How to Prepare for a Photoshoot: The Ultimate Pre-Shoot Make-up & Skin Guide

Great photoshoot make-up doesn't start in the make-up chair — it starts about a week earlier, with you. Here's exactly how to arrive camera-ready so your artist can do their best work and you love every frame.

The week before: skin is the foundation

The camera sees texture the eye forgives. To give make-up a smooth canvas:

• Hydrate — drink water consistently and moisturise day and night.
• Don't experiment — no new actives, peels or products in the 7 days before. Reactions love bad timing.
• Exfoliate gently — a mild exfoliation 2–3 days before (never the day of) helps make-up sit evenly.
• Lips — gentle lip exfoliation + balm; dry lips photograph badly.
• Sleep & food — boring advice, visible results: rest and reduce salt/alcohol the night before to limit puffiness.

Booking a facial? Schedule it at least two weeks out — never the week of the shoot.

48 hours before

• Skip facial waxing/threading right before — do it 2–3 days prior so redness settles.
• Men: decide on the shave look in advance and prep the skin to avoid irritation.
• Confirm call time, location, parking and who's in the make-up chair and when.

The day of: arrive like a blank canvas

• Come with clean, moisturised, make-up-free skin (a little eye cream/lip balm is fine).
• Clean, dry, product-light hair unless your stylist says otherwise.
• Wear a button or zip top so you don't pull clothing over a finished face.
• Bring references, the products you'll need for re-touch, and any allergy info.

Brief your make-up artist properly

The more your artist knows, the better the result. Share:

• The goal: natural beauty, editorial concept, commercial/brand, e‑commerce?
• Format: stills or video? Camera resolution (4K reads every detail)?
• Lighting: daylight, studio strobe, continuous, mixed?
• References: 3–5 images of looks you love (and any you don't).
• Logistics: how many people, how long, any wardrobe changes/look changes.

What make-up artists wish clients knew

• "Natural" make-up still takes time and skill — and looks like nothing on camera if skipped.
• A look that seems "too much" in the mirror often reads perfectly through the lens.
• Trust the touch-ups: shine and movement under lights are normal, not a redo.

Book a photoshoot make-up artist in Vienna

Jasmin prepares talent for commercial, editorial and beauty shoots across Vienna and Europe, building looks specifically for the camera and lighting in use. See the portfolio and get in touch with your shoot brief, references and date.