The Importance of Professional Head Shots

How to Look Your Best in Your Next Professional Head Shot Photo Session -

In this social media crazed world we seem to have a million ways to share photos, post photos, and tag photos....however when it comes to our professional lives it is nice to have a polished and stylized look.  This includes good lighting, polished makeup, styled hair, and appropriate attire.  These key ingredients help represent you in the way that you want people to see you.

Even though we are in the industry, I really do recommend hiring professional help with styling for attire, hair, and makeup looks.  These photos are going to be used for your business and represent you and you work so hard to put your best foot forward at work why not put your very best into your image as well.

Suggestions when considering a professional head shot...

Example of great lighting and location

1.) Location - Pick somewhere with natural light, but sometimes outside is too much natural light, and the environment ends up being hard for a photographer to control.  The wind or rain can be a problem for hair and makeup so I would recommend a second location in a studio as well.

Example of great hair and skin

2.) Photographer - Make sure to pick a photographer who does a lot of professional head shots, who has experience with the lighting and poses.  As silly as it sounds, having someone who can help you with your posing and how you stand is very helpful!

3.) Hair  - Hair should be simple in a style you feel comfortable with and one that is flattering to your attire and your face.  It shouldn't cover your face too much and also shouldn't be completely pulled back.
Not to much hair product, you want it to be soft and fall naturally not look stiff in the photos.

Example of the right amount of makeup

4.) Make-up - Make-up should be natural and enhance all your features.  It might be a bit more makeup then you are used to, but it is necessary in order to show up in photos.  A touch more contouring and highlighting might be advised as well as more definition in the eye liner and blush.  Makeup tends to get lost in photos and in order for your features to stand out and look polished with high def photos more makeup is required.



*** there is a benefit to airbrush makeup and that is, it holds up well in heat and lights and lasts for a very long time if you are having a long shoot.  It also doesn't show brush strokes because it is applied with an airbrush gun.  This is all much more important in a high definition photo shoot.  Or for media prints that will be enlarged such as posters or banners.

Tanning for SeaFair Weekend

SeaFair Weekend in Seattle -

SeaFair has offiacially started with the Tourchlight Parade the other night and now we get ready for the festivities!!!  Along with buying bikinis and beer...most girls get a tan, a pedicure, and a wax before the big weekend on the boats.

A couple tips to make sure your tan is flawless for SeaFair Parties...

1.) Get your pedicure and waxing appointments done before you come in for your airbrush tan (we recommend at least the day before your tanning appointment)

2.) Schedule your Flawless Tan appointment in advance.  It is one of the busiest weekends for us and we fill up fast and often have a very hard time moving around appointment times.  We recommend either Wednesday or Thursday (open 9am - 9pm) as the best days before the weekend.  Book ahead of time and just remember these appointments are pre-paid and non-refundable.  

3.) Exfoliate a couple days before your tan (you want your skin to be prepared nicely for your tan and this will help the tan go on evenly and stay longer

4.) Find an outfit for your tanning appointment that is loose fitting, darker colored, and light weight so you dont sweat.  I love maxi dresses and loose fitting flip flops.  No bra (it can leavea  tan line).  No sunglasses right after the tan either, they can leave a mark on your nose.

5.) Hats.  Hats are cute on a boat, but a really tight fitting baseball cap can leave a mark and maybe rub off the tan on your forhead depending on how much you sweat.  So I would stick with loose fitting hats or sunglasses instead.

6.) Buy a touch up lotion or spray to keep the tan looking flawless all the way to Sunday.  Normally it lasts beautifully without touching up, however that much sweat and water on the skin will naturally exfoliate the tan prematurely and you still want to look glowing on Sunday.  I recommend the spray at night and the lotion during the day.

7.) Sunscreen!!!  Use at least a 30 when you are on the water (50 for your face).  Keep reapplying it so that you dont get burned.  It will ruin your weekend, and your Flawless Tan will peel off funny the rest of the week:(

8.) Extra hydrating lotion at night (if you dont use a touch up spray).  I like Cetaphil.  It will help you hydrate your skin after being in the water and sun all day. Chances are you are drinking alcohol too, and that dehydrates your skin as well.  So lots and lots of water!!!

Those are my tips for a flawless tan for SeaFair.  Have fun, be safe, and we will see you later this week.  Post your SeaFair pics on Flawless Facebook page and we will do a drawing at the end of the weekend for a free Whish Tan Extender Lotion!

Follow up on 'Dairy vs. My Skin'

Dairy vs. My Skin - My skin wins!!!!!

If you have heard me talk about 'No Dairy' as a solution to acne...and if you have ignored me....now is the time to listen.  Check it out.  This is just June 18th start date...after picture taken the morning of June 27th.

This is a blog to follow up on the 5 days I was giving my skin to improve after going off dairy, well I waited 8.  But the results were amazing!!!  As you may recall I was traveling and attending events and eating meals where it would have been rude to NOT eat what was served to me so I had a couple weeks of eating dairy, wheat, and meats that were not in my normal diet.  It caused my skin to flare up and break out and basically rebel against what I was putting in my body.

If you are reading this and you don't know me...I am 35 years old and I should not be having acne on my wrinkles!!!  So after I tried every single harsh product and $1000's of dollars in peels and facials.  I turned to nutrition as a solution.

When I got home I went back to all my normal habits and routines...I must be clear that I didn't do a cleanse or a detox.  I don't like those and I don't believe in doing anything that I cant maintain.  So I just went back to my routine of no dairy or wheat and only fish...trying to get everything fresh and whole into my eating habits again.

This was the result:)

As a side note, I had blood work done and I am NOT'allergic' or 'sensative' or 'intollorant' of any dairy products, wheat products, or any meats.  I was totally low in ALL categories...so it isnt the actual food item, it is totally the way our American Food Industry creates them and what they are putting in them or the animal producing them.  There, jumping down off my soap box now.  Cheers to clear skin and a happy girl!

Airbrush Tanning Prep and Post Care

Proper Tanning Prep…

12-24 Hours Before Your Airbrush Tan

• Make sure you shower and shave or wax prior to your appointment.
• Exfoliate with a loofa or sugar scrub prior to your tanning service, however do not apply any perfumes, deodorants, lotions or moisturizers on you skin before you appointment. 
• You will be able to remove makeup when you arrive, but lotions can act as a barrier and will affect the processing of you tan.
• Make sure you get your manicure and pedicure done the day before.
• Make sure you have all your waxing and sugaring done at least one day prior to your tan.
• Pack your tanning bag (black or dark undergarments if desired, loose fitting shoes, dark  and loose fitting clothes to wear afterwards, umbrella in-case of rain)
• Uggs or similar shoes are best during the winter and flip flops are best during the summer

15 Minutes Before Your Airbrush Tan

• Remove all makeup and deodorant with baby wipes
• Pull hair back away from face and up off your neck (we do not provide hair ties, however we have them available for purchase)
• Remove all jewelry
• Change into your desired tanning attire (anything or nothing for females, boxers or briefs for men)
• Put on the undergarments you want to wear and adjust them to where you want the tan lines to be (we do not provide disposable undergarments, however we have them available for purchase)

Proper Post-Tanning Care…

 

1 Hour After Your Airbrush Tan

• Dry yourself with the hair dryer for about 5 minutes
• Gather all jewelry and place it in a safe place, rings and earrings are the only thing you should put back on after the airbrush tan
• Keep your hair up off your neck
• Avoid touching your skin with your palms or fingers to prevent the airbrush tan from transferring to your hands.

 

6-8 Hours After Your Airbrush Tan

• Avoid any activity that would cause seating, exercise, showering, or any activity that may result in water coming in contact with the skin.
• If you choose to sleep in your airbrush tan, you may want to put down dark sheets or towel to prevent the airbrush tan from transferring to your sheets (it should wash out, but it is recommended to wash immediately) 

12 Hours After Your Airbrush Tan

• Shower and shave like normal (extra hydrating body wash is recommended or hair conditioner)
• Make sure to wash off ALL the airbrush tanning solution off your skin or it may appear to look streaky if there is left over bronzer on the skin
• Pat your skin dry after showering to avoid unnecessary exfoliation
• Apply a generous amount of moisturizer all over the skin to help the tan last

Day 3-7

• Apply recommended At Home Tanning Spray at night in the areas that start to fade first (hands, face, and feet)
• Apply recommended Tan Extending Lotion every other morning to moisturize the skin and extend the life of the tan
• On Day 7 use the Tan Off Glove to remove all the remaining airbrush tan residue to prepare for your next airbrush tan

 

The Life of Your Tan

The life of your spray tan depends on the care you take of your skin.  Moisturize twice a day and avoid exfoliation. 

Products may reduce the number of days your spray tan will last…

• Band Aids
• Face Masks
• Anti-Aging or Acne Products
• Bar Soaps
• Hair Removal

 

Activities that may reduce the life of your airbrush tan…

• Hot Tubs
• Salt Water
• Prolonged time in the pool
• Hot Yoga
• Extreme Exercise
• Walking in sand for long distances
• Massage
• Mineral Oils

 

Tan Off Glove - How to Remove Your Spray Tan

How to Remove Unwanted Spray Tan -

Summer is coming soon, and a lot of you will be coming in for airbrush tans on a regular basis...each week if you want to keep your glow.  The tan often gathers in specific areas and builds up...starting to look unnatural and orange.  Sugar scrubs and salt scrubs are luxurious, but often don't take off all the left over tan and some leave you with a residue.

I was recently sent a product to try at home myself...and it was advertised to take off any left over tan residue or take of any unwanted tan (if you went somewhere else and your tan was less then flawless).

It is the Tan Off Glove, and it is from Australia.  It works amazing!!!!...best part is that you can wash it so it is totally hygienic and it lasts for a really long time.  

I also use the Natural Bristol Scrub Brush because it is nice for me feet and it has a handle for my back.  But the Tan Off Glove has 2 sides, one side as a 'tan corrector' (orange side) gets off excess tan especially around my underarms which is where it gathers for me the worst, and 'total tan remover' (black side) to remove all the remaining tan before your next appointment. 

Use the Orange Side to if you are going to be wearing white the very next day after you get your tan.  It will lightly exfoliate the tan off the areas where you are going to sweat where the tan might not even show...rib cage area, between the breasts, and around the underarms.  That way the tan still looks even and glowing, but you wont risk any excess running or rubbing off onto your beautiful white clothes.

It is my favorite new product that we have and it is reasonably priced...and lasts a long time.  It will absolutely make a difference in how your tan looks and lasts this summer.

Cheers!