A new school year comes with a new class of seniors who are slowly getting ready to graduate. Senior year is filled with multiple events and milestone markers like graduation, prom, and senior portraits that all help capture your memories.
Senior portraits are often structured around each individual’s personality and interests. Also, you can get creative with your senior portrait session by shooting outside in nature or a professional studio setting with various props.
However, getting ready for a vital milestone photoshoot, such as senior portraits, can be nerve-wracking. You may have to plan various outfits, hairstyles, and makeup looks that can photograph well.
Deciding on the perfect makeup look takes time and practice. A common photography mishap is flashbacks which can easily wash out the face. So, you’ll want to avoid specific techniques when applying makeup for senior portraits.
What are some makeup tips to use in senior portraits? You’ll want to avoid applying products like mineral SPF or stark white powder that can create flashback. Also, you may decide to stick to neutral tones for a classic and timeless look.
How To Choose The Best Makeup Look For Senior Portraits
How can you prepare for your senior portraits? First, consider your outfits and how many outfits you’ll be changing into for your shoot. This can give you a good idea of what makeup look complements the outfits in your photoshoot.
Also, consider if you want to adjust your makeup look for each outfit or keep it the same.
Dos And Don’ts Of Makeup For Senior Portraits
What are some do’s and don’ts of makeup for senior portraits? A few things to remember is that makeup should enhance your natural features rather than simply hide imperfections or completely transform your face.
Also, avoiding anything experimental can ensure your senior portraits remain timeless.
Dos
Some dos for senior portrait makeup include practicing your desired makeup look, sticking to a neutral color palette, and using a camera-friendly powder. You’ll notice makeup for photos differs from everyday makeup, so practice makes perfect.
Follow these tips below if you plan on doing your own makeup for senior portraits.
Trial Session
There is a lot of pressure for everything to look flawless for senior portraits. One way to minimize stress on the day of your photoshoot is already having practiced the makeup look you want.
Conducting a trial session allows you to perfect your makeup skills. This will ensure you have an easy time getting ready if you’re already familiar with the right techniques.
Stick To Neutrals
Sticking to a neutral color palette for your makeup look will be helpful if you’re feeling lost. Neutrals are timeless and will always look good, no matter the occasion. Also, feel free to experiment with a bold lip or dramatic liner towards the end of your shoot.
Neutrals can also help add contrast and depth to the face, just in case you want some photos in black and white, so you don’t fall flat.
Matte Skin
It’s nice to have a natural glow for the camera, but always keep a powder with you. The skin can quickly get shiny, especially under hot studio lights or an extended session outdoors. Also, the powder will keep the skin matte and airbrushed.
Use Foundation One Shade Darker
Flash can quickly wash out your skin or create the illusion your makeup has disappeared. So try using a foundation one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone to keep the complexion lively.
You can also test this method in your trial so that you won’t look orange. Also, remember to blend the foundation down your neck to avoid harsh lines.
Don’ts
Now that we know what to do to get picture-ready, what are some techniques you should avoid doing on the day of your senior portraits?
Mineral Makeup
It’s crucial to avoid mineral products because they can create a ghostly white cast in flash photography.
Mineral makeup can quickly create an unflattering appearance in flash photos. It can easily appear stark and white, which will be unnoticeable in real life. Instead, find some camera-friendly products that are made to be in front of the flash.
Also, it can be worth investing in a high-quality translucent setting powder that won’t alter the shade of your face.
SPF
SPF is tricky because you need daily protection, but mineral SPF can create a harsh white cast. Instead, opt for a topical moisturizing SPF, as it’s less likely to create flashback.
Or, skip SPF as a prep step and use an SPF makeup setting spray for longevity and sun protection for outdoor shoots.
Heavy-Handed Makeup
Avoid using a heavy hand when applying makeup. You’ll need to apply more makeup for photography, but applying too much at once can create a cakey or dried-out effect. Instead, work lightly because you can always add more makeup if needed.
Senior portrait makeup may be slightly heavier than everyday makeup so that it can appear on flash photos.
New Makeup Techniques
Finally, avoid trying any last-minute or new makeup techniques on the day of your senior portraits. This may not be an excellent time for experimenting with new colors or looks and can potentially photograph badly.
So, stick to simple and well-known techniques.
Shooting Senior Portraits Indoors
What tips can you include in your makeup routine for indoor photoshoots? Senior portraits are often shot in a professional studio, which can be overwhelming for those who aren’t professional makeup artists.
Blend Foundation Down The Neck
It’s essential to ensure your base makeup, like foundation, is adequately blended, especially when applying a shade slightly darker than your skin tone. So, you’ll need to blend the foundation down the neck to avoid harsh lines.
Also, apply foundation on the décolletage area if you have a lower neckline or off-the-shoulder top. This will ensure your face won’t look darker than your body.
Bold Eyeliner
The studio is a more appropriate setting for trying a bolder makeup look. For example, you may want to wear black winged eyeliner to elongate your eyes. This will show up nicely in photos because the black liner is bold and pigmented.
You can also get away with a bold eye, lips, or cheeks because the flash will likely tone down its intensity.
Shooting Senior Portraits Outdoors
Having a photoshoot outdoors can be completely different than shooting indoors, and you may want to adjust your makeup accordingly.
Natural sunlight can do wonders for your skin, and you may not need as much makeup as in a studio setting.
Keep Base Makeup Minimal
You’ll want to keep your base makeup minimal. Also, you may not need to adjust your foundation shade or apply additional makeup if you’re doing a shoot in natural light. You can always add more makeup if needed to build up intensity slowly.
Choose Eyeshadow Over Eyeliner
Use an eyeshadow instead of eyeliner to avoid makeup swallowing your eyes. Bolder eye makeup can look too harsh in natural light, and eyeshadow can be more camera-friendly in outdoor locations. Softer makeup will be your best friend!
Additional Makeup Tips
What are some other things to keep in mind while doing your makeup for senior portraits? First, it will be wise to take your makeup with you regardless of where you are shooting so you can adjust your makeup as needed for each outfit.
Opt For A Lively Blush
A great way to create a youthful complexion is with a bright blush. Don’t worry about going overboard because you can use your foundation brush to diffuse the intensity of your blush if you end up applying too much product at once.
Apply Gloss For Texture And Shine
You can easily add texture and shine to your makeup by wearing lip gloss. This tip will ensure that your makeup won’t fall flat in photos and can even be noticeable in black and white photography. It’s also easy to apply and touch up.
Always Have A Touch-Up Kit On Hand
Pack a touch-up kit filled with essentials like powder, concealer, bronzer, lip products, q-tips, etc. This kit can keep your face flawless throughout your photoshoot and allow you to fix or add makeup in between shots if needed.
It’s also great if you plan on changing your makeup for each outfit.
Consult With Your Photographer
Choose a photographer who you’re comfortable working with!
You can discuss the sets needed for each outfit, your ideal photo poses, and more. You can also ask your photographer to show what you look like in between photos to see how your makeup looks.
This can ensure a better chance of getting the senior portraits you love.
Seek Help From A Makeup Artist
Finally, book a professional makeup artist to do your senior portrait makeup if you have the means and resources. This can help take all the guesswork out of makeup and ensure you have a camera-ready face.
A makeup artist can highlight your best features and help bring your senior portrait vision to life.
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