While lighting, angles, and poses play a big role in photoshoots, your makeup and hair can make or break your on-camera look.The camera sees details that the naked eye might miss, and small missteps in your makeup and hair can get magnified. These are the biggest mistakes I have seen in the course of my career.
Makeup mistakes
Ignoring skin prep - skipping your skincare is going to end up with your makeup looking patchy which gets magnified on camera. If the skin is dry or dry in patches, it tends to suck up the moisture present in your foundation and concealer which then ends up getting patchy. Always moisturize and hydrate your skin and lips before you apply your makeup and make sure you let it soak into the skin before you go in with makeup.
Use the correct foundation formula - an overly dewy foundation can come across as oily on camera and a full matte one can make the skin look lifeless and dull. I like to go in with a satin finish formula that gives the skin a natural finish. This one unfortunately is a common one.
Foundation not matching - this goes for both color and undertone. If the foundation is too light or dark, your face looks disconnected from the rest of your body. The wrong undertone also looks unnatural. If your foundation is too cool, it will look ashy and grey. If it’s too warm, it will look like a yellow or orange mask and if your chest and arms have pink in them, that is going to look even more pronounced. And if the foundation is neutral but your undertone is not, your skin ends up looking dull and flat.
Overpowdering - even if your skin is oily, it is not a good idea to powder a lot because your makeup ends up looking cakey and it emphasizes every fine line and dry patch. It is better to apply with a light hand using a stippling motion.
Unblended makeup - visible foundation lines, under blended eyeshadow, or harsh blush, bronzer or contour lines become more visible in photos and videos so make sure everything is blended well and then blend some more!
Brows - eyebrows that are too sparse will make you look severe and overly filled ones will draw attention away from the rest of the face and mismatched brows will throw the symmetry of the face off balance.
Shimmer or glitter - Stay away from glitter because it shines unevenly on camera and shimmer can do the same thing in addition to making the skin appear oily. Be very strategic with shimmers.
Neglecting the lip line - undefined lip edges can disappear in the bright lights. This doesn't mean you have to always use a lip liner but it does mean you see definition on the lips.
Hair Mistakes
Flat, lifeless hair - hair without volume or texture can look limp and unflattering on camera.
Overuse of products - too much hair spray, serum or creams can weigh the hair down making it look greasy or stiff. No one needs helmet hair!
Flyaways - flyaways can be the bane of your photographer's existence because of all the photoshop. These either are highlighted by the light or can become a distraction especially in close up shots.
Wrong style - a hairstyle that doesn't frame the face well or isn't aligned with the feel of the photoshoot can look out of place
Back of the head - the back of the head is as important as the front because invariably your photographer will take a shot of your back and side profile and you don't want hair sticking out oddly for these shots. If there is video, it's even more important to have the back of your hair looking as polished as the front.
Lighting is crucial on how the makeup looks on camera and your makeup and hair needs to be adjusted for the lighting your photos and videos are going to be in. Natural lighting is forgiving and shows true colors but can highlight texture and dry skin whereas studio lighting is stronger and can wash out colors, emphasize fine lines, make the skin look shiny and can flatten features.
Lastly your makeup and hair need to match the outfit you wear and the vibe of the photoshoot otherwise you wont see harmony in the videos or photos.
While your photographer is focused on lighting, composition, and posing, don't forget to keep an eye on your makeup and hair throughout the photoshoot. Touch-ups are essential to ensure you look fresh in every shot. Keep checking your look in the mirror to ensure everything stays flawless!
Comments