I wrote a post a few months ago about ideas of What to Wear to Your Photo Session. It got me thinking that with us women and how much time we spend getting ready, it’d be beneficial to share with you all a few tips about what to do and not to do when it comes to your makeup on the day of a photo session.
Here are a few tips to have your makeup really enhance your natural beauty!
Pre-Game
-
Start by using an exfoliant to wash away all that dead skin!
-
Start with a clean and moisturized face, but avoid moisturizer with SPF – just this once! Sometimes the SPF can reflect light and appear shiny on your face, and we certainly don’t want that!
-
Use a good primer before applying your foundation to give a smooth canvas by concealing large pores, uneven color and texture, and fine lines.
-
If you’re going to get your eyebrows waxed, make sure to do so at least 24 hours in advance to allow time for the redness to disappear.
Foundation
-
Apply your makeup in natural window light if at all possible. This may mean applying your makeup in a room other than your bathroom but good lighting is essential to a good, even application of makeup.
-
When applying your foundation it’s best to use a damp sponge or foundation brush rather than wiping your foundation on your skin with your hands to avoid uneven coverage or streaking.
-
Try to stay away from using mineral makeup for your portraits. Mineral Makeup is fantastic for everyday wear; however, in portraits it can sometimes give an undesirable glow or shine. For photography, a matte finish is more desirable than a glow.
Eyes, Brows and Lips
-
Play up your eyes! Again, you want to avoid shimmer or glitter so instead I suggest using matte or satin neutral shades to bring out your beautiful eyes. Trendy or dark colors can cause your images to look dated and your eyes to look small. A golden brown really plays up any eye color. Be sure to blend the color for the most flattering look!
-
When it comes to applying eyeliner, in many ways less can be more. I suggest lining brown or black brown eyeliner, being careful not to line the inner rim too heavily as this will create a small looking eye. It is best to just line the lash line to create fuller looking lashes.
-
Now onto mascara! I suggest waterproof (aka sweatproof) black mascara. Two coats. Using a new mascara tube can really be helpful because the product will not be dried out causing you to have clumpy lashes.
-
Don’t forget about those brows! Eyebrows frame the face and can make or break your look. Fill in your brows with a brow powder product or a brow pencil. Finish them off with some clear brow gel and add a little highlight right on your brow bone. This will really make your brows pop and help to bring out the other features on your face.
-
A naturally colored lip is the most flattering in portraits because lip color trends change so quickly. If you prefer lipstick, choose a color that enhances your existing lip tone.
Finishing Touches
-
Blend, blend, blend. You’ll thank me later! Check to make sure there are no harsh lines where your foundation stops. You want your face and neck to be as close in shade as possible.
-
Don’t be afraid to add a little more color to your face too. I really appreciate it during the editing process! You won’t look like a clown, I promise. Just make sure your cheeks have enough color on them to make you look healthy and glowing. It helps to take a #selfie in natural light before you leave the house, or in your car is a really good place too.
- When you are completely finished with your look, give a final dusting of translucent powder lightly over your entire face to set the look or use a makeup setting spray. Here in Texas, it gets pretty hot and we don’t want all that hard work to go to waste!
