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Senior pictures will likely be keepsakes you and your family look back on for years to come. When it comes to your photos, the kind of makeup you wear will play a big part in how they will turn out. The photos will highlight you, after all! I highly recommend you keep a few things in mind with the makeup you wear for your photos.
If you’re worried about how much makeup is too much, what will or won’t photograph well on camera, or have a fear you might look clownish, keep reading! I’m not a makeup expert, but I’ve photographed hundreds of portraits to learn what works and doesn’t work in front of the camera. These tips should cover your questions, so you feel confident knowing you look your best!
Senior Picture Makeup Tips for Great Photos
Tip 1: Keep your skin looking natural.
If you have amazing skin, you’re in luck. You should be good to go with just a touch of powder or blush. If you’re a regular foundation user, pull out a foundation that makes your skin look as natural as possible. No cakey foundation here, please. If you need a recommendation, this cult-favorite foundation tends to photograph very well. It’s sheer enough to build, it doesn’t contain any SPF so it’s not reflective, and it applies really well. In general, find something that’s not super dewy/reflective or matte, somewhere in the middle where it looks like your natural skin texture.
Tip 2: Do your makeup in natural light or in front of a well-lit mirror.
Most of my photography work is done in natural lighting. In the same vein, I recommend doing your makeup in front of a naturally-lit window or a well-lit mirror, so you make sure the colors look exactly the way you expect when you get in front of the camera. Give yourself plenty of time to do your makeup, so you can enjoy the process.
Tip 3: Accentuate your features, especially your eyes.
If you have natural features on your face like freckles or distinct marks (my mom always called them beauty spots!), I recommend keeping them as opposed to covering them up to showcase your natural beauty. In general, use your makeup to accentuate your features like a bronzer to accentuate your cheekbones or eyeliner to highlight your eyes.
Eyes are the most important to accentuate, so make sure your brows are well-groomed. Find different ways to highlight your eyes, from thicker lashes to defined eyeliner. (BTW, here are a few things you should keep in mind for how to prepare for your senior session.)
Tip 4: Use a heavier hand with your cheeks and lips.
Many kinds of light tend to wash out color from your facial features. When it comes to blush, use a heavier hand than you normally would and apply a tad more color than usual. For your lips, you don’t have to go with a heavy, bright color. Just make sure they’re defined and the color is applied evenly.
Tip 5: Keep powder on hand.
During your shoot, I recommend you bring powder or at least some blotting sheets to make sure you’re looking fresh. It gets hot in Austin, Texas, so I’ve had girls even bring personal fans in their packed bag for senior photos to make sure they’re not looking too shiny and sweaty.
Tip 6: Avoid dewy or high-shimmer face makeup to avoid looking sweaty.
On that note, I highly recommend you steer clear of shimmery foundations, blushes, highlighters, and powders to avoid looking shiny. If you’re taking senior pictures outside in the heat, chances are you’ll start sweating. You won’t want shimmery makeup on top of your natural sweaty sheen. It’ll make for some super shiny-looking photos!
Tip 7: Bring a basic kit to your photoshoot for retouches.
Aside from powder or blotting sheets, there are a few other things I recommend you bring in your makeup touch-up kit. Click to see what you should include to bring along to your shoot: The Complete Senior Photos Packing Checklist.
