Presented here is our photography make up tip collection guide. If you’re looking to make high quality portrait images, it’s well worth thinking carefully about the how to make sure your subject looks as good as they possibly can for their session, and one of the key ways you can influence this is through a little cosmetic magic.
Tip #1–Build On Sound Foundations
Imagine that you’re a builder – whether you were building a house or a cathedral, you’re going to need to start with some quality foundations, because they’ll dictate the success or failure of what goes on above. Simple. It’s all about choosing the right foundation for your make up. Being careful to select the right shade and tone of foundation for your subject’s skin, and working out in advance whether you’re seeking a matte, glossy or natural look will make all the difference when the final images come out.
Tip #2– Window Dressing
They say that the eyes are the windows of the soul – and it’s incredibly important to remember this in photography. So pay careful attention to the way that the make up you use accentuates your subject’s eyes. Use strong pigments to ensure that the effects aren’t overwhelmed by bright studio lights, and avoid sparkle and gloss, as both will look odd in the finished image.
Tip #3–Don’t Stop At The Face
When necessary, you can apply make up to the body as well as the face. For example, you need to make sure that the color you’re applying to the face blends well with the color of the neck and below – you can always add a little foundation to those areas too if needs be.
Tip #4–Are You Only Shooting In Color?
Remember that make up will look very different in black and white images than it does in color. If you’re shooting in black and white, then, think about applying bolder and darker colors than you otherwise would, to ensure that the effect is visible in the finished image. See our collection of black and white photography tips for more on the specifics of shooting in monochrome. These photography make up tips will help you to show the best aspects of your model. But don’t feel bound too much by them–now that you know some of the rules, remember that some of the best photography is the result of experimenting and breaking the rules.
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