A makeup artist usually gets work by spreading word about her work. And to spread the word, images are imperative. No amount of pitching and marketing would convince a potential client about how good a makeup artist you are if you do not have pictures to show. But what should those pictures look like? Photography is a skill and capturing makeup in the right light and angles requires working knowledge. Even average makeup can be made to look good through photography, and vice-versa. As a makeup artist, you have the option of hiring a photographer who can document all your work. There’s another option. You can learn makeup photography Los Angeles yourself. In this article, we’ll share some makeup photography tips. These may come in handy if you choose to freeze your work yourself.

Avoid the Gloss

For photography, it is best to use makeup that doesn’t flash so that the images look flawless. To avoid shine, you may use powder and some matte finish products. Stay away from the cheek bone shimmer highlighter. The highlighter looks great in person, but would make the subject appear greasy or sweaty in pictures. Instead of a shimmer, you may go with a light highlighter. Frosted lipsticks create a shimmery effect too, so they must be avoided as well.

Lighting

Avoid the flash as much as possible. For makeup photography, natural light is usually ideal. If you are an expert makeup photographer who knows his way around lighting, then you may use light to your taste. Otherwise, make prudent use of light. Look for a bright window with sheer curtains that soften incoming light. Position the subject a meter away from the window so that the light highlights the makeup color and the model’s features optimally. In case the end results look too bright or the colors look a bit washed out, move the model a bit further away from the window and start clicking again.

Pose

Makeup shots come out great if the model poses right. Ensure the camera and model are on the same level. Do not take pictures where you have to point the camera up or down. You would project the model’s features in bad light, as a consequence. For instance, if you are pointing the camera upward, you may make the model’s neck look bad or expose her double chins.

Camera

A professional-grade camera is not a must, but if you have one, then that’s great! If you are using your smartphone, make sure the camera is stellar. Most high-end smartphones come equipped with great sensors, so you should not have a problem if you own a high-end phone. Some of these cameras also come with professional camera modes. But if you are a complete noob and you can care little about all the photography settings, set your camera to default mode and start clicking away.