6 WORST COMMON MAKEUP MISTAKES AND SOLUTIONS WHEN PREPARING FOR THE PHOTO SESSION
1. NO MAKEUP AT ALL
It results in showing skin as rough/dry, oily, or blotchy/uneven colored. Camera picks up every little detail, imperfection, and texture. Seek help of a professional makeup artist or a cosmetic dealer, if you aren’t sure how to choose the right foundation and concealer that match your skin tone.
2. WRONG COLOR OR TEXTURE
You get crisp lines of color, wrong blending, and texture change. To avoid it, choose the right color for your skin tone and blend it well and even. Don’t forget your neck and cleavage. I suggest to visit a local cosmetic dealer to help match your skin color and choose the right brand and color for you.
3. TOO SUBTLE MAKEUP
You love what you look like in the mirror, but on the photo your makeup isn’t visible. It happens, because the camera reads makeup differently than the eye and ‘eats’ about 25% of makeup. To avoid this, apply more makeup for a photo session than usually.
4. TRYING NEW PRODUCTS WITHIN 3 DAYS OF YOUR SESSION
You might have an allergic reaction on a new product. Before applying a new skin care product always do a patch test first on a small patch of skin on your hand or behind your ear. Wait 24 hours if you get any signs of irritation. For a photo session (within 3 days) avoid experimenting with new products; use product that you tried before and know that it works.
5. TOO MUCH GLOSS ON THE FACE
Gloss might be okay if your pictures are taken only on a natural light and only in a shadow area, but the sun or photo lighting will create overexposed highlights on the glossy parts of your face, and they will lose detail. Make sure you use matte makeup and products that remove oil and gloss for your photo session. Avoid glitter. Products to decrease extra shining can be blot film and translucent powder. I recommend people with an oily skin bring one of these products with them for their session.
6. SPRAY TAN
Please don’t use spray tan before your photo session. It might create uneven patches and lines of color on your skin that won’t look attractive on the photographs.
15 BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR TIPS TO PREPARE FOR A PHOTO SESSION
1. CHOOSE RIGHT COLORS FOR YOUR SKIN TONE.
Consult a makeup artist or a cosmetic dealer to help matching your skin color.
2. BLEND WELL.
Make sure you don’t have any lines between color applications and that your skin looks even and natural. Brushes matter.
3. APPLY MAKEUP IN A GOOD LIGHT.
Determine that you have soft and even lighting in front of your face, and your makeup is symmetrical.
4. GO HEAVIER THAN USUAL.
Apply more makeup than you usually do. Remember, the camera eats 25% of your makeup. Practice selfies with flash. If too subtle, add more.
5. CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLORS FOR YOUR EYES, CLOTHES, AND A MOOD YOU ARE GOING FOR.
Select a blush tone that complement your skin, and eye shadow and lipstick colors that make you look your best. Choose colors that enhance your eyes, and suit your skin tone, choice of clothes, and a photo session style.
6. USE CONTOURING.
Contouring creates depth to your skin, and improves shape where necessary. Highlights and shadows shape your face, and bring attention to desired areas. Use contouring concealers to raise your cheekbones, straighten or narrow your nose, brighten the under-eye area, or any other purpose you need.
7. DON’T FORGET YOUR NECK AND CLEAVAGE AREA.
Make sure they match your face skin tone. Apply foundation there as well.
8. HAVE A MAKEUP KIT WITH YOU.
Bring translucent powder or blot film, HD concealer and lipstick you need for the session, coconut oil or moisturizing cream if you have dry skin, and any other cosmetics you might need for re-applying your makeup during the session.
9. IF WAXING, DO IT AT LEAST 2 DAYS BEFORE.
Give yourself time to heal before your session.
10. IF NOT WAXING, SHAVE THE NIGHT BEFORE.
Go for your underarms and legs, and don’t forget your bikini area, if you will wear lingerie or swimsuit.
11. GROOM YOUR EYEBROWS.
Please take time to have your eyebrows groomed and any unwanted hair removed before your session, including visible nostril hair.
12. PREPARE YOUR HANDS AND NAILS.
Get a Manicure. Or at least have neatly shaped, clear nails for your session. You will use hands a lot during posing. Avoid bright colored fingertips, unless it matches a specific concept. Neutral colors always work well. Your hands should be soft and moisturized.
Get a pedicure, if you plan to pose for a boudoir/lingerie session. Colors for your toe nails should complement your choice of clothes. I suggest to keep them neutral to match your fingernails.
13. TOUCH UP YOUR ROOTS.
Make sure you touch up your regrowth, if you dye your hair. Do it in a couples of days before the session.
14. YOUR HAIRSTYLE SHOULD MATCH YOUR PHOTO SESSION STYLE AND MOOD.
Take time to think about your hair style. Wash and style your hair before the session. Seek help of a professional stylist if needed. Consider deep conditioning treatment.
15. CLEAN YOUR JEWELRY.
If you wear any rings or jewelry for your session, double-check if they are clean. You can just use a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your jewelry, or take it to the professional jewelers.
PREPARATION FOR THE PHOTO SESSION FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SKIN
1. DRY SKIN
For dry skin you can use: fragrance free skin moisturizer, coconut oil, or Homeoplasmine. Homoplasmine is a
homeopathic, antiseptic ointment fighting skin irritations
such as scrapes, redness, bruises, and cracks of the
skin.Consider using a lot of moisturizer and reapply to ‘ashy’
areas.
2. OILY SKIN
For Oily Skin you use: oily absorbing primer, translucent powder, blotting film, rice paper, and matte foundation and blush.
3. VERY DARK SKIN
For contouring, add more highlights than shadows, to shape the face. You can use baby oil or coconut oil for a glowing effect and lightening of a shadow areas.
4. VERY LIGHT SKIN
For contouring use white if necessary for highlights, but be careful to not end up having a washed-out look. Avoid too dark tones for shadows. Be careful with use of a color; start subtle and then build up.
CONCLUSION
I love Photoshop and can manipulate and hide a lot of ‘sins’. I can apply ‘makeup’ and retouch even very bad blotchy skin, increase your hair volume and smoothen it, etc.
However, the more you are prepared for your photo session, the more you feel that your pictures captured your best self, and are authentic and natural.
There are a lot of things you can change, and this is what the article is about, to help and direct you to be prepared for your session the best you can.
There are a couple of things though that I don’t necessary change or remove. These are things that you might or might not want to be photoshopped away. I am talking about scars and birthmarks. During the consultation please let me know if you have any and if you want me to remove or keep them on your photographs. I understand that these markings aren’t just temporary imperfections like pimples or skin redness, but rather a part of who we are. I want to be sure that I create a perfect product that wows you, and deliver the best service I can offer to my clients.
DO YOU NEED MORE DETAILED MAKEUP TUTORIALS?
CONTACT ME THROUGH MY WEBSITE CONTACT PAGE TO REQUEST MY VISUAL PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP GUIDE PDF.
You can also watch YouTube tutorials of these professional makeup artists:
1. Kandee Johnson
2. Lauren Curtis
3. Wayne Goss
4. Michelle Phan