How to Choose the Right Inspiration Photos

When I was getting married circa 2022, I seriously had no idea about wedding hair and makeup and what was considered "good" hair and makeup. My judgement was solely based on whether the girls in the photos were "pretty" and if they were pretty- well, that is what I wanted to look like on my wedding day.

Me and Joe walking down the aisle after the ceremony!

I scrolled through countless photos on Pinterest and Instagram. There were so many photos and everything started to look the same. I loved the photos of the girls with full glam makeup. Their before and after photos? That is exactly how I wanted my experience to be like. I had somehow convinced myself that this is what I wanted and this is what would make me look my best.

The hardest part for me though, was finding makeup inspiration photos with Asian women. There were hardly any photos of Asian makeup. The photos that were out there were photos of models and celebrities like Shay Mitchell, Brenda Song, Lucy Liu- women whose careers revolve around looking flawless, with regular access to filler, botox, facials, and high-end treatments on a regular basis. Needless to say, they were not a realistic representation of an everyday person like me.

Finding inspiration photos literally seemed impossible for me. I really had no idea what I was doing and Google, Pinterest, and Instagram were really not helping. That's why I am sharing some tips about how to approach the hair and makeup process. My hope for this article is that you gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of inspiration photos, how to find inspiration, and how to communicate your preferences via the inspiration.

-Hi there! I'm Olivia and I help brides feel like their best self in the most comfortable way. My hair and makeup style is natural, authentic, and inspired by soft glam. I'm located in Baltimore and Connecticut, and serve the East Coast from Virginia to Massachusetts.

Why Inspiration Photos Are Important

The purpose of inspiration photos is to serve as a guide for how you'd like your hair and makeup to look-- not to transform you into someone else. They're not about replicating a specific person's features but rather capturing the style, tones, and overall feelings that resonate with you. At the end of the day, you are uniquely you, and that is the beauty that I want to enhance.

Inspiration photos help bridge the gap between what you see and what I execute. I always tell brides that visuals are the best form of communication because beauty is subjective. For example, last week, I had a mother of the groom share that she wanted natural makeup that made her eyes pop. When I asked for inspiration photos, she gave the answer that every makeup artist dreads, "Oh, I'm simple, I just want natural makeup and my eyes to pop."

Without a visual reference, phrases like "natural" or "pop" can mean completely different things to people. When she verbalized her inspiration, my thought was to create a big, doe-eyed look with a natural, balanced complexion. However, she was looking for something lifted, with a winged eyeliner, and more blush. Afterwards, she asked, "Doesn't everyone want upturned, lifted eyes?" I replied, "Some people ask for big, round, innocent eyes." This is just one example of how beauty is subjective and it's important to ask for what you want!

How To Choose Makeup Inspiration

Your makeup inspiration photos should have models with skin tones and facial features similar to you. For example, if you have hooded eyes, your inspiration photos should be with models with hooded eyes.

When looking for makeup inspiration, it's important to observe the overall look as well as the different features of the model. For example, you might like the eyes of one model but you wouldn't necessarily wear the lip color she has on.

I recommend having 3-5 photos on hand during our preview so we can discuss your preferences about each look. Be mindful that many photos on Pinterest are edited. Photos that show skin to be totally poreless are most likely edited. The most realistic place to find inspiration photos is in my Bridal Beauty Guide, my website, my Instagram, or my Pinterest.

For your convenience, I've put together an organized portfolio of my work! For natural makeup, click this link. For soft glam makeup inspiration, click this link.

How to Choose Hair Inspiration

Similar to makeup, when choosing hair inspiration, look for models who have a similar hair color and texture to you. An updo on someone with blonde highlights is going to look completely different on someone who has a shade of dark brown hair.

Like makeup, bring 3-5 photos of your favorite hair looks. Make sure to bring photos that include the front, side, and back of the hair!

To view my half-up and hair down styles, click here. For more photos of my updos, you can click this link.

Makeup Inspiration for Asian Brides

To my Asian gals, don't worry- I didn't forget about you!! Obviously not all Asian people look the same. We have different features- some have hooded eyes, some have double eyelids or monolids. This process can be overwhelming since there aren't many Asian makeup inspiration photos for us to choose from.

So- I made a Pinterest folder just for you! You can view more of my work on Pinterest using this link :)

If you liked this article and you want to work together, you can request your date here! If I'm available, we'll hop on a phone call to discuss your vision, you can ask me any questions, and we will chat next steps to secure your date!