You don’t have to be a professional model to look amazing! In order to get the right look, we need to start with the basics.
Make Up
Awe-inspiring portraits invariably begin with professional make-up! This sets the tone of the image. Use a light makeup as a base for a casual, more natural appearance. A makeup artist will use their skills to bring out your face’s features through contouring. This allows you to build upon the look, advancing into the more dramatic and glamorous style. Perfect for the exciting, expression rich looks! Have a glance at Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair, to name a few. You may also find inspiration from several other fashion magazines. Remember to bring images to your make up artist so they have a visual reference.
You really don’t have to be a professional model to look amazing in photographs! There is a great deal more to it than just a pretty face. To achieve the right look, we need to start right down with the basics. You know as well as I do awe-inspiring portraits invariably begin with professional make-up. The style of make-up chosen has to be selected to go with the type of image we wish to create.
Here are just a few examples of the types of make-up that can be used:
Natural Make Up
This style is made for women who just want a light enhancement from their makeup.
Evening Make Up
If you are intending on wearing evening makeup, you already know that bold and sexy is the way to go.
Bridal Make Up
Bridal makeup is habitually soft and natural looking. It is often paired to go with the sweet sophistication of the bride’s dress.
Gothic Make Up
Gothic makeup is one of the most extreme styles of makeup you could come across. This has a definitive signature look of its own.
Anti Aging Make Up
In the constant struggle against ageing, you can genuinely use this type of makeup to wear, all to help you look and feel younger.
Celebrity Make Up
Celebrities are usually on the cutting edge of makeup styles.
They obviously have access to the hottest designers and stylists, and constant exposure to cameras and paparazzi has made most celebrities place makeup high on their list of priorities.
Now as you well know, your make up sets the tone of the image. Use a light makeup as a base for a casual, more natural appearance. A makeup artist will use their well-honed skills to bring out your face’s features through contouring, working with your face’s features. In doing so, this allows you to build upon the look, gradually developing into a more dramatic and glamorous style. Perfect for the exciting, expression rich style we so often find in magazines! The best example that comes to my mind is to take a few minutes and skim through Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair magazines, to name a few.
Remember to bring images to your make up artist, so they have a visual reference to work with, helping them to recreate what you see the way you desire.
Hair
Next comes hair. Actually, that is a question in itself! Which do I do first, hair or makeup? It really all depends on several factors. I’ll have the answer to that question in another article as there isn’t a decisive answer.
So now onto the topic of hair. You know the feeling you have when your hair is done professionally at a hair salon: you look stunning! Another great confidence booster! The colour is fresh and vivid, the styling is artfully mastered to your desires. How can you not feel out of this world when you have just been pampered to look your absolute best! Now, if you are going to try for a new look, make sure to do it several weeks before your scheduled photo session. Why? Well, just in case it’s not to your liking. You wouldn’t want to have a new style done only to have second thoughts about it before your photo session. When doing your photo session, always think about keeping some style options available, such as choosing to have your hair tied up or fall naturally. Obviously, this will all depend on what you like and what look you wish to attain. We always talk about this in our session planning!
Clothing
The right choice of clothing for the session is another essential element. You should always bring an assortment of outfits, and it is helpful to have much more than less! There are a couple of pointers that we need to keep in mind: Avoid any busy and wild patterns or stressful colours at first. Patterns may help reduce a models’ size, but only when used correctly. Otherwise, they can simply dazzle and distract the viewer from the main subject: you! Black outfits are classic by design, yet they work tremendously well for glamorous and high-class styling, yet not so well for high key (very bright) easy-going lifestyle photography. Accessorize only that which will work to enhance the portrait. Hats are another fun accessory which may create mystery at the same time. The will work wonders for the style and are tremendous fun, but again only if included to be part of the theme! Same goes for gloves. Have a look at the glamour styled photographs: long evening or opera gloves are elegant classics which help create a different, themed look. Let’s not forget about the shoes or footwear for that matter! If we intend to include full-length images, the footwear plays a vital role in the finishing touches of the ensemble.
Posing
Now for even more fun! Working the best poses in the portrait is what will make the difference between a good image and a fabulous image. I know which poses will work wonders to enhance your features, so if we want to slenderize your figure, we never photograph straight on center. By choosing the appropriate posing techniques, we can only make you look your ultimate best. Selecting the right posture will make the world of a difference. We need to be attentive as to how the hands are placed as we typically keep them away from the face and alongside the body, creating a flowing effect. If it doesn’t add anything to the pose, it usually shouldn’t be in it.
Choosing the perfect quality of light for the desired look is quintessential. Some lighting techniques will work miracles for glamour portraiture, while others will make you cringe!
It’s all about balance!