My How To Look Better In Photographs-Makeup Tips

How to look good in pictures is always a challenge. Some people are more photogenic than others. But since I’m always in front of the camera, and most of the time I prefer to do my own makeup for my photo shoots than most make artists, I thought I’d share some of my tips on how to photograph better. Here are a few tips on how to look good in pictures using make up.
Always use Matte Makeup, flat colors that don’t have sparkle or shimmer. When you are going to be photographed you want to avoid anything that is going to reflect light on your face. The camera flash will reflect light off the shimmer and will make you look shiny, distorted, and it will look unnatural.

Apply your make up in natural light. This is also best for every day makeup application as well as for photos. Indoor lighting can alter the appearance of your make up. Some lights may wash you out causing you to apply makeup too heavily. We’ve all seen pictures of ourselves where we thought our make up was good before we left the house.

Wear Lipstick! Skipping lipstick may cause your mouth to blend in with the rest of your face, and sometimes our natural lip color is a little strange. My lips turn blue when I’m cold, and I’m usually cold at photo shoots, so a good layer of a warm toned lipstick color is always a must for me. It is a good idea to contrast your features for best results also so choose a shade that is a little darker than your natural lip color.

If you don’t use blush when taking photos it will wash out your face, especially under a heavy flash. Blush adds definition and some color to your face.  Don’t over apply blush, just a little extra color on your face is good. And again, avoid blush with shimmer or sparkle in it.

Using black liner and mascara instead of brown or a color, works better for photos. If you normally use browns, instead use black because the darker hue will give you better contrast which will make your eyes pop. Just don’t go to heavy on the black eyeliner, you don’t want to look like a raccoon either.

Use more concealer! Covering up dark circles under our eyes or blemishes with a little concealer is fine for everyday use, but in pictures, use more concealer for better coverage to reflect light to conceal imperfections and make you look flawless. Just make sure to not have a shade that is too light, slightly lighter or matching your skin tone is best.  Also, blend the concealer extremely well, making sure not to increase fine lines or awkward coloring around the eye. Heavier concealer in real life looks noticeable, but in photos it isn’t, so feel free to use more than you normally would. Sometimes I get blemishes, or no sleep, and using a bit more concealer helps to make me look flawless in photos. Also, always use concealer after applying foundation!

I always use a yellow face powder which is better than shimmery or translucent powders for pictures. Although you might not think so, some powders will reflect the light leaving you with a shine or even make you look washed out in pictures. I’m sure neither of these looks are what you have in mind when trying to look good in pictures.

Contour cheekbones and any other places that you want a little correction. Look better in pictures by contouring  your facial features. You can use bronzer or contouring powder to brush on under your cheek bones, under your chin, along either side of your nose, and the outer corners of your forehead. Using a Fancy Cheeky Brush from Sunset Blonde Beauty for the best and most blended application!

Foundation is not always a necessity, but it does even out skin tone and imperfections. There is something about using foundation in photos that genuinely gives you an airbrushed look. I get asked all the time how I get my skin to look so flawless, and it’s a combination of having the right products and the right tools that works for you, along with practice and experience. My face is much paler than the my body, and so I always like to even it out and change the color of it with a little foundation in a darker shade. You may have red spots, scars, veins, blemishes, discoloration, etc, that you are used to seeing every day, and might not even notice. Or maybe you are very well aware of what’s on your face. For photos, foundation along with concealer can make a huge difference with your skin. Getting some assistance from a professional with selecting the right shade of foundation is always a must. Most people can’t tell what shade they need to match their skin. Using the right foundation will help you look better in photos.
Use eye drops to get rid of any red lines in your eyes, if you even have any. Bloodshot eyes are not pretty. You also make your eyes look a little bigger and clearer by using a little white shadow to highlight on the inside corners of both eyelids.
Looking better in photographs is easy with a few helpful makeup tricks. You can also take a few practice shots before heading out, bring your makeup with you, for touch-ups or to correct something you might not have otherwise noticed.  Make sure your make up looks as good in pictures as it does in person.

Love,

Sunset Blonde