Professional Makeup for Headshots: Tips From a Makeup Artist
When preparing my clients for professional headshots or a personal branding photoshoot, a question that comes up often is:
“Do I need professional makeup?”
The short answer: it’s not required, but it can make a big difference in how polished and confident you feel in front of the camera.
For my own brand photos—and for many of my clients—I often work with Des Moines professional makeup artist Ivy Boyd. Ivy has years of experience creating natural, camera-ready makeup that still looks like you in real life. (Which is super important for personal branding and headshots!)
Because makeup for photos is a little different than everyday makeup, I asked Ivy to share some of her best advice for professional makeup for headshots and branding photos, including common misconceptions, how makeup translates on camera and how she helps clients feel like themselves—just a little more polished.
Here’s what she had to say.
(I added my own thoughts on some of these as well.)
Ivy Boyd, Des Moines makeup artist.
Why is professional makeup important for a photoshoot?
IVY: I think of it as one less thing for you to worry about! Between making sure your outfit is ironed and your hair is behaving, you can let me worry about your face.
If a blemish has popped up, I can cover that–no stress. All I think about is how makeup translates on camera. You have plenty of other things to focus on before your shoot.
I love creating headshot looks that are polished, put together and photo ready. My goal is to send you into your photoshoot feeling cool and confident.
JILL: From a brand photography perspective, this approach works perfectly. When I photograph clients for personal branding or headshots, I want them to look like their true self—the version of them their clients would actually meet in real life. Professional makeup simply helps polish that everyday look so it translates beautifully on camera, without feeling overdone.
What’s the difference between professional makeup for headshots and makeup for a wedding or formal event?
IVY: While a formal/night time event may involve some shimmer, glowier skin or a more dramatic eye, for headshots, I prefer more matte textures and lighter tones.
How do you make sure my makeup still looks like me—just more polished for the camera?
IVY: I determine your makeup comfort level by asking lots of questions about how you appear in daily life. I also ask if you’ve had it done before, if you’ve liked it, and if not, what stood out to you.
I don’t usually wear much makeup—why would I need professional makeup for my photoshoot?
IVY: Sometimes even, natural lighting can mute your features so I think of natural makeup as just slightly turning up the saturation.
My brand photo client with makeup by Ivy Boyd.
Can you teach me how to do my own makeup for photos instead?
IVY: Sure can! I do one-on-one lessons and group classes for groups of 4–9. You can find more information on my lessons and my classes.
How long will the makeup last throughout the day?
IVY: I use setting powder and setting spray to give you the best chance at longevity. This is dependent on skin type, if you’re a messy eater, a face toucher, or blowing your nose a lot. It will definitely last beyond your shoot so feel free to get the maximum wear and wear it out on the town!
If I arrive with no makeup, how do you figure out what feels natural for me?
IVY: I ask a lot of questions to figure out your makeup comfort level and starting point. If you don’t wear any on a daily basis, a little might still feel like a lot to you and I keep that in mind when choosing textures and saturation of colors.
JILL: Another thing you can do when you work with a makeup artist for the first time is to show them some photos of how you look with your typical makeup or your makeup in past headshots that you loved.
Getting my makeup done by Ivy Boyd.
What happens if I don’t like the makeup or it doesn’t feel like me?
IVY: When the application is complete, I will hand you a mirror and ask you to tell me if there is anything standing out to you, if anything feels weird/off/not you, we can soften that or strengthen something else. We are ideally going for balance and if something feels off to you, we’ll adjust.
JILL: Don’t be afraid to speak up. Just like when I show you your image on the back of my camera and you either say “I love that” or “that pose doesn’t feel like me”, we are partners in creating what looks good and feels true to you. Your makeup artist feels the same way!
Is there anyone who wouldn’t benefit from professional makeup for photos?
IVY: If you are someone who really loves doing your own makeup, I certainly don’t want to discourage that. If you’ve nailed down a really specific look and love how it looks on you, I always want you to be authentic.
What kind of makeup do you use?
IVY: I use a variety of brands! Many brands you’d find at Sephora and Ulta, some you may have never heard of as they are industry staples or indie brands and I also have a small in-studio brand of my own called Portrait. A few brands that have a big presence in my kit are Hourglass, Makeup by Mario, Charlotte Tilbury and Milk Makeup.
What’s the difference between professional makeup products and what I use at home?
IVY: I find that many consumer products have a lot of shimmer in them. This doesn’t always translate well on camera. I also know how to layer and set to keep things looking fresh throughout your shoot. I’ve been fortunate to work on set at my commercial shoots and can see how makeup is translating on the photo and video monitors in real time. That has helped me tremendously in making camera-ready product and placement decisions.
Do you adjust products or techniques for different skin types or ages of clients?
IVY: Yes. Someone with dry and/or 40+ skin is not going to like some of the textures I’d use on a 17 year old. I try to minimize fine lines and pores by choosing the right textures and maximize eye color and face shape with color choices and product placement.
My headshot client with makeup by Ivy Boyd.
How can professional makeup help with challenges like shine, redness, dryness, dark circles or uneven skin tone?
IVY: My goal is for everyone to just look fresh. To me, that means hydrated, luminous, even toned skin that still looks like skin. I try to minimize the appearance of makeup while still using the right products to brighten under eye circles, conceal blemishes and even out any pigmentation. We can cover what you don’t love and leave what you do, including freckles!
Are false lashes included? Are they necessary? What if I don't even wear mascara?
My headshot client with makeup by Ivy Boyd.
IVY: I include false lashes, if you want to wear them. No one “needs” false lashes but for smaller or hooded eye shapes, I actually find they really bring the eyes forward. If you have naturally long or full lashes, false lashes may be too much. I assess the eye shape and natural lashes to decide whether a full strip lash, half lash or individual lash clusters are best.
If you don’t even wear mascara typically, I have brown which can give a softer look and we don’t need to apply to bottom lashes.
JILL: As someone with very blonde, thinning lashes, false lashes are a personal MUST for my own headshots. They might look like a lot in the mirror, but the definition they add on camera is necessary to actually looking like myself in photos. (And Ivy does a GREAT job making them look natural!)
What’s the biggest misconception people have about professional makeup for headshots or brand photos?
IVY: That it should be way more than real life. I’d say maybe 20% more than usual. It doesn’t need to be overly heavy or bright to show up on camera. You might need the colors turned up a notch, but if you’re not a red lip person in everyday life, I’m certainly not telling you to be for a photo!
What’s your number one tip for looking great in photos?
IVY: My personal tip is to have an authentic smile and the best way to do that is to think about something or someone you love! For me, if I imagine one of my cats sitting across the photo studio, I will naturally smile right away! Maybe for you, it’s imagining your children as babies, thinking about your upcoming vacation or your spouse. Whatever gets an instant, real smile out of you!
JILL: I agree with Ivy! Nothing will beat a genuine smile. That is what people are drawn to. And why some of my favorite photos are often captured candidly in between when you aren’t overthinking what you look like. By embracing who you currently are and choosing clothing, makeup and a photographer that makes you feel confident, those genuine smiles will come naturally.
Final Thoughts From Your Photographer (Me!)
The goal of professional makeup for a brand photoshoot isn’t to make you look like someone you’re not. It’s simply to help you look like the most polished, confident version of yourself on camera.
From minimizing shine and redness to subtly enhancing your features, the right makeup can help your photos look fresh, professional and timeless—while still feeling completely like you.
If you’re preparing for personal branding photos or headshots and you’re not confident in doing your makeup yourself, working with a professional makeup artist like Ivy can make the entire experience easier. Not only will it be one less thing to worry about, but you’ll arrive at the photoshoot with a boost of confidence to step in front of the camera.
About Ivy Boyd
Ivy Boyd is a Des Moines-based makeup artist with an extensive art background.
From weddings to commercials, presidential candidates to Real Housewives, Ivy has been fortunate to work with thousands of faces in her 13+ years in the beauty business.
Ivy has a Bachelor's Degree in Studio Art but makeup is undoubtedly her medium of choice, which she first found out working as Senior Education Consultant and Operations Consultant for Sephora.
She loves getting to meet new people and paint on faces.
In addition to makeup artistry, Ivy shares product reviews and tutorials via her blog, YouTube and Instagram.
Ivy’s makeup studio is located inside Glow Up in Urbandale, Iowa.
How to Contact Ivy
Schedule photoshoot makeup appointments online here.
The best way to reach Ivy is via email: ivysavanah@gmail.com
You can fill out her contact form here.
Visit her website for additional information.
Are you ready for photos that help you show up confidently and consistently for your business?
