5 Reasons to get Professional Hair & Makeup done for your Senior Portraits

I’ve been photographing HS Seniors in Portland, Oregon for several years and have gotten to work with Senior girls with a wide range of personal style from casual and natural to glam and even punk. I recently added complimentary, professional hair and makeup to all of my Senior experiences because I believe it can be a HUGE confidence booster for your session!

If you’re having your Senior photos taken soon, you may be wondering if you should get professional hair and makeup for your session, or if you should just DIY it. Maybe you’re not considering it for one of these reasons:

“I don’t normally wear makeup or do my hair any special way.”

“I want to feel like myself and not look artificial.”

“I can do my own hair & makeup and it looks okay.”

“I don’t know if it’s really worth the money. I’m already paying for photos.” 

Do any of these sound like something familiar? Well, here’s the thing – your Senior photo session is not just any ol’ photoshoot, it’s a full experience and a celebration of YOU! I want you to look and feel like yourself, but shouldn’t you also look your absolute best for the photos you’ll use for your #seniorsunday posts, the framed pictures on your parents’ walls or to look back on in the future?

So here are the Top 5 Reasons why you should consider it :

1. You have problematic skin or have felt self-conscious or critical of your skin in pictures before

First, if you have ANY sort of skin issues, at minimum you should let a makeup artist help you get smooth, clear skin for your senior portraits. Acne, red blotchy skin, dry skin, big pores – makeup artists can work their magic so you feel less self-conscious about your skin. Makeup is NOT just for girls or “girly girls,” so regardless of your gender, consider your skin and how you want it to look. And yes, I can do some photoshop magic but it’s much easier and cleaner looking if a MUA is able to take care of some of the issues first.

2. You don’t wear makeup often, you may not be able to do your makeup or there is a unique look you want to try that you can’t pull off on your own

Maybe you’re like me and you don’t do your makeup or hair often, or you really have no idea how to create a look that matches perfectly with the outfits you have planned.

Professionals have creative intuition to help you achieve the style you love! You can bring inspiration photos for them to work with, too. You’ll feel so much better when someone nails exactly what you dreamed up!

3. Instantly boost your confidence

When you see how amazing you look after having professional hair and makeup done for your session, you will instantly FEEL the happy adrenaline rush and be SO confident and ready for your pictures. Knowing your skin looks radiant, your hair looks amazing, your outfit is fire will really make the celebration of your Senior year feel real!

4. Try something new and get some pro tips!

Whether you do your makeup all the time or you really don’t think it’s for you, having someone else do a unique look or elevate something you’ve already tried is a fun way to mix things up. You might learn about better ways to apply your makeup, style your hair or new products that work well with your skin and hair from a pro!

5. Treat yourself to a unique experience you’ll only have during your senior year!

YOLO is so true! I can tell you that as an adult, there are VERY FEW times that most people will actually treat themselves to professional hair and makeup or have beautiful professional photos taken of themselves: senior photos, engagement/wedding, and maybe family photos taken every few years. That’s like once every 4+ years for most people which is definitely not enough!

Your senior portrait experience is ALL about you and celebrating your accomplishments. Treat yourself! Getting your hair and makeup done before your senior portraits will leave you feeling like a million bucks!