MAKEUP TIPS FOR A PHOTOSHOOT!
As BOTH a Makeup Artist and Photographer, I understand what works and what doesn’t, especially when it comes down to makeup for a photoshoot.
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If you simply want just the photoshoot portion, here are some tips on how your makeup can look great in photos!
#1. Direct sunlight is your enemy! You will have squinty eyes, and your beautiful features on your face will look washed out in photos. This is when it’s important to schedule a time that has less harsh light. The only “direct sunlight” that is the best is during the “golden hour.” The golden hour is the first and the last hour of sunlight in the day.
#2. The simple fixes of dealing with the complexion (shiny skin, uneven skin tones, textured skin, dry/patchy skin), the eyes (dark circles, dry under the eyes), and general features of your face that are unpronounced!
- Skin Prep: (the most important step!)
- Prep your skin! Regardless of your face type (oily, normal, combo, dry), your skin needs to be cleaned thoroughly to get rid of all the dirt and bacteria and a hydrating moisturizer – this does not mean greasy. A gel moisturizer works wonders! For oily and combo skin, a soft facial scrub alone or combined with a face cleanser will remove all the excess oils, especially where the clogged pores and blackheads are. For normal and dry skin, a soft facial scrub combined with a cleanser once/twice a week and a really hydrating moisturizer – again, this does not mean greasy.
- Serums! Serums are a great way to target wrinkles, dull skin, dehydrated skin, pigmentation, and redness. This is applied before your moisturizer.
- Complexion: (foundation, concealer, and translucent powder)
- Foundation: a color that matches your undertone (Neutral, Cool, and Warm) and does well with your skin type (oily, normal, combo, dry). With a foundation brush or a beauty sponge (best to dampen it a little bit with some Setting Spray instead of water), blend the foundation all over a clean and moisturized face. Please, DO NOT forget to blend down to the neck and chest! We don’t want a distinctive line of your foundation shade and your skin color.
- Concealer: 1 or 2 shades lighter than your foundation shade. This is to concealer redness, dark circles, veins, but, please, remember to go light-handed. The more you put on, the more it will emphasize the fine lines, wrinkles, and cakey-ness – that we want to avoid!
- Translucent powder: a really good translucent (or banana loose powder – if your skin is tan to dark) loose setting powder to dust along the T-zone (forehead, nose, mouth area, chin) of your face.
* REMEMBER, not all high-end makeup is the best and not all drugstore is the best. There are many gems in any price point. So, find what works for you and your skin!
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Whatever light source you are in/under, it is important that you BLEND, BLEND, BLEND. Everything should look harmonious!
- Eyebrows: they are the frame of your face
- They add structure to the eyes! So, be careful about how much you shape and shade your brows. Natural-looking brows are not sharp or too opaque. A product can be an eyebrow pencil to create “more” hairs by starting from the bottom of the eyebrow and move upwards to make them stand out in the most natural way.
- Eyes: (eyeshadow, eyeliner, false lashes, mascara)
- Eyeshadow: it’s as simple as using the same bronzer that you use for the same that you can use in the crease of your eye. The best way to find your crease is by looking straight forward and you place the color slightly higher. Then, blend the shadow by doing windshield swiping motions with a small fluffy brush. If you are wanting to play with color, I would highly suggest starting with neutral shades.
- Eyeliner: eyeliner can be tricky but not necessary, especially for photoshoots. It tends to look too harsh, especially tight lining. Putting liner on the waterline on both the bottom and top of the eye will make them look smaller and not as visible in photos! If you need to make your lashes look fuller, simply tight line ONLY the TOP lashes with a dark brown (or black for dark lashes).
- False Lashes: many use this trick to make the eye look more romantic looking and skip the eyeliner, and simply tight line only the top waterline.
- Mascara: a mascara that you trust that doesn’t smudge or flake! I highly suggest waterproof mascaras.
* REMEMBER, the heavier the eye makeup, the smaller the eyes will look, especially in photos!
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- Structure: (bronzer, highlighter, blush, highlighter)
- Bronzer: use a shade that is a couple of shades darker than your skin tone. Simply, sweep the bronzer in the shape of a “3” on each side of the face (temples, right under cheekbones, jawline). This will add dimension and color back to the face. Again, please, don’t forget to bring it down to the neck!
- Blush: a natural-looking color is best! Start from the side of the cheekbones to the apples. It makes it easier to smile to apple blush. The color tone is also important! If you are cooler tone, a pinker to mauve colors work best. If you are warmer tone, a peach to red colors work best.
- Highlighter: you may add this slightly to the top of the cheeks, and even, in the inner corner of the eyes to brighten and enhance those features!
* REMEMBER, everything needs to look harmonious! So, please make sure that everything is blended out by using a big clean brush, to not add more pigment.
- Lips: (satin, nudes)
- In photos, it’s important that your looks are not shiny or glossy! This will create an unflattering reflection of the light. A nude lipstick or lip liner that is close to your lip color will work best!