Expert Makeup Tips for Picture-Perfect Wedding Photos

by Jennifer Tzeses, Posted Nov 17th 2010 10:00AM

On your wedding day, you'll look and feel more beautiful than ever, but ensuring your photos capture your radiance requires a little more prep work than just smiling for the camera. The right makeup shades, formulas and application techniques can make or break your close-ups. Here, tips and tricks from Christina Zilber, founder and creative director of Jouer Cosmetics, on how to be picture-perfect.

10 Minimalist Makeup Tips

Ace Your Base
A smooth, even skin tone is the first step to looking flawless in photos. Start by applying a sheer, tinted moisturizer to freshen your complexion. Next, using a damp sponge, lightly blend a solid cream foundation over your face. Choose a tone that's as close to your neck color as possible. If your body is tanner than your face, go for a slightly darker shade so there's no difference. Solid cream foundation formulas provide more coverage and last longer. Lightly dust the face with a matte powder to help set makeup.

Brighten Up
Because of the intensity of white light, flash photography can have a tendency to wash you out. Give your face some color with a bright pink or peach blush on the apples of your cheeks. Draw attention to your cheekbones by using just a dab of shimmer highlighter above the blush.

Welcome Matte
Ease up on shimmery eye shadows and blushes. Sparkly makeup can reflect back in photos and highlight imperfections like fine lines. Matte formulas work best under different lighting and help define your features without looking overdone.

6 Tips for Kissable Lips

Define Your Focus
The key to eye makeup is to enhance the shape of your eyes. First, even out the skin on the lid, which can look dark thanks to veins just underneath, with a pale peach shade. Peach neutralizes blues so it's the perfect base color. Apply a matte, tan shadow in the crease of the eye. A neutral hue will bring out your natural eye color. Using a medium-brown eyeliner, line and define the eye as close to the lash line as possible, exaggerating the outer edges a bit and gradually thinning the line toward the inside of the eye. Finish with mascara.

Consider the Daylight
If you're taking pictures during the daytime, be sure to wear sunscreen so you won't burn. Any flaws are more noticeable in natural lighting, so smooth your complexion with foundation. Don't wear too much powder early in the day, as you want to look fresh, not cakey, as the evening goes on.

5 Makeup Look How-tos from Minimalist to Dramatic

Perfect Your Pout
A pretty pucker starts with a lip liner in a shade that closely matches your natural lip color. Outlining the shape of your lips will create a flawless lipstick application and keep your lipstick from bleeding. Stick with a creamy formula; matte shades tend to make lips look dry and chalky. A creamy, rosy pink looks flattering in photos. Gloss gives lips a fuller look, but since it can reflect light and look too shiny, use only a dab in the center of your lips. Go for a sheer formula that matches your lipstick, or one that's clear.

Make Features Stand Out
Black-and-white photographs usually require a little more defined or intense makeup, while color calls for a softer look. If your photographer will be taking mostly black-and-white shots, choose a richer-hued lipstick rather than a neutral shade. Otherwise, there won't be enough contrast between your lips and the rest of your face. If red is your everyday lip color, choose a softer red; a tone that's too bright can seem much darker on film.

Eye Makeup Do's and Don'ts

Consider the Camera
Flash photography can camouflage certain problem areas by making them brighter, so any blemishes, dark circles or redness won't be as noticeable. But it can emphasize red blotches, uneven skin tone, or pick up shine. Make sure you don't wear anything light-reflecting or illuminating near your T-zone and set your face with powder to minimize oil. Give brows definition with an eyebrow pencil in a color similar to your natural color, since they can get lost in photographs.

Tags: bridal beauty, makeup