Chapstick and lip balm is always recommended. Lip gloss can sometimes look nice, but don’t overdo it. If you tend to get oily skin, you should probably bring some translucent powder or use oil blotting paper. Make sure you are hydrating and resting up a week before your appointment, and, yes, blemishes are always edited out of your final images.

If you wear makeup regularly, you should definitely wear makeup in your headshots. Just like when you put together a self-tape or go in for an in-person audition, and when you are hired and put on-camera, you will be wearing makeup – this includes all adults and older teens. Youth and tweens are usually fine without makeup.

Some of my female identifying clients will hire a professional makeup artist, and makeup application happens in my studio, about an hour before we begin the photoshoot. If you need a referral, check the FAQ page here on this website. If you are comfortable applying your own makeup, that is absolutely fine, and makeup on male identifying adults looks great, too. It’s not as standard as it is in LA, but adding makeup to your face is not a bad idea, especially if you have problem skin. Sometimes makeup changes can really modify or accent a look, and even a lipstick color change can say a lot to make your types even more distinct from each other.

Accessories like earrings, dermal implants, nose rings, and necklaces will be seen if worn. Whether you should wear them is another story. If you are represented, be sure to talk about accessories with your agent, and my general thought is that commercial and casual looks/types should present with little to no accessories. For other types, accessories can tell a great story.