Beauty Tips and Tricks for Headshot Makeup
The San Francisco Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, is the hot bed of headshot mania, thanks to all of the digital platforms that now require one. At Liz Makeup * Hair * Skincare, I love creating the perfect makeup look for my headshot clients. Whether your image is going up on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, ZOOM, Match.com, your business website, or Amazon (whew!), the goal of your makeup should be to make you look like you, only enhanced for the camera and lighting.
The number one thing to remember when thinking about your makeup for the shoot, is your skin tone. Evening out your skin tone is critical to ensuring your most beautiful you in the shot! The camera is looking at the eyes…a headshot is tight crop remember…and the viewer does not want to be distracted by sun damage, redness, breakouts and the like. You can use whatever format of makeup with which you are comfortable. I use both airbrush makeup format if I really need to even out say rosacea or redness, and I might use a tinted moisturizer if the client wants a very natural look. I’ve even used a mineral powder alone when the client has great skin and I simply want to avoid shine feedback from the camera flash.
After the skin, we want to focus on the eyes. These are what connect with the camera after all. You do not have to go for a whole glam look if that is not your style, but be aware that the camera and flash wash a person out, and some makeup is advised to bring out the eyes! I recommend a neutral palette that complements your eye color. If you are in need of inspiration, check out the flecks of color in your iris. Usually these are great colors to build off of for both makeup palettes as well as clothing. Mascara is an absolute must. False lashes are fine if you like to wear them, but not entirely necessary. A healthy does of lash primer and mascara should do the trick.
Brows should be filled in if necessary especially at the ends, which we call the “tails”. Brows frame the face and again focus our attention on the eyes.
Lips will be washed out so typically I apply a bit of a darker lipstick than one’s natural lip color so that the result looks extremely natural as above. However, if you are known for a signature lip color, wear it! It will make all the difference.
In the end, the goal is for you to look and feel your very best. That’s how your makeup should make you feel. You should look in the mirror and say “Wow. Ok that’s me, only enhanced. I look GREAT!” That way you can stop worrying about the makeup and start concentrating on the shoot and having some fun with it!
Liz Makeup * Hair * Skincare offers several headshot services, including makeup, hair, and photography. Contact me for more information. Check out my portfolio here!
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