Should you use a hair and makeup artist (HMUA) for your headshot session?
I love it when my clients use my recommended HMUA and have created this page to explain in detail how we work together.
You can choose either hair and makeup ($225) or just makeup ($150). Prices are subject to change.
Meredith’s home studio is 15 minutes from my studio. We generally schedule HMU at 10am at her studio and then the photo session at 11:00 or 11:30 at my studio (depending on if you are including hair and makeup or just makeup). However, afternoon sessions are available too.
When I discuss potential dates with you, I will coordinate with Meredith on dates we are both available. Once we set a date, I send an intro email to you and Meredith to discuss the HMU part of the session. Meredith is paid directly.
On the date of the session, you don’t need to worry about the session ending earlier or going longer than anticipated. Meredith will let me know when you are finished and heading over.
Want more details?
Here are four reasons why you should use a HMUA
- You don’t usually wear a lot of makeup, so you don’t own a lot of makeup or don’t know how to apply it. Makeup for photography is different from makeup for day to day, or light applications. You might not want to wear a lot of makeup, but for the camera, you need to apply a little more than usual. My clients who said they don’t wear a lot of makeup and arrived with what seemed like “too much” to them actually loved what they saw on the camera. A good HMUA knows how to apply makeup that is “enough”, but still natural and looks like you. If you don’t normally wear a lot of makeup, it may be more economical to use a HMUA instead of investing in a lot of makeup that won’t be used before it expires.
- You might go too far with the makeup. For an evening out, you might want to apply more dramatic makeup, but for your headshot, the makeup should be more natural. The makeup shouldn’t be the first thing people notice about your photo. Also, it is generally easier to edit photos to accentuate and strengthen makeup than to reduce makeup.
- You don’t have camera-ready makeup. A lot of makeup has SPF or shimmer in it. That won’t play well with camera lighting. You want to have makeup specifically formulated for the camera and a HMUA who understands how lighting works. Meredith and I have communicated over years what works and what doesn’t, and give each other feedback regularly.
- You are nervous and have never been to a HMUA before or had a bad experience. I am very careful about who I recommend, and always ask my clients for feedback on their experience. I trust Meredith to not only provide the best technical service for hair and makeup, but also listen carefully to clients to know what they are looking for, and always defer to their needs and desire. Many of my clients feel like they’ve gone to just spend time with a friend after their session. Makeup artists must also know exactly what the situation calls for. The technical aspects of makeup for a wedding is very different from makeup for a headshot.
Finally, here’s a tip to maximize your HMU experience!
Plan your session on a date when you have something nice that evening. That way, your HMU investment can go a little farther. I’ve had clients who plan a dinner date or even had a job interview that day. Of course, if that’s too much in one day, just enjoy and love how fabulous you look and feel.
Interested in hiring Meredith for your company’s volume headshot session? Meredith is available as an add-on option to my volume headshot sessions at your office, trade show, or conference. With high volume work, we instruct participants to come with their hair and makeup already applied. Meredith then spends a few minutes with each participant to help them get “camera ready.” Even those without makeup needed will benefit from small adjustments like oil blotting. Please contact me for a quote!
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