How to choose the best makeup for your wedding photos
As a bridal makeup artist I am asked SO often what kind of makeup works the best in wedding photos. For most people, you’re never going to be photographed more than you are on your wedding day, so it’s understandable that you want your face and makeup to look it’s best! A lot of people will tell you that you need more makeup to look good in a photo, but as a natural makeup specialist I’m here to tell you that it’s a lot more nuanced than that! Keep reading for my tips on how to choose the best makeup for your wedding photos.
Photo by Whitney Lloyd Photography
The best wedding makeup is makeup you feel comfortable in..
It’s all very well opting for a heavy, full glam look because you think it will look better in a picture, but if you never wear makeup day to day that is likely going to feel quite uncomfortable for you. Bridal makeup isn’t just about the aesthetics, it’s also about what you’re going to feel most confident in - because you will always look better in a photo if you’re feeling confident and relaxed. If you pick the right makeup artist whose style you love (read my blog post on this here), they will be able to tailor your makeup to look great in a photo, whether you want something barely there and natural, or full glam!
Photo by Ross Willsher Photography
Do you want your makeup to be the focus in your wedding photos?
Whether you want your makeup to be the focus in your wedding pictures or not is a super important point to consider. If you want your eyeshadow, blush, eyeliner or whatever it may be to be the first thing people notice in your wedding photos then yes, you need to go heavier and bolder with your makeup. Makeup in professional photos does tend to translate more natural than in real life, so you may want to wear some elements of it heavier than you usually would day to day. However I find a lot of my clients don’t actually want their makeup to be the focus in their wedding photos, they just want their makeup to enhance their natural features. If that’s the case, then you won’t need a makeup look that’s overly heavy or bold, and a makeup artist that specialises in natural makeup will know how to strike that balance perfectly!
Photo by Mae Photography
What style of wedding photos have you opted for?
It’s not actually ALL about the makeup, some of how makeup translates in photos is down the style of your photographer. Have you picked a fairly natural style of photographer, who mostly uses natural light? Then chances are your wedding photos are going to translate fairly true to life (meaning your makeup will too). If you’ve chosen a photographer who uses a lot of flash, you probably will want to wear a makeup look with more definition (heavier blush, contour, highlights etc.) as the harsh light from flash photography washes faces out very easily (hence why celebrities wear quite a lot of makeup on the red carpet) - however in my experience, most wedding photographers don’t use tonnes of flash photography, they’re not the paparazzi! If you’re not sure, show your makeup artist your photographers portfolio and they should be able to advise.
Photo by Sam Portman
You don’t need heavy makeup all over..
The beauty of bridal makeup, is that it is completely bespoke to you! When I work with brides I tailor each step of their makeup to their tastes, their skin, their face shape and the overall vibe of their wedding, meaning my clients end up with a look they feel comfortable with in real life AND translates beautifully in wedding day photos. Some of my clients prefer a more lightweight foundation, which I’ll often pair with slightly more blush & bronzer to make the look photo ready. Some clients love a heavy smoky eye, and others like to go barely there on their eyes - done well both look great in a photo, and can be paired with either a fuller or more natural base. You DON’T have to wear really heavy makeup all over, unless you want to. The best bridal makeup for your wedding photos is going to be very personal to you!
Photo by James Thomas Photography
The long and short of it is, there is no one size fits all when it comes to the best makeup for your wedding photos. It really is down to your style, tastes and what’s going to make you feel the most comfortable on your wedding day. Booking an experienced, reputable makeup artist whose style you really love is going to be the key to loving your makeup in your wedding photos - someone who knows what they’re doing is going to work WITH you to help make that happen.
If you’re searching for a gorgeous, natural bridal makeup look for your wedding day feel free to get in contact so we can discuss the best look for your wedding photos! I’m based in Essex but cover weddings throughout the UK.