Most women know how to apply makeup for everyday use but there are a few differences in applying makeup for photos. If you follow the tips below, you will be on your way to better pictures.
The key is to simply fix your face as if you were going out for the evening, wearing more than for daytime use, extra contrast and especially more powder. Did I mention More Powder?
To achieve that natural look in your portrait, apply a little more than you would in your daily activities and even more than you would if you were going out for the evening. How do you achieve this look? Follow the simple steps listed here and, with a little practice, you should be able to get the results you're after.
The first step is to moisturize your face thoroughly and then begin with concealer. The concealer you use for photos should be 2 or 3 shades lighter than your skin tone. Concealer is used to hide blemishes, lighten your eyes and used if there is any discoloration around the lip area.
Next, use a solid foundation evenly applied over the face. This part is very simple but is misunderstood by even some makeup artists. Match the foundation to your chin and neckline. You don't want a sudden change of color from your face to the neck or upper chest. I've heard of some makeup artists applying makeup to the neck and shoulders! There is no need to do this if you follow the rule of matching from the face to the neck.
After your foundation is finished, just apply the rest of your makeup as you normally do but in heavier amounts for the camera.
Powder! Powder! Powder! Be sure not to forget the powder! If you've ever seen makeup applied for TV or the movies, the makeup artist is almost always patting the face with the powder applicator. Ever wonder why? Because powder, and lots of it, is absolutely essential to gaining that beautiful mat finish which is always present in a great portrait. Even if you've never used powder in your life, please use it for just this once during your portrait session. Powder makes the difference between a beautiful portrait and just a portrait.
Now that I've driven home the importance of powder, apply blush below your cheekbone and under chin to create an oval look to the face. Be sure to blend in and not create distinct lines. Apply this makeup a little darker but not too heavy.
Choosing your lip color and application: Make sure that your lip gloss is a solid color and about one shade deeper than you normally wear it. Use a lip liner that is the same color as your lipstick, please, please DO NOT WEAR BLACK! Also, try to avoid frosted lip colors entirely because they hardly show up on film and will give the illusion that you are not wearing lip color at all.
Apply your blush and eye makeup a little heavier than normal but neatly and precisely.
For best results, eye liner should only be applied on the upper lid. Really work on those eyes and lips. These are the two key features in photography.
Use eye shadow which is a lighter shade rather than darker so that the eyes appear more alive. Apply eye shadow to the upper eye lid and above the eye just below the eyebrow. When a darker shade is used in this area it will create a darkening of the eyes and give the appearance of a sleepless night which is not very appealing. Using a light shadow will produce the best results. Don’t be afraid to highlight your eyes with white shadow on the iside of your eye and on your brow bone.
Last, but not least, take your makeup case with you to your photo session. You may need to touch up during the shoot and will most likely need to add powder as your session advances.
If you follow these simple steps for applying makeup you are more likely to be happy with your photographs. To make your photo session go smoother and faster, please apply your makeup before leaving home for the session.
