When having professional photos done, it is best to hire a professional makeup artist. But if you can't or don't want to, then here are a few tips to assist you with your makeup application. Number one tip: HD cameras pick up every tiny detail and your makeup needs to be as close to flawless as possible. Begin with your canvas. Your foundation should be applied smoothly and blended extremely well to avoid any brush strokes. Check it under different lighting, particularly sunlight for any noticeable makeup lines. Look for shiny spots and use a translucent powder on those areas. Try to avoid makeup with SPF ingredients. They tend to cause what makeup artists refer to as "flashback", where your face appears whiter than the rest of your skin even though you had a perfectly matched foundation color. Unless you are experienced, I suggest skipping any contouring or highlighting. Yes, your face needs dimension, but applied incorrectly, the results can be less t...

The Importance of Engagement Photography  Engagement photography has had a major resurgence in recent years. No longer are couples going in to a photography studio for a formal portrait session so that they can get that one picture. That one picture that eventually ends up somewhere in the back of the newspaper, between the Ford dealer advertisement and the daily horoscopes.  Couples are starting to have fun with their engagement photo session, trying to think of ways to show off who they really are. Portrait studios have been replaced by beaches, football stadiums, theme parks and abandoned factories. A couple can let their imagination soar as they think of ideas. One couple recently gained a lot of attention by recreating the courtship from the Pixar movie Up! While another couple decided to fantasize what their life would be like together in the 540 square foot home in Ikea.  I’ve always said that engagement sessions make for a great date night. You get to have fun tog...