Test, Take Photos & Evaluate

Ask any bride and she will tell you that the makeup you wear on your wedding day makes all the difference when it comes time for the wedding pictures! You may be wondering what kinds of makeup to wear and how much of it, but if you follow these ten tips you'll be well on your way to the perfect wedding photography makeup!

1. Do a test run with your wedding makeup artists, and take photos afterward to evaluate. Not only is it important to do a photography makeup test run, you should probably take some photos afterwards to see how they come out (optimally, take the photos at the time of day your wedding will take place at). Morning light is different than afternoon and evening light. Knowing what shades the camera picks up, as well as seeing the makeup along with your dress, will really help when perfecting it.
   
   
2. Apply your makeup in natural light. Natural light is the key to flawless makeup. You can detect subtle tones in skin and foundation color, and know for certain how much blush or bronzer to put on. Evening light can cover all sorts of mistakes.
   
   
3. Go easy on the shimmers and translucent powders. While a bit of shimmer looks nice when going out at night, too much is not good for photography makeup. It will end up looking streaky and unpolished.
   
   
4. Wear more than you would if you were going out for the evening. Even if you are not the type to wear a ton of makeup, you need to get used to wearing it for your wedding day. You will look completely washed out without it.
   
   
5. Remember to use waterproof mascara. No matter what you say beforehand, you are probably going to cry. Even if you are not that emotional, you might just cry because you are releasing all of the stress leading up to the big day. Be prepared with waterproof mascara, just in case.
   
   
6. Wear fake eyelashes. Though some dislike the idea of anything “fake,” most wedding makeup artists will tell you that it’s worth it to wear fake eyelashes. They really make your eyes stand out, and once you have them on, you will hardly even notice that they’re there! Just make sure you purchase a quality brand that looks natural. Read online reviews and consult with your makeup artist to know which ones to buy. You can even put (waterproof) mascara on them to blend them into your eye makeup.
   
   
7. Go for powder with a more yellow tint, as pink or white powder can cause the flash of the camera to pick up shades of white. You want your powder to match your skin tone, but try to avoid anything that is going to give you a ghostly or pale look. Cameras are definitely going to pick up white shades more than the yellows.
   
   
8. Blend your concealer, powder and your bronzers together with a blending brush. Also, make sure the color of your neck is carefully blended with the color of your face. No matter how perfectly blended your face is, if your neck doesn't match, it will look odd.
   
   
9. Before putting on your bridal makeup, make sure to take excellent care of your skin in the days leading up to the wedding. This entails a regime of cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing.
   
   
10. Stand up tall. Good posture can cover a multitude of sins. No matter how fabulous your makeup looks, if you are slouching in your photos, you will not be happy with them!