Some models have no idea how to get ready for a shoot, and that can be really troublesome, especially in post production, as it might add a lot of retouching time, which can drive up the cost of producing a photo or outright ruining the entire shoot. Eyebrows not waxed, dry skin, body hair or tan lines are somewhat bothersome to correct and could be solved beforehand by the model.

Here is a checklist of 6 common issues for models before a shoot.

#1 Healthy and Even Skin

Skin can take a while to clean in post production. Clean, even and healthy skin can really make a difference on the time spent in Photoshop. There are a lot of things models can do to have a better skin.

It starts with sleeping at least eight hours a night. Not sleeping enough can lead to unhealthy and bad looking skin (fine lines, wrinkles, lackluster skin, etc.). If a model goes out  and drinks alcohol the night prior to a shoot, you can be sure she will have some kind of blemish on her face when she comes to the studio.

Editing red spots, acne etc, can also be a problem. Many young models use creams that will dry out the skin which in turn will cause exfoliation if the makeup artist uses (hard) brushes… It is probably too complicated to ask the model to stop using these products, but using a good moisturizer twice a day the week leading to the shoot will be helpful. Using a peeling cream/shower gel to exfoliate and clean the skin one to two days before the shoot is also helpful.

If you live in a sunny location or if it’s summer time, don’t forget to be careful when tanning. Those awful tanning lines can be cumbersome to correct in post, especially when shooting lingerie or swimwear.

One significant issue that can take time in post-production is uneven skin with wrinkles. To minimize these issues, ask the makeup artist to use a skin smoother such as MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base. It won’t make the model’s skin completely smooth, but it will diminish the unevenness.

#2 Smooth Lips

Dry lips are probably the most annoying problem to fix in post. Sometimes you simply cannot do anything to make it look better. To avoid dry and chapped lips put balm on it on a regular basis – and smoke as little as possible.

#3 Never-Ending Body Hair War

Some people are saying having body hair is now trendy… However, we are yet to hear anyone say, “look at that gorgeous facial hair on that model.” Not every model is aware that body hairs show up quite clearly in high resolution digital cameras. Consider this your official notice.

Removing as much hair as possible is great because it will save a lot of time in post production. Some photo editors don’t have the time to remove every single hair or blemish.

Hair removal should not be done the day or the night prior to the shoot as the skin might still be irritated from it. Preferably, it should be done at least 2 days beforehand.

Eyebrows should also be waxed (or "reshaped") one to two days before the shoot. It is not as troublesome as body hair to remove in post. However, the time spent doing in Photoshop could be better spent working on another project.

#4 Rested Eyes

Healthy looking eyes are crucial. If a model’s eyes look bad, your shoot is pretty much screwed. With alcohol, the eyes become shiny and the blood vessels more prominent. Pretty much the same thing happens when a model has not gotten enough sleep. Sleep is really important before a shoot. It will also help diminishing the under-eye bags.

If we are shooting closeups during makeup, don't forget to remove contact lenses before the makeup artist starts working. Definitely remove them before the shoot.

#5 No Need for Fancy Clothing

Tight clothes, tight bras, tight under wear, socks or shoes tend to leave marks or depressions on the model’s skin. Models should definitely not wear such clothing before, lingerie, boudoir or bikini photos. Wear loose clothing to the shoot, it also makes it easier to change after having your make up done.

#6 Make Sure Your Nails Are Done

One of the worse things that can happen in a photoshoot is realizing afterwards that you had the perfect shot, but it was ruined with shabby nails that you now have to try your best to photoshop, which doesn’t always work out. Please make sure that your nails are on point before a photoshoot.

Conclusion

If you follow the six steps outlined above, then you are six steps closer to flawless photos.