Photography & Videography

Wedding Articles

Makeup Dos and Donts

Don’t use dark colors. Avoid dark colors like wine and brown, as they can be very stark. Give pink, brown or red eye shadows a miss. They can make eyes appear tear-stained or sore in a photograph.

Do wear foundation. Use an oil-free matt foundation so that you don’t look greasy in the photographs. Shine is enemy #1 on camera. A matte look is very important for fine skin tone and appearance in a portrait. Blend all makeup well to avoid streaks and lines.

Do wear face powder. Add powder to avoid shine; use a yellow or honey-toned product, not a translucent one. Translucent powder is not invisible, and can actually drain the color from your face and look mask like in flash prints. Also, avoid powders with glittery or pearliest finishes -- a matte finish will last longer and photograph better.

Don’t use frosted makeup. Avoid frosted/glittering eye shadow, foundation or blush. Anything glittery will look shiny and reflected in your photographs.

Don’t forget to blend your makeup down to your décolletage. When you are inspecting your makeup, look at your neck and whatever body that is exposed to be sure it's the same color and brightness as your face. Blend well and be sure there are no lines or edges, especially near the jaw line where the makeup ends. Don't forget to apply powder and blush on skin exposed by low necklines. Keep in mind that the professional photographer's cameras and sharp lens will pick up any makeup that is not well blended or too heavy or scant.

Do use blush. A wedding gown reflects a lot of light onto a bride's face. Also, overhead light reflects off the bodice and bleaches makeup. Wear a little more to offset the effect, usually more blush. Make sure the makeup base you use matches your natural shade or your head will appear pasted on in the photograph.

Do wear gloss on your lips.Lipstick is always a problem for the bride because it fades and smears. Apply lip color using a lip brush, then outline with a lip pencil in a complementary color. Don’t use a darker liner; it will look harsh and unnatural in pictures. Try out some of the new long lasting lipsticks but use a little lip gloss to highlight the lips. That little reflection can make your photograph sparkle!

Do wear mascara.Use an eyelash curler before applying mascara to make your lashes look longer and your eyes look bigger. And be sure to use waterproof mascara as it is probably a day you will shed a few tears.

Don’t forget about your eyebrows. Eyebrows tend to fade away in photographs. Make sure to fill in and define them with a matte shadow that matches your hair (a shadow application creates a more natural look than an eyebrow pencil does). If you go too strong, tone it down with a pale-yellow powder.

Do try a special touch. Fake eyelashes, when applied correctly, can really open up a bride’s eyes for photographs and keep her looking glamorous all day, even after the tears. This is definitely something you must practice with before your wedding day or have someone else apply them for you.

Don’t forget to bring touch-up supplies. Make sure that you bring along a makeup first aid kit to freshen during the day. All you need is some pressed powder to absorb any shine and some lipstick. If you’re outside taking pictures, bring along some blotting paper which works great to absorb moisture without rubbing off your make-up.

Sheena Wilkie
Sheena Studios

Advertiser Profile