DIY Maternity Photo Shoot Hair & Makeup

As a soon to be mum myself I have contemplated doing a maternity photo shoot many times. He will be my first Bub, so I figured I’d go all out. I am lucky enough to know what I am doing with makeup; I have done makeup for so many pregnant mammas out there. However in such an expensive time in your life, paying a professional to do your hair and makeup for a photo shoot can’t always be justified, so I’ve put together a list for those mammas who still want to look gorgeous in front of the lens and do it themselves. My wish is for every new mum to feel beautiful in her pregnancy no matter what her situation might be. Especially when we are always feeling sick, fat & constantly uncomfortable.

Makeup.

Start with a clean fresh face. Moisturise, pluck and tweeze what you don’t want. It’s best to pluck hair the night before, that way you don’t congest the open hair follicle with makeup creating future breakouts or black heads.

Matte makeup is your best foundation choice. Your best bet is to use makeup that gives a matte finish vs. a shiny “sparkly” finish. The lighting can make the shine and sparkle look more enhanced if you’re not careful. There are some great inexpensive matt foundations out there, please leave a comment below if you would like some recommendations.

If your skin is quite dry and you usually avoid matt foundations then that’s ok, all you need is a super hydrating moisturiser underneath your foundation, that way it doesn’t look so cakey or dull. If you truly don’t like matt, then you can always spray your entire face at the very end with a hydrating mineral charged water like MAC Cosmetics Fix Plus, it will give you a slight glow/dewy without looking “sparkly”.

BONUS TIP: Avoid SPF foundation as this can create camera flash back.

When applying your makeup, apply in a natural light.  Applying your makeup under heavy or not enough lighting can alter the look of your face. Sit by a window, but be careful that intense sunlight doesn’t hit your face directly. I do not recommend applying makeup in yellow or mood lighting. White light is best.
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When choosing a face powder use more of a golden tinted powder. Nothing shinny, white or pink based. A golden tint will give you a bit of warmth without making you look like a Geisha. Less is best to start with. You can always add more during the photo shoot if you need to. If you do get oily during the shoot remember to blot the excess oil with tissue or blotting paper before touching up your powder.

Concealers are great, be sure to choose warmth. Too many times I have seen really white under eye or a grey colour under the eye. When you select a concealer ensure that it has a peachy tone to it rather than all white or yellow tone. Concealers can be 1-2 shades lighter than your foundation. Too white or too bright will give you a grey undertone or camera flash back.

BONUS TIP: If you have really dark circles under your eyes, you may use a tiny amount of Orange or Pink concealer first before applying a regular concealer over top. Comment below if you would like my recommendation on which one is best. Remember to blend your concealer and set it with a lightweight powder.

Black! Yep, black eyeliner and black mascara. If you’re use to using other colours, like brown, opt for black when having your picture taken. Everything in photography looks washed out, so black will really help to frame your eyes. That goes for very fair skin blonde mammas too.

Many women don’t take the effort in blush, but you will want to for your photos. Using a good blush will help from looking washed out. Don’t overdo it.  Don’t have a heavy hand when applying your blush. Simply tap a little on and blend. You can use both a bronzer and a blush if you choose to. Use a bronzer to help contour your face, and a blush on the apples of the cheeks to give you a healthy glow.
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Lipstick, don’t skip it! Trust me when I say, don’t skip lipstick. You need to contrast your face features; your lips are one of them. You don’t need a bright colour, but you’ll need some colour.  You can go bold or nude, but don’t skip it. Gloss on its own wont do it for you either.

Soft Goddess Locks

One of the most popular hairstyle requests for a maternity shoot is soft curls. Just like a pregnant Goddess in a white robe! The best way to achieve this is to ensure your hair is properly washed and dried, free from products.
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Once brushed, divide your hair horizontally starting at the nape of the neck, no more than 1.5 inches thick. Pin the rest up and out the way. Divide that bottom level into 3 or 4 vertical sections (no more than 1 inch thick). Curl the hair for a few seconds; release it for no more than 1 second. While its still warm quickly twist it around your middle finger and pointer finger to create a loop. Pin the loop to the scalp and allow it to set and cool there. Finish the bottom level, then work your way up to your crown.

BONUS TIP: All hair that frames the face should be curled backwards, not forward towards the face, otherwise you’ll end up looking like Goldie Locks rather than a beautiful pregnant Goddess.

Once you have all the hair pinned up let it sit for at least 20 mins, or while you do your makeup.
Once your hair has cooled down, release all the pins. With a tiny bit of shine serum on your hands, run your fingers through to break up your curls, just be careful to not over do it or you could end up with frizz rather than soft curls. Feel free to tip your head upside down and give it a shake, this will give it a bit of extra volume. The curls will drop over the next few hours, but this technique will ensure you will still have curls the next day. In fact they will be even better the next day! Finish with a small amount of hairspray, you don’t need a lot, otherwise it will go crunchy and be weighed down.

I hope this helped my fellow pregnant mammas! Even if you don’t have a photo shoot, why not do a little self pampering and book a date night with your partner. Take the time for yourself now before Bub comes along and things change.

Maternity Photo Shoot Inspiration.