Back to School for Hair and Makeup
Here’s something I haven’t talked about much yet: I recently enrolled in a hair and makeup course for photoshoots. And if you’re wondering why a photographer would take a year to learn something that isn’t, technically, photography, let me explain.
For years, I was only responsible for one part of the picture. I’d show up, set up my camera, and do my best to capture the moment in front of me. But if the lipstick bled a little, or someone’s hair got frizzy between outfit changes, there wasn’t much I could do, beyond promising to fix it in post. I didn’t know how to fix it in the moment and honestly, I didn’t feel like it was mine to fix. I was just the photographer.
That’s changed. By putting my name on the line for hair and makeup too, I feel personally responsible in a way I didn’t before. If something’s not quite right, I know what to do about it now. That shift, from noticing a problem to actually being able to solve it, has made a real difference in how I approach every session.
You should feel good about how you look when you’re being photographed. It changes how you show up on camera. Promises of fixing it in post don’t give you confidence in the moment.
It shows up in small ways. A flyaway smoothed before I press the shutter. A little extra attention to how the light catches someone’s face. And it carries all the way through to retouching, where I’m looking at every detail with a sharper eye than I had before.
I think this is part of what people mean when they talk about care and attention to detail. Ryan, who I photographed for a family portrait session, put it perfectly in his review: “I really appreciated how much care and attention to detail she puts into her work.” That kind of feedback means everything to me, whether it’s about how I plan a session or the smallest detail in retouching, and it’s exactly what I’m hoping to keep building on.
Another benefit in offering hair and makeup as your photographer is that it’s easier to add-on hair and makeup if I’m already photographing your session. Finding hair and makeup artists who are available before your session can be tricky in Pittsburgh. I’ll still continue to hire dedicated hair and makeup professionals from time-to-time, especially when scheduling back-to-back or team/group photoshoots. When you book your session, you’ll see the option to add on hair and makeup for $200. We’ll meet at the studio two-hours before your session start time. If your session is on-location, we can make special arrangements for me to meet you where you’re getting ready if the studio is not convenient.
If you’ve been thinking about booking your fall session, this is the kind of thoughtfulness that goes into every single one. I’d love to help you create something you’ll treasure.
Fall dates are open now. You can check my availability and book your session here.
The studio photos on this post are from test shoots that I’ve done over the past month where I’ve practiced what I’ve been learning in my hair and makeup courses. The wardrobe is a hint of what’s to come in 2027 as I plan to offer Empowerment Portraits.
Captivating Imagery