Having photographed some of these family members over the summer, I knew I was in for a treat! When Mom contacted me via her mother, to photograph her newborn baby boy and the family, I think she said something along the lines of “NO STUPID HATS!” To which I giggled and thought…awe man when will I get to use the SOMBRERO as a prop!
Some of you who have previously had a customized session by me, probably can recall the look of abject horror I had on my face when you showed me a photograph you found on Pinterest with chalkboards, or scrabble letters. I promise I really don’t make those faces on purpose. They just pop up on my face. However, inside when someone shows me their inspiration, I’m screaming “OH MY GOD THE CHEESY PROPS!!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!” So thank you for not calling me out on that, if you noticed. Then I calm down and start planning the “look” for your session and try to find the “look” you are going for by showing me these inspirational photographs. So to start off planning a session with a client who absolutely doesn’t want cheesy props makes me think I have found the absolutely perfect client! I love you…….(too much?)
I had a reveal session planned for another client an hour away directly after this newborn & family session. Also, remember hurricane Patricia a couple of weeks ago that hit Mexico? Yea the remnants from that went over the top of us the day of this portrait session. Mom’s husband was so chivalrous when he braved the howling storm to help me get my gear out of my poor little cram packed Mustang. And then again when he helped me cram it back. My car still smells bad from all the wet gear that hung out in it for the rest of the night!
#BTS (behind the scenes) Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Freeman
Poor big brother did not seem to be impressed by my mad photography skills or his new baby brother but come to find out the poor little guy was fighting an ear infection! He never even cried. I want to lay down in the floor and scream if I get an ear infection and no way you would get a camera near me! Such a little trooper.
Baby Cooper had the alertness of a two month old. Which made for some great lifestyle photographs but he really, really did not want to miss anything! So he didn’t slip off into baby never never land for very long. But that was okay because I’m quick with the camera.
Baby Cooper looks like he is up to something!!
For someone who had just had a cesarean five days earlier and no sleep with a toddler and a newborn to care for, Mom was absolutely beautiful and Dad looked so proud of his little family.
Whatever kind of day I have had though, quietly sitting and taking photographs of newborns makes my day. Especially with clients like these. Thank you both for working with me to preserve these precious memories!
Shhhhhh……..
Phoenix Rhys Photography can be found floating around on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts when she’s not out having fun with her clients.
As I sit here sipping my Real Sangria (YES it says REAL and it’s $7.00 a bottle and I’m not ashamed to be seen with the bottle because it’s not that pansy ass Arbor Mist stuff), I reminisce about my mother teaching me how to put on makeup.
There has to be some crazy trick to lip paint because I still don’t understand how this stuff is supposed to work!
Actually, that was probably a sangria induced hallucination because my mother was and is a tomboy (She taught me how to change the oil on my car not how to curl my hair) Mom’s idea of getting dressed was slapping on a size 00 pair of cut off wrangler jeans, Daisy Duke style (that’s two zeros people, they do make clothes in those sizes in case you’re wondering because I sure as hell never bought a pair in that size) and whatever random t-shirt she could find that came about mid-thigh. (Which is actually in style now?) If she was really in a dressy mood she put on some eyeliner, mascara and a pair of whole wrangler jeans and maybe a dressy button up shirt, oh, and curled her bangs. There’s nothing wrong with that and my mother is beautiful. We just have to do some clothing and makeup adjustments before a photo shoot.
This is what my makeup looked like in middle school
Needless to say my foray into makeup was interesting. I went from middle school with WAAAYYY too much make up because that’s what you do when you’re 13 to a grown up tomboy myself saying, “Screw it I look great without it.” And I did but then I turned 30….. It hurt a little to type that….
At 30, this strange thing happens overnight. All of those days in the sun start to take a toll on your face. So does the smoking, drinking, late nights doing those two things and the 4 hours of sleep you tell yourself you can live with, while sleeping those 4 hours in your party hard makeup. (This was the only time I put on makeup). You see these little lines appearing around your eyes, and strange dark marks and weird hairs sprout. Also, acne does not go away when you turn 20 or 30, I’m hoping on 40.
This stuff became my new best friend!
Anyway, so GOOGLE…. I had to GOOGLE how to put on eyeliner, curl my hair, what type of face regimen to use etc. Then I started doing more studio portraits and hello …. I had to hire a makeup artist because yep I didn’t know what to do for my clients.
SO without further ado…here are tips for how to paint that crud on your face for your portrait session…. YES it’s different than every day makeup!
PRIMER
Primer… If you don’t have it, get it. Primer not only gives you a smooth even complexion but leaves your make up flawless for an extended period of time. Any primer will work!
COLOR
Ya’ll know I’m a color kind of gal BUT unless we are doing some type of stylized fashion shoot OR you regularly wear hot pink eyeliner, then DON’T get too crazy about trying something new for your photo-shoot. Even if you look fabulous, if it’s not you, then you may look at your portraits and think “What was I thinking.”
MATTE v. SHIMMERY
Do you regularly wear shimmery, gold dusted, glittery make up? If you do and you’re over the age of 18, DON’T. If you don’t, sure as heck don’t start now! Shimmery make up reflects light and that can make your face appear oily in photographs. If you’re using these to “highlight” your face see contouring below for a better, more natural appearing option.
COUNTOURING
Oh how I love contouring! This right here can totally change your whole face! I am so going to link you to My Pinterest because yea there’s a good tutorial HERE for contouring but the basics are this. You have three foundations. Your regularly tinted foundation, one lighter and one darker. You use a lighter for the highlight areas and a darker for your shadow areas to bring out the angles in your face. I suggest sticking with the same brands OR you can buy a contouring kit or stick. I like NYX Cosmetics Wonder Stick because it takes the guess work out of what shade you should buy. Plus, I’m a cheap ass and it’s $11.99 at Ulta.com.
HEAVY-ISH MAKE UP
Don’t be too light handed with your make up when preparing for your photo-shoot. Sunlight and a camera flash can wash out the color on your face. Do your make up and then step out into the sunlight with a hand mirror. Make sure the light is actually on your face when you do this to see how your make up will look in light. Go heavier on the blush and contouring than on the eyes. The eyelids do not wash out as easily because light hits your cheeks first. DO NOT RIM YOUR WATERLINE IN ALL BLACK! This makes your eyes appear smaller. Use a white or nude pencil on your waterline and then use brown (lightly) under that to make your eyes appear larger!
Does anyone else take selfies to see what your makeup looks like? That’s so what I was doing in these! Anyway….purple eyeliner doesn’t make eyes look as small as a all black eyeliner.Without black waterline…I really need to work on my happy face in my selfiesWith a all black waterline (See I was trying to hold my eyes open further)
Professional Makeup
If you have your makeup done by a professional prior to your session, be sure to inform them that you are getting it done for a photo session & that they understand that there is a difference.
C : Don’t be scared to use your makeup, learn to contour, you’re not 12….get rid of the glitter, and don’t get too adventurous with makeup color. OH and primer…..just like painting a wall use this before your paint your face.
AND
Fourth- D- whatever: Cameras are not magical. It spits out a 2D image of a 3D person. Even if you don’t wear makeup regularly, wearing it for your photo shoot will enhance your already beautiful face.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR OIL – Go to your Husband/Boyfriend/Friend with Benefits and say, “If I have to change this oil myself then what do I need a man for? I own a vibrator.” Go back in the house, practice putting on makeup….watch your oil get changed. For better instructions, ask my mom…..
GUYS…..why are you reading this? You know you don’t care what your face looks like. You just want to know how much you have to spend on this to make your wife/girlfriend happy. Muahaaaaaa!!
Phoenix Rhys Artistry 