MimiStyles Glam Blog 

                                    
I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and taking lots of pictures with your friends and family. Take a good look at this picture above...This is a raw photo.
Raw, meaning that it's totally untouched or photoshopped. Now for me, this was a great picture. I absolutely love, love, love when I can take a professional picture for my press kit and not have to have major work done to it...It looks real crazy when your pictures look better than when people meet you in person, not a good look.
I definitely have to give props to photographer extraordinare, Stash Slionski for hookin' a sista up. We took over one hundred pics in literally thirty minutes and there was not one bad shot in the bunch (5 out of 150 don't count,okay)..
So kudos to him for his awesomeness! (is awesomeness a word?). There are some specifics that I must share with you that help me get ready for my pics. Now of course I am not a health care professional but I have been a Beauty Consultant for more than a decade. I have not only taught a thing or two but have learned over the years what dynamics make great shots so here is my regime...

Of course #1 would be to start off with a great photographer that has a portfolio of really high end natural pictures in his portfolio of other models... I actually didn't see Stash's port. he mainly works in film (East Pleasant Films)... Directors have a good eye for all the details.

2. I start two to three weeks before my shoot with drinking a gallon of water a day, it's great for cleansing your system and your skin...I bought several gallon jugs and keep them at work and in my car. Sometimes I put a combination of lemon and limes to give it a flavor that I will crave. Something about lemon and limes that make you extra thirsty.

3. Work out and sweat... alot... or stay in the steam room until your clothes are completely soak and wet.. Don't forget to drink a ton of water while your sitting in there. Sweating helps to detoxify your skin and the impurities in it. YOu'll also drop a couple of pounds and your face will look smaller and your cheek bones will look more defined.

4.Get rid of swelling under your eyes with preparation H...yes that hemoroid cream, lol.. I don't sleep well before a photo shoot for some odd reason, So I went into the pharmacy section of a drug store asked the pharmacist. She said there is nothing wrong with putting a small slither underneath your eyes to minimize the swelling.

5. Use whitening strips a week or two in advance until it's time for your shoot (actually 30days would be great)... There is nothing more flattering than super white teeth and it will make you look younger as well.

6. Practice different looks in the mirror for two weeks.. That will help to get the nervousness out in advance. Talk with your eyes..Say I love you. I hate you...I want to make love...Im beautiful..Everybody loves me.. ok..whatever works for you...think it in your mind and say it with your eyes... practice puckering your lips different ways as well... you'll be sure to bring out the Diva when youre ready for the shoot..

7. Shave under your arms...now this one is suppose to a no brainer but honestly it's not.. some people I've worked with in the past forgot all the time..
8. Wax those eyebrows..lighten those eyebrows... don't come to a shoot lookin like woofman jack okay.. thats not sexy... and lightening your eyebrows one shade up does wonders for your eyes and it softens the face.

9. Strappless braws and girdles are a must! make sure your bra strap isnt showing..and you don't have to be overweight to wear a girdle, corset, waist-cincher, ardyss (love those garments; body magic rocks!), a spanx will do also...not only will it help to straighten your posture but your clothes will look more sexy with smooth lines running down your body..

10. Invest in good make-up, white eye-liner does wonders under the eyes to widen them. Cover-up helps to minimize dark circles underneath the eyes and to cover up spots or blemishes you may have on your face. Don't forget to take visine...red eyes are not sexy...

11. Last but certainly not least...make sure your Weave looks Flawless and voluptous...don't expect to have high end  hair if you're not willing to spend high end  money on some good Hair Extensions... "you got to pay the cost to look like the Boss".

Or definitely go to the Salon and have your hair properly conditioned, get  a great  cut/shaping haircut (by someone who is properly going to be expensive but will give you the Best haircut you ever had!), get your ends  trimmed ,  make sure you have professional color on your hair. It  is the most important that will put the Icing on the Cake...

Come check me out in a couple of weeks... I'll have some tips and maybe even a video on make-up tricks..