Make-Up and Photography

This is about the make-up you WEAR, not what you do after an argument....although that kind of make-up can be pretty enjoyable

Is the non-use of make-up becoming a new trend?  A lot of women who are getting portraits (glamour, beauty, boudoir) these days prefer to do them without make-up.  The question is whether you want to look like your everyday self or like someone who should be in a magazine.  The purpose of using make-up is to do two things - highlight your best features, and hide your worst features, while still looking like you.  It should not be put on so heavy that you hide who you are or make you look like someone else, unless you want to do that for some special project or idea - perhaps you really do have a magazine shoot.

Much of what make-up does can also be done in post-processing, or with lighting.  However, the post-processing would involve extra work, especially if it was needed for several images.  It would be best to get the image you are after at the time of exposure.

You have to decide what you want and how you think you will look best.  For the best results, you may want to hire a professional make-up person for your photo shoot.

You may wish to be photographed for many reasons - for recording events in your life and preserving memories, like beach photos, photos in the park, those photos that we used to call snapshots (maybe we still do) and selfies.  And then there are the formal portraits, the ones meant to remind us of our beauty.  I think both kinds are important.

This is a sample of an informal beach shot.

And this is a bit more formal, with make-up done by the subject.

Which photo would you rather have if it was you?  Perhaps both ways?  When you hire a photographer, it's your decision, so make sure to convey your thoughts to the photographer.  This is why you should always have a pre-session consultation with him/her.