creams that contain sun protection factor, because when it melts with the makeup, it could make it difficult to blur, and generate a little shine when taking pictures.

For combination or oily skin, apply creams with very light textures, including eye contour, prior to a deep cleansing to remove all excess shine, characteristic of this type of skin. It provides many benefits to perform the ritual of double cleansing (gel products and then micellar water), and also apply an essence or tonic, this will reduce the size of the pore, and allow any makeup to have a better finish.

After preparing the skin, you should use a primer or a pre base, this product will help to attenuate imperfections, cover enlarged pores, smooth any fine expression lines, and allow the makeup to melt more evenly on the skin. I usually recommend an oil-free primer, regardless of skin type. A useful application tip is to spread it from the inside out on the face, and in small amounts until you find the ideal coverage. 

The Foundation...

Knowing your skin tone will be fundamental when choosing and applying a foundation. It is important to take into account if there are differences between the color of the face and the neck / neckline, because there may be leftovers or light with the wrong foundation, at the time of taking the photos. In that case, a tip will be to use a foundation that is a medium tone between the face and neck, so it will be easier to unify the tone, and give a perfect balance to the skin.

Women who do not have a difference in tone between the neck and face, choose a foundation that most closely resembles their own tone, avoiding foundations with an illuminating touch.

The golden rule for choosing the ideal foundation is one that blends completely and easily on contact with the skin, blending perfectly with your own skin tone. Validate the foundation a few days before the photo session. 

A very important tip when applying foundation is to apply it from the center of the face outwards, up to the hairline, and towards the neck/crest. Use a makeup sponge and dab it on the skin, never spreading the sponge on the skin, because it creates lines and differences in tone, which will be noticeable when taking pictures. Applying the make-up in dabs will allow it to blend better, cover imperfections and achieve a natural finish. Apply a little pressure on the dark circles under the eyes when applying foundation and blend with the sponge itself. It will be very important, if you decide to do a nude photo shoot, that you extend the foundation to the collarbone, and blend the area. Make sure there is no difference in tone between the face and the rest of the body, following the rule from the inside out and with touches. In this area you can apply some matte bronzer powder to create a natural finish.

Makeup concealer is like that magic wand that will give a rested, glowing look that we all love to show off in photos. Choose a concealer that blends into the area easily and matches your skin tone. For dark circles under the eyes use a concealer that reflects light, peach or pink tones are ideal. Apply it from the tear trough and then a small triangle towards the nostrils, all by dabbing and blurring, thus avoiding the raccoon look. The concealer for dark circles under the eyes gives light to the eyes. 

If there are redness or imperfections, concealers in cool tones with a yellow base and matte are ideal for working the areas around the corners of the nostrils, thus creating a more uniform look to the face, without patches.

Finishing powder and face contouring...

Finishing powders allow makeup to set, plus they give skin a healthy look when photographed. Use soft translucent powders for all skin types, and avoid using HD powders. If your skin is oily, I recommend mattifying pressed powder. Always shake the brush before applying, less is more.

Regarding facial contouring, it should be used to create balance and harmony to the face. Dark tones are not flattering in front of the camera, I recommend contouring with light tones. The areas that should be highlighted for an ideal makeup are: the apples of the cheeks, the eyelids, the lower part of the eyes, the bridge of the nose and the bones of the eyebrows.

Smoky Eyes...

Smokey eye makeup is perfect for all types of eye color, provides a powerful and penetrating look, and is the ideal type of makeup for pregnancy photos. Well-defined eyes allow the face to have a lot of strength and this is represented at the time of photography.

For smoky makeup use matte shadows, in warm tones, that allow you to achieve a perfect blending. Play with the palette of bronze and brown tones. If you are going to apply false eyelashes, avoid drawing a thick line, and do not use eyeliner either because it closes your eyes to the lens. Finish off the eyes with mascara that gives volume and definition.

Eyebrows and Lips...

Eyebrows are as important as eye makeup. Use liquid makeup with a spiral brush, because it allows you to comb and fill in the holes, drawing new hairs. Always with movements from bottom to top and without exerting too much pressure. With this technique you want to follow the naturalness of the eyebrow, without losing definition. Always use a shade as close as possible to the natural hair color of your eyebrows.

Regarding the lips, opt for neutral tones. If we highlight the face and the look, the lips should have a balance of color. 

Blush and highlighters...

When using the face contouring technique for a photo shoot, we are already highlighting the features of the face, it will only be necessary to give a touch of light to some specific areas. The cheeks should have a small touch of light, a blush in light tones within the palette in pink tones, helps to define and give the appearance of juicy cheek, do not overdo it with product. On the nose, upper lip and cheekbones, highlighters give a nice finish. Use neutral, light tones and very little quantity, the idea is to give the sensation of a healthy face, not saturated, because too much brightness does not go well with the camera lens, it does not favor the face.

I hope you find these tips useful, as they will help you to have an ideal makeup for your maternity photo shoot and that you can get the most out of each photo. 

If you wish to have your maternity photos taken, in my new photo studio in Miami Area at Hollywood Florida.

I offer professional makeup services for Motherhood session, family and Maternity session, as well as styling and clothing. It would be important for you to let me know if you want false eyelashes, so I can have them available the day of the photo shoot.

If you have read this far and you are pregnant, congratulations. Live this stage to the fullest and enjoy your changes. I'll be here behind the lens, to take pictures of you and make the best of your maternity with an incredible memory. Until a new delivery.