Beautiful Makeup for a Photoshoot: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

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Makeup for a photoshoot should be approached with care, because cameras render textures and colors differently. If you want to get beautiful shots, you’ll have to get brighter makeup and pay extra special attention to an even skin tone. We hit up a few of our favorite makeup artists for tips on how to do perfect makeup to get stunning photos.

Makeup for a Photoshoot and Casual Makeup: What are the Differences?

A photo camera absorbs around 30% of color intensity, so your makeup should feature more saturated colors. If you usually wear light and natural makeup, you’ll have to jazz it up a bit for a photoshoot. This is just the occasion for making accents both on the eyes and the lips.
When it comes to makeup for a photoshoot, steer clear of shimmer and pearlescent sheen. Put your shiny eyeshadow, glossy lipstick, and highlighter aside, or else you risk making your face look greasy. SPF products also produce an unnecessary glossy effect, so avoid them as well.
Make your skin tone as close to your natural complexion as possible. Bronzer, dark blush, and self-tanner will make the face look dirty, and light-colored powder — flat and sickly.
Leave sculpturing for other occasions. Beautiful makeup for a photoshoot should not be too heavy and unnatural.

Simple Makeup for a Photoshoot Step by Step

Preparation

You should hydrate your skin in advance, because dry areas with peeling skin will be noticeable on photos. Try using a moisturizing face mask a couple of days ahead of the photoshoot. Apply moisturizing cream to your face, neck, and chest before moving on to makeup products.

When the cream sinks in, apply primer. It will help make the skin smooth, fill small wrinkles, and allow for even application of foundation.

If you have rash and reddening on the face, neutralize it with a special green concealer or primer.

Skin Tone

Even if you have healthy skin, makeup for a photoshoot requires the use of foundation that will make the face smooth and matte. Foundation should match your complexion exactly or be a shade lighter.

Spread the foundation evenly in a thin layer with a brush or a sponge. Do not overdo it, or else your face might look like a wax mask. Do not forget about the neck and chest: if your outfit leaves them open, you should pay attention to this area as well.

Slightly powder the T-zone that is prone to greasiness. It’s not advised to powder the entire face, or this might make you look like a pale ghost in photos.

Highlight your cheekbones with blush and softly blend in the direction of the temples.

Brows

Slightly raise the hairs with a brush. Then add color to the eyebrows with a pencil with smooth strokes from the middle to the tips. Do not paint the inner corner of the brows too bright, or they will look unnatural. The pencil should be one shade lighter than your hair color. Blondes are the only exception: they should go for a shade darker.

You can use eyeshadow on an angle brush instead of a pencil. Makeup artists recommend going with two shades: a lighter one for the main part of the eyebrow and a darker one for the tips. This will bring out the tips, making them visible in photos.

Eyes

Makeup for indoor and outdoor photoshoots requires different degrees of saturation: brighter for a studio and more natural for outdoors.

Your eye color should be the decisive factor in choosing eyeshadow. Ladies with blue or green eyes look flattering with warm shades: peaches, creams, and browns. Pinks, coffees, and grays suit gray eyes, while brown-eyed beauties can rock almost any color.

To make your gaze more expressive and deep in photos, combine different colors of eyeshadow. Apply lighter shades to the inner corner, darker ones to the rest of the eyelid, and leave the darkest shade for the eyelid fold.

When you do your makeup for a photoshoot at home, do not try to make crisp lines, because all your beginner’s mistakes will be mercilessly highlighted in photos. Better go for soft blending. Use a pencil instead of liquid eyeliner or make the lines as thin as possible and as close to the eyelashes as possible.

We recommend using black mascara. Apply one layer of it, let it dry, and then apply another one. And yet another. Don’t worry, this won’t be too much: photos will show thick eyelashes, not mascara. Just make sure to separate them neatly.

Specialist’s tip: If your soul wants more, you can go for dramatic false eyelashes. Practice applying them in advance, so that they do not fall off at the most unfortunate time.

Lips

Do not bypass lipstick! Even quick makeup for a photoshoot should feature accentuated lips, or else they might ‘disappear’ in photos. The shade of lipstick should match your color season. Ladies with fair skin should pick caramel, coral, and pink shades. More vibrant berry colors are perfect for ladies with darker skin.

Outline the lips with a lip pencil of a neutral color or the same color as the chosen lipstick. Then apply lipstick. Leave a touch of transparent gloss in the center to make your lips thicker and sensual.

Looking at the Result

After you’re done, study yourself in a mirror. If your makeup seems moderate or pale, add more color. If you look more dramatic than usual, yet not provocatively — you’re fine. Remember, the camera and lighting in the studio will take some of the brightness away.

A finishing step of your makeup is to secure it with a setting spray. Don’t forget to bring some blotting tissues and powder with you so that your face doesn’t shine in photos.

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Common Mistakes

Wrong foundation tone, poor blending between the face, neck, and chest will make the transitions noticeable in photos.
Thick foundation that almost crumbles from movement will make your lively face look like a lifeless mask in photos.
Using tanning makeup products is not advised as they often do not absorb evenly and will look like dirty spots under professional lighting.
Shine and shimmer will simply make your skin look greasy in photos.
Neon, bright red, magenta, or blue eyeshadow. Sure, no one forbids unusual makeup for a photoshoot, but it’s better to leave these options to a professional. If you are not very confident and experienced yet, it’s better not to dabble in such bright colors or you might end up with a clown’s makeup.
Cosmetic procedures in the run-up to a photoshoot. Don’t schedule cleansing, peeling, permanent makeup, or any other salon procedures that significantly influence the state of your skin, or else on D-day it will be far from perfect. Plus, steer clear of oily face masks as they won’t let makeup hold long.
Consuming alcohol, salty foods, or a lot of water the day before a photoshoot. It’ll be hard to mask quelling and dark circles after these products.

Now you know the basic rules of makeup for a photoshoot — simply follow them and get stunning shots. Check out interesting makeup ideas in our gallery, including for a wedding, Christmas, or themed photoshoot.

Makeup for a Photoshoot: Basic Rules and Common Mistakes