Nails can oftentimes be an overlooked part of preparing for your session, but they shouldn’t be! Your hands (and nails) will definitely show during your session, so here are a few tips to achieve portrait perfect nails.
1. Get your manicure and pedicure done a day or two before your session. This will ensure your polish and cuticles are fresh and ready to frame your face. There’s nothing worse than busted nails or cracked and missing polish drawing attention away from your beautiful face.
2. Keep it neutral. Getting trendy with nail color can date your portraits and you want to remain classic and timeless with beautifully polished neutral nails. Go for shimmery nudes or subtle shades of blush. Our top 3 favorite polish tones are OPI’s Substantially Tan (a blush tinted neutral beige), Cosmo-Not Tonight Honey (a shimmery pale champagne), and Bare My Soul (a very natural nude).
3. Keep your hands moisturized. Moisturize for the entire week before your session. Use a heavy moisturizer on your hands, cuticles and nails to help heal any cracked skin or broken nail beds. Sometimes your mani/pedi appointment can be a bit harsh on the sides of your nail beds, so make sure to use a salve like O’Keefe’s Working Hands Cream or Aquafor Healing Ointment.
4. Don’t destroy your nails. Try not to bite your nails or pick at your fingers for several weeks before your session. Red, flaky, and peeling skin around your nail beds can be unsightly in your photos so do whatever you have to do to make sure that you keep your nails and fingers damage free.
While prepping for your session, it truly is best to consider everything from head to toe. Prepping your fingernails (and depending on the session, your toenails, too) will help ensure you are creating beautiful and lasting portraits.
Worried about pulling everything together for your session? Not to worry! We will send you a prep guide to help make the big day easy and stressfree! If you’re ready to schedule your session, email us at megan@meganmyrickphotography.com or call the studio at 912.200.5284.
