Throw out any ideas you have about applying makeup when it comes to your wedding day photo shoots. Flash photography is tricky business and you need to understand the dynamics and interactions between your makeup and the camera for your special day. (You can even apply these same makeup tips if you are having a photo shoot for your engagement and/or boudoir pictures.)
If you hire a makeup artist then that person should know what works and what doesn’t work when being photographed. However, many people cannot afford or do not choose to have a makeup artist especially if their wedding is going to be held at a long-distant remote location. As such, here are the basic guidelines on how to apply your wedding day makeup:
•The camera tends to wash you out so wear a little more makeup than normal. Use lengthening and volumizing mascara (just make sure it’s waterproof) or false eyelashes but only if you are skilled at applying them. Your eyelashes tend to disappear in photography.
•Wear matte formulas for foundation, eye shadow, and blush. Try to use cream based foundations and blushes as they blend better into your skin, which will absorb the flash and not reflect the flash.
•Don’t wear any light reflecting makeup products such as shimmery foundation, shimmery powders, eye shadows, blushes, etc. If you are very skilled with makeup application you may utilize very minimal highlighting such as straight down the bridge of your nose but don’t go overboard and use less than you normally would.
•Don’t use any foundation with SPF contained in it. If your wedding is outdoors you may use a chemical SPF foundation but should never use a physical SPF foundation (e.g. ones containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) since you will end up with a white cast to your face in your photographs.
•Wear waterproof makeup (primer, foundation, eyeliner and mascara) in case you sweat or cry on your wedding day.
•Use a lip liner to line your lips and then fill in your entire lip with the lip liner before applying lipstick so that when your lipstick wears off you will still have color underneath. Blot your lipstick for more staying power. Or wear a long wear lipstick or lip stain.
•Don’t use mineralized foundation or makeup of any kind on your wedding day. Most of these products contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which will reflect in the flash as already mentioned. Don’t use powder foundations or setting powders for the same reasons. If you use a setting powder make sure it has absolutely no SPF.
•Don’t get your eyebrows waxed right before the wedding as it can make your skin look red. Try to have a professional groom your eyebrows since your eyebrows frame your face and you want them to look right. Do it a week before your wedding day.
•Practice applying your makeup before your wedding day so you can perfect the technique. You may even do a test run with photographs to see how your makeup reflects the light prior to the big day. This way you will have no surprises.
•In regard to your hair, try not to use too much hairspray as there is light reflecting properties in hair spray as well that can make your hair look dull in photographs.
Hopefully, these tips help you.
