Hair and makeup are the first hour of a boudoir session, and they are included in the $450 session fee. You sit down, someone works on your face and hair, and by the time you stand up you already look like the photos. Here is what happens in that hour, what to bring and what to skip, for sessions in Wellington, West Palm Beach and the rest of Palm Beach County.
The short answer
Arrive with a clean, moisturized face and dry hair. Bring two or three reference photos of the look you like. Everything else, from foundation to curls, is done on site before the camera comes out. Hair and makeup take about an hour, then the 90 minutes of directed posing begin.
Before you arrive
- Face: no makeup, no heavy cream the same morning. Skin that is clean and calm takes foundation better.
- Hair: washed the day before or that morning, fully dry, no product. Styling holds longer on hair with a little texture.
- Nails: done two or three days earlier, not that morning. Hands are in a lot of frames.
- Lashes and brows: if you want lashes, say so when you book. Brows get shaped by makeup, not by a new wax the day before.
- Straps and marks: wear a loose top. Tight bras and waistbands leave lines that take hours to fade.
Minute 0 to 10: the plan
We start with a short talk about the three looks you brought and the one you want to feel most like. This decides the makeup. A white set and a black set can share the same face, but a red lip works for one and fights the other. Show your reference photos now. If a photo has a feature you do not want, say it. Nobody is offended.
Minute 10 to 40: makeup
Skin first: a light base, concealer where you ask for it, and powder only where the light will catch shine. Eyes next, then lips, then a little contour. Boudoir makeup is stronger than daytime makeup, because camera light flattens color, but it should still look like you.
Two choices come up every time:
- Lip color: a deep nude or rose reads on every set. Red is a choice. Pick it on purpose.
- Shimmer: a little on the collarbone and shoulders photographs well. On the face it can turn into oily highlights.
Minute 40 to 60: hair
Hair is done last, so makeup does not flatten it. Loose waves are the most common request because they move when you do. Sleek straight hair and a high ponytail work for the black and editorial looks. Tell me if you want to change hair between sets. A quick brush and a clip can do it in five minutes, and it changes the whole gallery.
Curls set with heat and left alone hold for the entire session. Hairspray goes on at the end, not before the first look.
What to bring
- Your three looks, steamed or pressed.
- Two or three reference photos for makeup and hair.
- A hair tie and a few clips.
- Your own lipstick, if you have a shade you trust.
- Water and something light to eat. A long hour in the chair is easier on a full stomach.
What I ask you to skip
- Self-tanner the same week. It streaks and photographs orange.
- A new haircut or color the week of the session.
- Facials with peeling in the three days before.
Retouching comes after, not instead
The makeup is meant to look good in person and on camera, so retouching has less to fix. The retouched images keep your natural skin, with clean light and nothing plastic. For how the rest of the day runs, read your first boudoir session. For collections and what each one includes, see the 2026 guide and prices for boudoir in Palm Beach and Miami. You can also see the area page for boudoir in West Palm Beach.
Questions
Is hair and makeup included?
Yes. The $450 session includes hair, makeup, wardrobe help, 90 minutes of posing, the same-day reveal and 5 retouched photos. Collections start at $895.
Can I do my own makeup?
Ask when you book and we plan the hour around it. Most clients keep the makeup included, because the camera needs more definition than a normal day.
Should I get my hair done at a salon first?
No. Hair is styled at the session, so it matches the look you chose. A salon blowout is fine if you already booked one, but it is not needed.
What if I have sensitive skin?
Say so when you book and bring the products you already trust, so the plan for the hour accounts for them.
Ready to pick a date? Book your session.
Related reading: how to plan an on-location boudoir session in Miami and Palm Beach.
