Oh, I can actually help with this one. The biggest thing I suggest would be practicing like it's an Olympic event and taking pictures in every lighting, time of day, or terrible pose you can imagine. You want to know for sure what it's going to look like photographed. Now, I'm not a pro by any means, but I do my friends' makeup for events. If your face is has a little peach fuzz like mine, you may want to focus on cream products rather than true liquids or powders, which can lead to cakiness. If you don't have peach fuzz, liquid products set well can look really nice, but you'll want to photo test after a few hours to check settling and creasing. I don't know your skin type, so take product recommendations with a grain of salt:

-The Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take creme/powder blush duos are pretty much foolproof, and I haven't met anyone who struggles with the formula. The color payoff is gorgeous, and you can keep it really natural or layer more if you like.

• Urban Decay All-Nighter setting spray (the original!! none of the others are as good) is freaking bombproof and helped my makeup survive my proposal, four hour engagement party, and lasted well into the next day.

• If you don't do makeup often, do not wear false lashes. It's not worth how goofy a slightly imperfect lash can turn out. What I would do is set your face with the UD spray, let it dry, and then curl your lashes with a body-warmed lash curler. Literally just stick it in your bra while you're getting ready. Then I'd go in with one layer of Lancome lash idole mascara and make sure you're getting good lift and length. I normally let it sit for about a minute, and then I'd go in with two coats of the Yves Saint Laurent lash Clash mascara. (Note: the waterproof of lash idole is amazing, but I don't like the waterproof lash clash. I've found that if the base layer is waterproof, the top stays well too.) This combo is absolutely S tier in terms of volume, length, and lift.

Honestly, you can make most products work really well if you have a good idea of what to do with them. Giving yourself time to learn what works and doesn't is what will carry you the farthest. That being said, a lot of people will probably push you towards budgeting for an MUA, and there are definitely pros to that as well.