Maternity Photoshoot Makeup Guide for Natural Beauty

Preparation is truly key to achieving a flawless and natural-looking makeup application for your maternity photoshoot. Before diving into foundation and color, take a moment to properly prime your skin. A primer acts like a double-sided tape, creating a smooth canvas for makeup to adhere to and preventing it from settling into fine lines or pores.

Choosing the right primer for your skin type is crucial. For oily complexions, opt for a mattifying primer that absorbs excess oil and minimizes the appearance of pores. This will help control shine throughout the photoshoot, ensuring your makeup stays put and doesn’t develop a greasy look. Hydrating primers are a lifesaver for dry skin. They provide a surge of moisture, plumping up the skin and creating a dewy, healthy-looking base.

The foundation you choose plays a starring role in your maternity photoshoot makeup look. It should perfectly match your skin tone to create a seamless, natural finish. Here’s how to find your perfect match:

• Test Different Shades in Natural Light: Don’t rely solely on the bottle color! Apply a few testers of different foundation shades to your jawline in natural light. The shade that disappears seamlessly into your skin is the one for you.
• Consider Coverage: For a natural look, there’s no need for a heavy, full-coverage foundation. Opt for a lightweight or medium coverage foundation that evens out your skin tone without looking cakey or mask-like.
• Embrace the Finish: The finish of your foundation adds another layer of dimension to your look. If you have dry skin, a dewy finish will enhance your natural radiance and add a healthy glow. Oily skin benefits from a matte finish that will control shine and keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the shoot.

Pregnancy can bring about a radiant glow, but it can also lead to some unwanted blemishes or dark circles. This is where concealer comes in as your secret weapon! Concealer helps to target specific areas and achieve a flawless complexion, but using it strategically is key to maintaining a natural look.

Opt for a concealer shade that perfectly matches your foundation. A shade that’s too light will actually highlight imperfections, while a shade that’s too dark can look heavy and unnatural. Then, apply a small amount of product directly onto the targeted area, such as a dark circle or blemish. Remember, blending is key. Use a damp makeup sponge or a small blending brush to gently blend out the concealer, ensuring it seamlessly transitions into your foundation. This prevents a harsh line of demarcation and creates a natural-looking finish.

The key to natural-looking eye makeup for your maternity photoshoot is to enhance your natural features, not overpower them. Here’s how to achieve beautiful, defined eyes without looking too dramatic:

• Neutral Color Palette: Stick to neutral eyeshadow colors like browns, taupes, or pinks. These shades complement all skin tones and create a natural, sophisticated look.
• Light Wash of Color: Apply a light wash of your chosen eyeshadow color to your eyelid. Focus the color on the crease and blend it upwards and outwards for a soft, diffused look.
• Define with Liner: Line your upper lash line with a brown or black eyeliner pencil. Sharpen the pencil for a precise line, then gently smudge it with a small brush for a softer, more natural definition.
• Finishing Touch: Finish your eye look with a few coats of mascara. For a natural look, focus on volumizing and defining your lashes rather than dramatic length.

Once you’ve completed your makeup application, the final step is to ensure it stays put throughout your photoshoot. Setting spray is your best friend here! A lightweight, oil-free setting spray will act as an invisible shield, locking in your makeup and preventing it from smudging, fading, or transferring. This ensures your beautiful, natural look stays flawless for the duration of your shoot.

For moms-to-be who want to embrace a touch of glamour while maintaining a natural look, the Soft Glam look is the perfect choice. This timeless style combines subtle elements to create a radiant and sophisticated finish:

• Dewy Foundation: Opt for a foundation with a dewy finish. This type of foundation reflects light and adds a healthy, hydrated glow to your skin, enhancing your natural pregnancy radiance.
• Soft Pink Blush: A touch of soft pink blush adds a youthful flush of color to your cheeks. Choose a shade that complements your skin tone for a natural-looking rosy effect. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards towards your temples for a subtle lift.
• Light Shimmer on High Points: To further enhance your natural features, apply a light-handed touch of highlighter to the high points of your face. Focus on the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and your cupid’s bow. Choose a highlighter with a subtle shimmer, not a heavy glitter, to maintain a natural look.

Maternity photoshoot by Didier, Localgrapher in Nice

This look is ideal for moms-to-be who want to highlight their natural pregnancy glow. It focuses on light, sheer products and soft pink tones to enhance your existing radiance:

• Light Foundation: Use a lightweight foundation that evens out your skin tone without masking it. Choose a sheer formula that allows your natural glow to shine through.
• Touch of Pink Blush: A touch of pink blush is essential for this look. Opt for a shade that’s slightly deeper than the soft pink used in the Soft Glam look. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend outwards for a natural flush.
• Rosy Pink Lip Tint: Instead of lipstick, use a rosy pink lip tint for a sheer wash of color. Lip tints are perfect for this look because they provide a natural, just-bitten lip effect.

Maternity photoshoot by Patricia, Localgrapher in Lagos, Portugal

The No-Makeup Makeup Look is perfect for moms-to-be who prefer a minimalist approach to makeup. It enhances your natural features without looking overly made up:

• Tinted Moisturizer: Even out your skin tone with a tinted moisturizer. This provides a touch of coverage while still allowing your natural skin to show through.
• Concealer: Use a touch of concealer to target specific areas like dark circles or blemishes.
• Clear Lip Balm: Finish the look with a clear lip balm to keep your lips hydrated and add a touch.

Maternity photoshoot by Brian, Localgrapher in Los Angeles

The Bronzed Beauty look is ideal for outdoor maternity photoshoots. It captures the warmth and beauty of a summer glow:

• Warm-toned Foundation: Choose a foundation with warm undertones to complement the bronzed look. This will create a natural, sun-kissed appearance.
• Bronzer for Definition: Bronzer adds warmth and definition to your face. Apply it to the hollows of your cheekbones, your forehead, and along your jawline for a sculpted effect. Remember to blend thoroughly to avoid harsh lines.
• Peachy or Golden Eyeshadow: For your eyes, opt for a peachy or golden eyeshadow color. These shades complement the warm tones of the bronzer and create a cohesive look. Apply the eyeshadow to your eyelids and blend it upwards and outwards.

Maternity photoshoot by Anna S., Localgrapher in Barcelona

For moms-to-be who want a hint of drama without compromising their natural beauty, the Smoky Eye offers the perfect solution:

• Soft Smoky Eye: Create a soft smoky eye using brown or grey eyeshadow tones. This look is a softer version of a traditional smoky eye, focusing on blending and diffused color instead of harsh lines.
• Natural Foundation and Blush: To balance the drama of the smoky eye, keep the rest of your makeup natural. Use a light foundation and a minimal amount of blush to avoid overwhelming your features.

Complete the look with a touch of mascara and a nude lip color. This keeps the focus on the eyes while maintaining a natural and elegant overall look.

Maternity photoshoot by Fitra, Localgrapher in Tokyo

Strobing is a makeup technique that uses highlighter to strategically add dimension and illuminate specific features on your face. For a natural twist on this trend, here’s what to keep in mind:

• Cream Highlighter: Opt for a cream highlighter as opposed to a powder highlighter. Cream formulas blend seamlessly into the skin, creating a more natural, dewy finish.
• Sparing Application: Remember, the key to a natural strobed look is subtlety. Apply a small amount of cream highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones, directly below your brow bone (not on the entire brow), and a tiny touch to your cupid’s bow.

Maternity photoshoot by Bethina, Localgrapher in Lake Garda

Bold brows are a popular trend, and for good reason! They can frame your face and add structure to your features. However, achieving a natural look with bold brows requires a delicate touch:

• Choose Your Shade Wisely: Select a brow pencil or powder shade that complements your hair color. If you have dark hair, opt for a deep brown or dark taupe. For lighter hair colors, choose a light brown or ash blonde shade.
• Light, Feathery Strokes: Instead of drawing a solid line, apply the brow product with light, feathery strokes that mimic the growth pattern of your natural hairs. This creates a more natural and defined look compared to a harsh, solid brow line.
• Focus on Filling Sparse Areas: The goal is to enhance your natural brows, not completely reshape them. Focus on filling in sparse areas and defining the shape of your brows without making them look overly dramatic.

While neutral colors are a classic choice for maternity photoshoots, a touch of unexpected color can add a personal touch to your look:

• Sheer Lipstick: Opt for a sheer lipstick formula as opposed to a full-coverage lipstick. Sheer lipsticks provide a wash of color without overwhelming the rest of your makeup.
• Berry or Coral Hues: Consider adding a pop of color with a berry or coral lipstick shade. These colors are both feminine and flattering on a variety of skin tones.
• Neutral Harmony: Remember, the key is to maintain a balance. If you’re incorporating a pop of color on your lips, keep the rest of your makeup in neutral tones. This ensures the color on your lips takes center stage while still creating a cohesive and natural overall look.

Maternity photoshoot by Simone, Localgrapher in Lucca