Makeup Tips & Tricks

               Hello readers! I’m back this week to talk about makeup. Whether you’re hiring a team to glam you up or watching tutorials online, figuring out how to keep your makeup looking perfect all day can be a challenge.

SCHEDULE Time

The first thing I would recommend, much like when I talked about hair, is to allow yourself enough time. Applying your makeup about 45 mins to an hour before the wedding should do the trick.

Proper Skincare GOES A LONG WAY

Keep your skin clean, exfoliated, and hydrated to begin the process and achieve a glowing look. This will make sure that your makeup survives a day of sweating and dancing. To deal with excess oil, blot your t-zone with a tissue instead of applying more makeup.

EXPERIMENT BEFORE HAND

It’s also a great idea to play around with a few looks beforehand so you have one less thing to worry about on your big day. Book your trial 3-5 weeks before your wedding. A quick tip – wear a t-shirt that is a similar colour to your dress!

USE THE PROPER TYPES of MAKE UP

This goes without saying but consider waterproof foundation and mascara to avoid runny makeup. Trust me, there will be tears! It’s important that you use long-lasting products and products that best suit your skin type.

An alternative to lipstick, which you won’t have time to keep re-applying, is to go with a lip stain. Layer it with a sheer gloss and you’re ready to walk down the aisle and pose for photos (without smearing your makeup all over your partner).

EMERGENCY KIT

In the case of emergencies, make sure you or a bridesmaid carry around a few essentials to swoop in for any needed touch-ups.

Something that we may not have to consider forever but need to during these tough times is wearing a mask. Putting your safety and the safety of those around you is important but that doesn’t mean that you have to run the risk of ruining your beautiful look. I stumbled across a great blog that covers a step-by-step process that gives great tips for keeping your makeup intact during the pandemic.

Check out the images I took below for links to some amazing makeup artists!

@prettypleasemakeoverme

@beyoutifulbrides

@___dot_

@makeupjedi

Wedding Hair Do's And Don'ts

Everyone wants to look beautiful on their wedding day and over the course of my photography career, I’ve learned a few tips that I think will help you make sure you look your best. Regardless if you have long or short hair, straight, curly or somewhere in between it’s important to choose a hairstyle that best suits your personality and your style.

               First and foremost, try to gather inspiration from different photos. It’s great if you find a hairstyle that you fall in love with but it’s much more helpful for the hairstylist to have a collection of photos that they can use as a reference to give them a better idea of the overall look you want to achieve. This way you can point out different details that you like. Also, keep in mind that you don’t want to solicit too many opinions. We tend to rely on the opinions of our families, friends and even our partners but try to keep it simple. Sometimes having too many ideas swimming in your head is a bad thing.

               When you have a good idea of what you want, schedule a trial-run but don’t do it too early. Don’t leave yourself time to second-guess your decisions. Usually, four to six weeks before the wedding is best. This way you can work out the kinks, save time and have one less thing to worry about before your big day. Another thing to avoid is changing your hair too close to the wedding. This includes trying out a new salon as well as getting a new cut or colour. The results can be devastating. If it’s unavoidable then take photos of your trial and bring them with you so that the next hairstylist is prepared to work around your wedding look.

               Lastly, remember to be open-minded and trust your stylist. Set realistic expectations so you’re not disappointed by the end result (we can’t all look like Taylor Swift). Your stylist was hired for a reason so let them work their magic!

               Hair salons that I have been to personally and where I have received excellent customer service include Jazzy Cutz & Storm. Click the images below to be linked to some fantastic salons!

Hair by @prettypleasemakeoverme

Hair by @PicassoSalon

Hair by @beyoutifulbrides

Hair by @Alessandrosalon

Hair by @Alessandrosalon

Hair by @makeupjedi

Hair by @textureshairsalonnotl

Engagement Photo Shoots

Hello and welcome to my new blog where I’ll be talking about everything photography! I’ll be posting about all of my favourite locations, where to look when selecting wedding attire, meal plans, and even let you in on some of my tips and tricks to give you an inside look at how my photoshoots take place.

The first topic I want to delve into is engagement photoshoots which I offer complimentary if you book a wedding with me. For more information on my packages visit http://www.etangphotography.com/weddingsrates. I recently included a budget-friendly package!

Through a little exploration, I have discovered a number of great locations for engagement shoots scattered throughout the Niagara region. Locations I love include; Oak Garden Theatre, Clifton Hill, Happy Rolph’s, Butterfly Conservatory, Jaycee Park, Decew Falls, St. Johns Conservatory, Niagara Falls, Dufferin Islands, Charles Daley Park, Butler’s Barracks, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Woodend and numerous waterfalls in Hamilton. In the fall time, Short Hills, St. Johns and beside the Butterfly Conservatory are all beautiful.

Regardless of the long list, my all-time favourite location will always be Queenston Heights. Queenston Heights offers variety and a lot of different, breathtaking backdrops to enhance a couple’s newfound love. It is monumental and an important piece of history. I recently had the pleasure of working with a lively couple with who I shared a lot of funny moments. It was fun to challenge myself and see how many different shots I could take, the diverse scenery leaving so much room for creativity.

Click the image to view more photos like this!

In the end we had a blast. This is why I love being a photographer in the Niagara area. No matter which direction you drive, there is always a picturesque view right around the corner.