Skincare & Makeup Tips for Headshots & Brand Photos - Interview with Ashley, Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist with Marin Makeup
I interviewed Ashley Marin, a licensed esthetician and makeup artist with Marin Makeup based in Orlando, FL, to talk about skincare and makeup tips for headshots and brand photo shoots. She shared why she thinks hiring a professional makeup artist for photo shoots is so important, how skin care can impact your makeup, tips for doing makeup on your own and even how to help your makeup survive in our Florida humidity! We wrap things up geeking out about our favorite makeup products! I’ve summarized our conversation here, but you can watch the entire interview below. Be sure to follow Ashley on Instagram @marinmakeupartist!
Why do you think it’s important to hire a professional makeup artist for headshots and business brand photos?
Ashley talked about how important image is for headshots and corporate photoshoots. The Power of 12 references what you look like from 12 feet away and what are the first 12 words that you say. So let a professional help you at least with the first part of that! Your hair and makeup are part of your first impression and having a polished look sets you apart from others. Also, your headshot may end up on a billboard or on your business card, so you want to make sure you have the perfect look. Also, it’s a great time to just RELAX and let someone pamper you. I know a lot of my clients are nervous about being in front of the camera, so having your makeup done might be a nice opportunity to just sit back and have time to yourself.
Also be sure that you are hiring a professional who is licensed and insured so that they are trained in working with various skin types, face shapes and skin tones. Aspiring artists might do a wonderful job of doing their own makeup but they might not know what’s best for you!
Tell us a little bit about your skin care services and how they can benefit the skin in advance of a photo shoot?
Ashley used a perfect analogy of what it’s like to try to paint over textured walls vs flat walls to explain how important skin care can be before a photoshoot (or even just before daily makeup application). She’s a huge proponent of hydration and exfoliation and is really passionate about understanding skin anatomy. She does most of her makeup work on site but does have space in a spa for skin treatments and facials. She conducts an assessment, provides treatment/facials in the salon and then helps you develop an at-home regimen. Ashley really works with her clients to make sure they understand the best skin hygiene process to keep your skin looking great - even if you only have 5 minutes to spare at the end of a long work day!
During this portion of our conversation, I had to admit to Ashley that I had never had a facial before! So she explained exactly what it was and what the amazing benefits were. I had no idea that having a facial massage could do so much to help with headaches, improve your mood and even enhance your skin. :::Adds “Book Facial” to to-do list:::
What are some tips you have for people that are doing their makeup themselves but still want to look good in pictures?
It’s really important to do your makeup in a well-lit space, preferably somewhere where you are using daylight or using daylight-temperature artificial lighting. That way, no matter where you’re being photographed, your makeup will look great and you won’t have to worry about things turning out a different color than you thought.
Before you apply foundation, use a mattifying primer for oily skin or a water-based hydrating primer on drier skin. Cream and liquid foundations tend to look better on camera than powder foundations, so try to stick with those. Powder foundations can sit in lines and get picked up on camera. Cream blushes and bronzers even photograph beautifully! Make sure you are enhancing your eyes, filling in your eyebrows and that you blend everything well so you look well-balanced. And don’t forget to blend down your neck so you don’t have a harsh line!
If you are more on the oily side, be sure to use a setting powder especially in the t-zone area. And if you are on the drier side, you might want to finish with a hydrating spray or facial mist. But it’s a balance so you have to be careful to not get too matte or too oily!
Any tips for looking good in this Florida humidity?!
Even though we all wish there was, there’s no cure for sweat! When Ashley is working with clients on outdoor corporate photo shoots, she’s focused on a minimal makeup application and keeping the sweat under control. The most important thing is how you layer your makeup. Make sure your primer, corrector and concealer are underneath your foundation. Ashley thinks water-based products do better with the Florida heat and sweat because it won’t just sit on top of your skin like a silicone-based product would. Using an airbrush gun helps the foundation come out in an even finer mist which lets it sink into the skin even better! Liquid and cream products are best and the only powder you should really use in the application process is a translucent powder as your finishing step.
She recommends having a puff on hand to dab at your face and using a fan and umbrella to keep cool as much as possible. Don’t use powder to absorb the sweat because it will just continue to cake up on your face. A facial mist might be nice to have on hand to help cool the skin as well! The process is a lot of hydrating and wiping!
What’s your favorite makeup product from Sephora? Ulta?
Ashley LOVES pink and purple shades, which you’ll definitely see reflected in her bundle of favorites! She loves the Hoola bronzer, Kat Von D matte liquid lipsticks, Dr. Paw Paw soothing balm (tinted and untinted!), Milani lipsticks, Maybelline Baby Lips, and Jao Hand Sanitizer. Her favorite foundation is from a professional line but she says it can be used easily at home too - Temptu Hydralock Foundation.
Thank you so much to Ashley for spending time with me today! If you wanted to see the full interview, check out the video below!