How to do Your Make-up for a Headshot Session
I always recommend that women wear make-up for their headshot sessions with me. Make-up that is properly applied will minimize shadows, reduce or eliminate dark areas under the eyes, eliminate red areas of the skin as well as blemishes, enhance the eyes and make you look more healthy. However, make-up that is improperly applied will make you look older, cause unnecessary shine on the face and extra work for me as the retoucher because I will have to “fix it”using photoshop.
Should you have your make-up done by a professional prior to your headshot?
I am frequently asked by a client if they should have their make-up done by a professional make-up artist prior to their session. I believe that a women has increased confidence when she knows she looks good. After a woman has her make-up done professionally, her increased confidence is apparent in the headshots I create. Therefore, I do recommend that women have their make-up done by a professional. However, the make-up artist must know how to apply make for still photography. It is quite different to apply make-up on a woman that is going to have her headshot taken with a still camera with studio lights vs. being video taped.
Can I apply my make-up myself?
I always provide my clients with written information about the appropriate make-up for a headshot so they can do it themselves if they want. There are specific types of make-up I recommend and some that should be avoided. If a female client is going to have her make-up done by a make-up artist it is imperative that she provide the make-up artist with this written information.
Yes, I have make-up artists that can do your make-up at my headshot studio
I work with the best make-up artists in the industry and they are able to meet my clients at any of my studios prior to their headshot session. When one of my make-up artists does your make-up you can be ensured that is will be done correctly and your final headshot will be very successful.
Should men have their make-up done?
I do not recommend that men have their make-up done for a headshot session. I have found that they feel very uncomfortable in front of my camera if they had make-up applied prior to a headshot session. The application of make-up on a man makes them feel and look less confident. Of course, if a man was going to be video taped they should wear make-up but I am only referring to still photography.
Instructions about how to apply your make-up for a headshot
I recently came across a great video that shows you how to do your makeup for a headshot session and thought that I would share it with you. She refers to the fact that she is doing the make-up for an actor headshot. However, I reviewed it carefully and found that she is doing those things that I recommend for any headshot. Not just an acting headshot. The point of a business headshot is that a woman should look natural and this is the same objective for an actor headshot.
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Cynthia McIntyre Photography specializes in headshots for business and acting. She has headshot portrait studios in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando and Sarasota, FL. Visit www.cynthiamcintyre.com for more info or CALL 203-364-1592
