Natural appearance; avoid “light” cosmetics
You want makeup that looks natural for Corporate headshots photography. As long as the makeup is natural and done uniformly, it might be “light.” A natural appearance should be your primary goal rather than “light.” Although both may be done at the same time, it’s crucial to avoid uneven application. Use a minimum quantity that guarantees homogeneity to prevent this. Additionally, don’t be hesitant to use setting powder, especially when you are preparing for in-person events like heading to a party or the office. What you want is even coverage with a finish that has a natural appearance.
A clean, healthy, well-moisturized base is always a good place to start. When appropriate, use primer.
The foundation’s colour
In the neck and chest area, match the foundation’s colour to your skin’s natural tone. For social events, it’s acceptable for some people to choose a shade darker than their skin tone (especially those with fair skin). But when taking pictures, always match the colour of your foundation to the rest of your skin. If you’d like to change the skin tone in your photo, the entire skin tone can be made darker or warmer during editing to make it look its best.
The liquid variety of foundation is the best. Oil-free (water- or alcohol-based) is best for headshots. The most popular foundation type for headshots is oil-free matte finish, but some people find it challenging to apply because it dries quickly and can look caky if applied excessively. Avoid “sheer look” (also known as glowy or dewy) types because they produce too much shine in photographs. (This latter category of makeup is prefered for parties because some people enjoy how they appear in person and because it lasts for several hours, particularly silicone-based products. They are hardly ever used, at least for commercial work in the US, by makeup artists who are experienced with photo shoots. For photo shoots, powder or compact foundation doesn’t offer enough coverage.
Lips
Lips should be slightly darker than they would be in person for the best appearance. The lips should be shifted towards a deeper shade of red. Lip gloss is frequently used to accentuate the fullness of the lips.
Eyes
A couple of days before, wax your brows. It is possible to try to reshape the brows through retouching, but it takes longer and costs more money to have them waxed in person.
Particularly if you are not choosing a retouching option, fill in your brows. Make sure your eyebrows are visible and sufficiently black when seen through a soft window.
Mascara is acceptable for headshots as well. Even if you typically use brown, black is usually the best option because darker colours work better for mascara.
There is absolutely no need to use heavy eye makeup for natural-looking headshots such as actress audition or corporate bio. However, the eye accents should be a little bit darker or more vibrant if you want to take photos that are more stylised.
With the exception of the actor’s headshot, you can wear false lashes for the majority of jobs. The lashes do not appear as dramatic and long in photographs as they do in the mirror.
Remember that the photographic lighting tends to make your face appear lighter, and that people tend to look at your eyes the most.
Blush
Use blush that is a teeny bit darker than your best in-person appearance. Please remember, however, to apply a few well-diffused small applications. The first application should be spread out over a large area, and the second and third applications should be made in progressively smaller spaces. This is done to ensure that the blush’s edges are gradual rather than abrupt. More can always be added, but once you apply too much, it becomes difficult to soften the edge or take some away.
Powder
Use far more powder than normal without being frightened. In order to eliminate shimmer and make the skin seem matte, a lot of setting or finishing powder is often used in fashion and beauty photography. You’ll see that a skilled makeup artist would maintain applying powder during the session, every 10–20 minutes, to avoid shiny skin. Bring yours and frequently use more powder. However, you should definitely utilise the following method to manage the glossy skin if you’re shooting a business or professional headshot.
Shimmer may look fantastic for party makeup, but for photographs, choose a matte finish.
Greasy skin
Use a blotter sheet to regulate oily skin for the best results (available in the studio). If that weren’t enough, mattifying gel (cream) is simple to use and suitable for skin of various hues and kinds (also available in the studio).
