Maternity Shoot Makeup Tips for Insta-Worthy Photos
Preparing for your maternity photoshoot? Here’s a list of our top maternity shoot makeup tips to help you look stunning.
A woman's pregnancy is a special time of her life—this is when she's her most beautiful, feminine and natural self. When you’re pregnant, your body has more curves, your skin is glowing, and your hair is thicker and shinier. Nonetheless, a little makeup can make your maternity photoshoot even more beautiful.
Good maternity makeup is an essential part of the photoshoot, along with a great photographer and stunning locations. You don't want to look washed out with too little makeup or apply too much blinding highlighter. Here are some tips to help you with your maternity photoshoot makeup!
Start with a Clean, Moisturized Face—Beautiful Skin Wins the Game
The foundation of any look is great skin. You should exfoliate your skin with a gentle scrub the night before your maternity shoot. Make sure to apply your favorite moisturizer generously after exfoliating.
It will rejuvenate your skin and leave it looking plump. Apply moisturizer only after cleansing your face on the day of your photoshoot.
Prepare Your Skin with a Primer First—Achieve Flawless Finish
Preparing your skin with a primer before applying makeup can help you achieve a better finish and make your makeup last longer. By using a primer, you can even out your skin tone, smoothen out pores, and apply your makeup smoothly—avoiding clumps or patches.
Choose the Right Base—Based on Your Skin Type
Make sure you choose a foundation that suits your skin type. When you have oily skin, a dewy foundation might give you a shiny look, which does not reflect well in photos. Similarly, a matte foundation may highlight the uneven textures of your skin in pictures if you have dry skin. Thus, those with oily skin should opt for matte finishes, while those with dry skin should opt for dewy finishes.
In addition, you should avoid foundations that include sunscreen, as they don't play well with flash photography and can appear mask-like.
Apply Your Makeup in Natural Light—Look Flattering in Your Shots
Applying makeup in the right light is just as important as taking pictures in the right light. When applying makeup, a natural light source gives you a better view than a tabletop or overhead light, which can cast shadows on your face. In natural light, you will be able to notice areas in which makeup needs to be blended in, or blemishes on which concealer may be necessary.
Overall, it will help your natural makeup for maternity shoot look more authentic. Face a large, bright window as you apply your makeup so you have plenty of natural light shining on your face.
Contour Right—Bring Definition to Your Facial Features
Flash photography can wash away a lot of the structural definition from your face. You can keep your face looking well-defined with just a little bit of shading with bronzer or contouring powder. Just apply the product under the cheekbones, along the temples, and under the jawline with a medium-sized brush.
Don’t Use Shimmery Makeup—Avoid Shiny Pictures
This is one of the most important makeup tips for maternity photos on this list. For maternity photographs taken during the day, avoid any cosmetic product with shimmer. If you have glitter in your makeup, your makeup will reflect the light, and you won't get the look you're going for.
Watch out for shimmer in more than just eye shadows and highlighters here—many foundations have it as well, including mineral makeup.
Add Some Blush—Go for a Natural Flush
To prevent looking washed out, keep your cheeks flushed with color. Using blush only on the apples of your cheeks makes it appear more like a healthy glow rather than…well… a blush.
Choose a shade that matches your actual blushing cheeks to achieve a natural look.
Makeup Practice before the Photoshoot—Perfect Your Skills in Advance
If you don't wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, practice your makeup before the photo shoot.
The last thing you want just before your photo shoot is to discover that you don't like the look because you are wearing more makeup than usual. By taking plenty of test shots, you'll be confident that you'll like the outcome, look great, and feel relaxed and confident during your photoshoot.
Want Smokey Eyes? Go for It!—Don’t Compromise on the Glam
You need more than mascara and liner to look good in photos. Don't hold back when it comes to your makeup with a smokey eye.
Apply a waterproof eyeliner along the upper lash line after priming your lids with an eye primer or concealer. After it has dried, smudge some black eyeshadow over the liner as well as along the lower lash-line. Buff the shadow upwards onto the lids and into the crease with a larger brush. This will give you the desired smokey look. Using a volumizing mascara, curl the lashes and apply a few coats.
Be Bold with the Lipstick—Your Makeup Shouldn’t Fade in Light
Maternity Photoshoot makeup is incomplete without lipstick. By applying a bold color to your lips, you will be able to draw attention to this prominent feature of your face.
You'll need fewer touch-ups if you choose a matte or creamy finish.
Beware of Fly-Aways—Avoid Having Messy Hair
It is common for stray hairs to go unnoticed in everyday life, but they can become apparent on camera, so it is recommended that you use a serum to tame out-of-place strands. An intentional, well-placed wisp of hair can make a photograph come alive—just make sure the placement is deliberate and that the lighting is right for the situation.
Relax and Feel Pretty!
You can always brighten your face with a smile, and it's always better than lipstick or mascara! Don't be discouraged if you get bad photos—blame the angle or the flash and move on—because we know you looked absolutely perfect.
The Bottom Line
Follow these pregnancy makeup tips to look your best on your maternity shoot day!
Are there any other questions you have regarding your maternity photo shoot makeup? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, and we'll respond as soon as possible.
