Makeup for Photos: How to Look Great on Camera and with Flash

Ever seen a photo of yourself where your face looks lighter than your neck, or your forehead is shiny in a way you never noticed in the mirror? Cameras and flash see makeup differently: they flatten your features, amplify shine and can expose certain powders. A few simple tweaks will help you look great in photos at weddings, graduations, birthdays or on video calls.

What changes on camera

• Features look flatter: you need a bit more definition than in person.
• Shine is magnified: your T-zone can look greasy.
• Flash reflects certain ingredients: some very white powders can leave a ghostly cast (flashback).
• Soft colors get lost: blush and lips may need to go a shade deeper.

Step by step for photos

1. Prep your skin well

Moisturize and use a primer suited to your skin. Well-prepped skin reflects light evenly. If you're oily, a mattifying primer is key.

2. Foundation in your exact shade

Photos reveal any difference between face and neck. Check your shade in natural light and blend well down your neck. We can help in how to choose your foundation shade.

3. Concealer without overdoing it

Cover dark circles with a shade just slightly lighter than your skin. One that's too light shows up as a patch on camera.

4. Careful with powder

Set your T-zone with a little powder, pressing rather than sweeping. If there'll be flash, avoid heavy amounts of very white powders and test beforehand with your phone's flash.

5. Define with contour and blush

Soft contour under the cheekbones and a slightly more visible blush than usual bring back dimension. Review the technique in contour and highlighter.

6. Strategic highlighter

Only on the tops of your cheekbones. Skip your whole forehead and nose, which look shiny in photos.

7. More defined eyes

Matte shadows for shape, a thin liner and mascara or false lashes. Lashes make a big difference in photos. If you need a versatile palette, read how to choose an eyeshadow palette.

8. Lips with color

A shade one or two steps bolder than your everyday lipstick, plus liner for definition. Matte liquid lipsticks hold up through hours of photos: learn to apply them in how to apply matte liquid lipstick.

9. Setting spray

It melts powder layers so they don't show on camera and helps your makeup last the whole shoot.

Daytime vs. nighttime photos

• Natural light: the most true-to-life. Keep skin radiant and colors soft.
• Indoors with flash: control shine and define eyes and cheeks a little more.
• Video calls or selfies: the front camera flattens; boost brows, lashes and blush.

Event touch-up kit

• Blotting papers.
• Pressed powder.
• Your lipstick.
• Cotton swabs to clean up under your eyes.

Common mistakes

• Trying a new makeup look for the first time on the day of the event.
• Too much powder under the eyes with flash.
• Highlighter all over your face.
• Very pale lips that disappear in photos.

Shop it at BeautyRosee

Setting sprays, long-wear foundations, contour palettes and false lashes in our makeup collection, with brands like Moira and Beauty Creations.

FAQ

What is makeup flashback?

It's the whitish cast that shows up in flash photos when certain powders reflect light. Test your makeup with flash before the event.

How do I avoid looking shiny in photos?

Use a mattifying primer, set your T-zone with powder and carry blotting papers for touch-ups.

Should I wear more makeup for photos?

A little more definition on brows, eyes, blush and lips, while keeping your base light.

Which lipstick looks best in photos?

Shades with some intensity and staying power, like a matte liquid lipstick with a matching liner.

Keep reading

• Makeup Guide: Everything You Need, Step by Step
• How to apply matte liquid lipstick
• Natural makeup for work