You Don't Need HEAVIER Bridal Makeup "for the Photos" - You Just Need the RIGHT Makeup

Your wedding is more than just a photoshoot, and the myth that you will look washed out in photos without extra blush is outdated!

Here is a photo of one of my brides who went for a very natural makeup look, photographed beautifully by Fine Shade Studios.

Does she look washed out?... No. Have you ever looked at a photo of your spouse or your children and thought "Gosh, they looked washed out!"? Well... Maybe. But has that ever been because they didn't have enough makeup on? I'm gonna take a guess that it's not.

So what DOES contribute to how your makeup photographs?

Your makeup artist's ability

Bad makeup will never photograph well.

Your photographer will likely not be willing to edit improperly stuck down lashes in every single photo, or colour correct your face.

But how do you pick a good makeup artist if you don't know much about it yourself? Sometimes the skill it takes to know how to do something, is the same one it takes to judge it.

But there are a few things to look out for:

Look for those tell tale signs such as the two I mentioned above: eyelashes not stuck down properly (zoom in on the pictures!), foundation the wrong colour for the skin (commonly either a darker face than chest, or mismatched undertone - such as a yellowish face with a chest that leans more red). You can also look for gaps between the liner and lashes, rectangular edges on the front of the brows. Look for before and after pictures to see if the client looks the same, better, or worse. Ask your most honest friends, especially the makeup lovers and creatives, and look for reviews from real brides – especially those including photos. And for those who really just don't know, in the current age of AI you can also prompt it to check the image for signs of badly applied makeup for you.

For my brides, I use individual lashes, ensuring they are placed directly on the base of the natural lash giving a seamless look, as well as using colour correcting pigments and powders in all of my products to ensure a flawless match not just between face and neck, but between concealer and naturally lighter areas of the skin; between bronzer and your naturally tanned forearms; between blush and your naturally flushed tone.

Watch out for bad business practices too like not taking deposits, slow replies, asking you to bring your own makeup (yes I've heard this one). This suggests either a lack of experience or a lack of care which may spill over into the makeup itself.

Your photographer's style

Photographers all have their own shooting and editing style, and this is something to bear in mind.

Makeup may look heavier and more textured in moody, high contrast photos; orange and red tones may stand out in highly saturated photography styles; and colours may become washed out in brighter, dreamy images.

I recommend for my clients to book their bridal hair and makeup trial on the same morning as their engagement shoot if they would like a better idea of how it will translate with their photographer's style. But if this is not possible, we can look at their work at your trial and consider how other brides' looks have photographed. I will give you my professional opinion and make recommendations that I think will work for you.

The time of day/year

The lighting will have a big impact on how you will look in your photos. Bright sunlight directly above your head can cast more shadows, intensifying contour and causing your lashes to hide your eyes; low, golden hour lighting may pull everything warmer; or a grey, cloudy day may desaturate your look.

This can be a balancing act for you and your makeup artist as your wedding is going to span more than one type of lighting. One solution that has been really popular with my brides is booking me to either stay for the rest of the day ensuring the makeup transitions perfectly, or to return before the first dance to refresh or change the look for the reception.

Not only does this give you extra reassurance for if you cry during the speeches, or someone removes your veil incorrectly pulling your hairstyle out with it - but it means you can try something more glam, fun, or quirky that might not have suited the earlier, more formal part of the day.

The surroundings

Different colours enhance other colours. Standing in front of a blue background, for example, will bring out orange tones and green will bring out red.

You are not expected to know your colour theory, but your photographer and makeup artist are! So if you know there are dominant colours in the surroundings of your venue, your team of vendors can advise on what colours will work in your makeup look.

You

Not everyone suits heavy makeup and not everyone suits natural makeup. Not everyone feels comfortable in heavy makeup and not everyone feels comfortable in natural makeup. There is no one size fits all for your wedding day. I repeat:

There is no one size fits all for your wedding day!

As I said at the beginning of this post, your wedding is more than just a photoshoot. Please do not spend the whole day in a face full of makeup that you do not like the look of in person. Discuss ALL of the factors that will affect the way you look with your chosen artist to allow you both to find the perfect balance for your day. To chat more about how this applies to your own makeup look and to receive a quote for your big day, please fill out the form on my Pricing & Enquiries page. And to keep up-to-date with my bridal work, follow me on Instagram.