We all want to look amazing before photoshoots…

Photoshoots feel like a big deal – or they definitely CAN feel like a big deal, especially if you don’t have them done often, or they’re for a big occasion. It also makes it feel like a bigger deal if it’s something kinda time-locked, like a maternity session, or a newborn session. Those kinds of photoshoots can really only happen in specific time-spans, since your newborn is only a newborn for so long, and maternity only has a specific sweet spot where your bump will be at its peak… but you’ll still (mostly) be comfortable enough to have a session.

But for ANY photoshoot, time-locked or not, it makes perfect sense to want to look your best. It becomes a problem though, when you start letting it get in your way. I’ve talked about “the last ten pounds” before, because… there are so, so many people (women in particular) who just… wait. Until you’ve lost those last few pounds, or until you’ve lost the baby weight, or until you’ve refreshed your wardrobe, or gotten the new hair cut, or had those lash extensions. But looking amazing for your photoshoot is actually pretty simple, and if those kinds of things are stopping you… get ready to get out of your own way!

There are some simple things that help you look your best

Getting out of your own way isn’t easy, but you deserve to have photos of you NOW, before you’ve met those goals out there in the future. You’re worth celebrating JUST as you are. So, what simple steps, that DON’T involve a crash diet, can you take to look your best before your photo session?

1 – Make sure you have your clothes chosen and clean WELL before your session date

The first one is the earliest you can plan, because you can start getting your clothes ready as soon as you know you’re having a photo session! Or even before you’ve officially booked, if you think choosing something to wear that you love and that you look amazing in might motivate you to take the leap.

If it’s going to involve something that needs a dry-clean, go get it done, mama. If it just needs a run through the washing machine… it’s laundry time. Get your clothes laid out, make sure they’re clean, and get yourself excited about having photos taken in them! Try them on, stand in front of the mirror, and tell yourself how amazing you look. Hype yourself up, you deserve it!

2 – Lay off the spray tan, no matter how much you love it

Some aspects of looking your best are super practical, like this one. Pause your spray-tan routine. I know, I know, I hear you. You love it, and you feel like you look your best right after a respray – but here’s the deal. Spray tan, nine times out of ten, is going to look SUPER orange in final images, no matter whether they’re taken outdoor, or taken in the studio. And there’s very little that can be done to fix it, because of the way it interacts with light on camera.

No matter how amazing it looks in person, there’s a solid chance it’s going to make you feel super weird about your final gallery. And if you’re thinking “but I’ll look washed out and pale without it” – think again. You won’t. Skin is so cool. Not in a serial killer way – I mean skin is cool because of the way it interacts with light, and how us photographers have to do our post-processing to help you look your best. And I promise you will NOT look washed out if you usually use spray-tan, you’ll look like YOU. And you’re the coolest thing you can look like!

3 – Consider booking hair and/or nails

When I tell you to skip the spray-tan, I definitely DON’T mean you should skip out on all the self-care and/or beauty appointments you could have before your session! If it’s going to help you feel more “you”, schedule a blow out! Get your nails done, or set aside time in the few days before your session to do them yourself, if you’re more of a DIY nails kind of human.

This isn’t a requirement, by any means. You don’t HAVE to. But if it’s going to make you feel more put together, and/or more like yourself, then you should absolutely schedule it. Especially if you’ve had to pause your spray-tan routine, and you know that’s going to change the way you think about yourself and the way you look before your session.

Now that being said, unless you’re 100% certain about the choice and you’re in a “new me” kind of phase, maybe don’t pick something totally out of character for you. If you usually feel your best when you wear your hair long, wear it long for your session. Same thing if you usually feel best wearing it up – in that case wear it up for your session. Which brings us to the final, ultimate way to both prepare, and look your best for your Minneapolis photo session.

4 – Be YOURSELF

You’ve GOT to be yourself!! The REAL you. Even if that means we need to talk about your session taking place in your home with some takeout pizza, in your bed. Believe it or not, that can be super badass as a session theme! Who you are is amazing, and we all spend way too much time toning ourselves down in our daily lives. So remember my job as a photographer is capturing you. Not like, in a creepy way, even though I know that sounds kind of creepy when I say it as a sentence.

What I mean, is my job is documenting who you ARE. The magical person you become when you smile. The serious person you become when you’re proud of yourself. That person, and more – your essence. I know it sounds cliché, and when I start talking about being yourself that’s a trend in the conversation, because it’s the kind of thing you see in inspirational Pinterest posts – but that doesn’t make it any less true. Sometimes, clichés are clichés for a reason, and this is definitely one of those times!

Looking your best has a lot to do with the photographer you choose, too…

At the end of the day, you can do all the preparation in the world before your session, you can follow everything in my prep guides, and other photographers’ prep guides – and then still come away with photos that you critique to the end of the world. So part of looking your best, is choosing a Minneapolis photographer you trust, who you know is going to bring their vision to your photos in a way that shows you yourself in a different light (both literally, and figuratively!!)

I would be honored to be that photographer – so if that’s what you’re looking for, and you’re not already scheduled, reach out! Let’s talk about getting a session on the calendar, so you can see yourself the way a photographer does, with all your perfect imperfections, just as you are.