~ Makeup for Business Photos ~

Because looking great isn’t just for models…

Each and every day, business professionals are having portraits taken for everything from Business Cards to Online Profiles for various Social media sites. Looking your best is essential to a professional image. Professional makeup before being photographed is key to this.

You see, flattening a 3d image into a photo can take away the natural contours of the face making you look less like yourself. The lighting and flash can rob your skin of it’s color, making skin look dull and washed out…and this can age anyone. Proper makeup application for photography can enhance your features enough to keep the shape showing up in pictures and give the color and radiance needed to make your image look it’s best.

In these images, I worked with LAURA EVANS ( photographer) on a client having her photos done for her business cards. As a Realtor, our client understood the value of a professional image and looking her best on her photo business card, and we were eager to work with her.

Here is the before photo: (taken outdoors)

 

I kept her look very simple as she already had the benefit of great skin and features. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t overdone, but that the makeup enhanced her features and didn’t get lost in the bright natural lights or flash from the photography. My goal was to add color and gentle contour to her face shape, enhance the eyebrows since they define the eyes, and make the eyes appear larger to balance with her naturally full lips…

This is an AFTER photo: (taken indoors)

Using traditional makeup application ( no airbrushing ), I applied a silicone based primer to give her skin a nice even texture making the foundation go on smoothly and be long wearing. I chose neutral colors to flatter her natural skin tones and set it all with a setting spray. The final result was a look that was flattering, gave some healthy glow and made for a great outdoor photo shoot. Her eyes clearly appear larger and more defined and her overall look is healthier and more radiant.

Here are some results during the photoshoot: ( Outdoors in various degrees of lighting)

Even in the brightest of sunshine (hence the squinting eyes, haha) , her skin still looks healthy and radiant, and the color is strong enough to make a subtle statement without overpowering her look ,or her photo.

So, whether you are looking to make the most of an online profile, business card, or portrait of any kind – an affordable makeup application or makeup lessons in how you yourself can make the most of your look are essential to getting the best results. (And remember guys, makeup isn’t just for women..it can even your skin tone, cover imperfections and enhance your look for photos too!)

For information on private or group makeup lessons, please comment below and I will contact you with more info.

KristineMarie

Client Photographed:

Autumn Savage, REALTOR (Judy Boone Realty) 757-636-9703

~ Wine and Berries Look ~

Well groomed brows and a flawless foundation are the base for this daytime look. While I love doing dramatic looks for others, my personal preference when doing my own makeup is to indulge in color but in a light and natural way.

These colors were inspired by the wines and berries so abundant in the Holiday season. With such rich colors, a light blush or contour is and a natural lipcolor is a perfect finish. As always, I apologize for the poor quality of the amateur photos, but I hope you get the idea;)

I used a wide variety of affordable and easy to find products to create this look.

FACE:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation
Loreal Colormatch Concealer
Sally Hansen by Carmindy Powder
Sally Hansen by Carmindy Eye Primer
MAX Factor for Blush/Contour

EYES:
Various Berry and burgundy shades from the Coastal Scents 78 Pallet
Black Eyeliner
Maybelline Full and Soft Mascara
Brown shade in the CS Pallet to fill in brows

LIPS:
Ulta Cream Lipliner
Sephora lipcolor

You can dress this up in 3 easy steps by:

1. Blending bit of black shadow into the outer corner and lower lashline
2. Add a hint of berry colored gloss to lips
3. Brush a bit of highlighter to the top of cheeks

…and the additions would be perfect to attain a glamorous evening look perfect for Holiday parties. Take it even further by adding false lashes and/or some glitter for a more dramatic flair….

No matter what you choose to do to make the most of your look, be sure to enjoy your Holidays and cherish the ones you love this season and always.

KristineMarie

~ Help Portrait, Virginia Beach ~

A few weeks go, I received an email from a local photographer asking me if I would like to participate in an upcoming project called “Help Portrait.” The email didn’t give a huge amount of detail, but a quick GOOGLE search led me to the official site and some YOUTUBE videos that told me everything I needed to know. I then responded back and accepted the invitation to be a part of this wonderful opportunity.

Here is a link to the official promo video which offers a basic overview:

And here is an example of the project in action:

I am posting this call upon anyone and everyone who can assist. Please take time to make contact with your local Help Portrait project, or start one of your own. This project is going on in locations all over the world and will need assistance and volunteers for many aspects including photography, hair, makeup, food preparation, printing, errand runners, and more. It can be as small and simple or a community effort with all the extras. Trust me when I say there is something you can do to help…no matter how big or small it may seem. Even donating time, supplies or transportation is needed and appreciated. Please GOOGLE “Help Portrait” and your city name to find the closest event near you. You can also find FACEBOOK and TWITTER updates on the HELP PORTRAIT Projects for the latest info.

This Holiday, I am thankful for my family and the opportunity to be a part of HELP PORTRAIT. Check out the official site here:

OFFICIAL SITE OF HELP PORTRAIT

I urge you to call upon your friends, family and colleagues and make a difference this Holiday season. For those in the Hampton Roads area who would like to participate, please see our community discussion and planning here:

VA BEACH GROUP DISCUSSION

Have a happy, safe and blessed Holiday Season,

KristineMarie

~ Face Atelier Ultra Foundation, A Review ~

I have been deceived…but in the BEST way! You see, foundations are a tricky thing. I mean, with so many companies, formulas, colors, types, consistencies…it can be mind boggling to decide on the best option. This is exponentially more difficult for a Makeup Artist who requires something that would suit a wide variety of faces. FACE ATELIERS strong reputation in the cosmetic industry certainly seemed encouraging, but when my products arrived and I opened them , well, despite the rave reviews I must admit I became skeptical.

You see, in my experience, cream style or thicker liquid foundations are usually the best in terms of coverage and versatility in coverage…so, when I saw the super thin consistency of the FACE ATELIER I was certain that the coverage would leave something to be desired…

I couldn’t have been more wrong, and have never been happier to say “I was wrong.”  🙂

So, here are the basics:

WHAT: Face Atelier Ultra Foundation available in 10 color shades, and with 2 additional formulas to lighten or darken 

PACKAGING:  Pump top bottle (1 ounce)

CONSISTENCY: Thin liquid 

WHERE:  www.faceatelier.com (link below)

HOW MUCH: $44 USD

PURPOSE: To create a smooth and even skintone as a base for all other makeup applications

APPLICATION: Easy. Standard liquid foundation that can be applied with fingers, damp sponge, buffed in with a brush or any other way you prefer to put on your foundation. It blends easily with any application style. I have personally tried them all!

RESULT: A glowing, long lasting finish that seemed to leave me looking fresh and radiant while doing an amazing job of evening my skin tone. Sheer to full coverage is possible based on application method.

MY THOUGHTS: I simply love the effect and ease of this foundation. The oil-free, non-comedogenic formula is very deceiving as it is watery thin..but it performs amazingly in terms of coverage. This silicone based product glides effortlessly over skin and leaves a radiant and youthful finish. A little goes a long way making the price tag very understandable and acceptable (to me) as the quality and performance of the foundation is essential to a beautiful finished look. Good for all skin types, but especially nice for dry, problem, mature and sensitive skins. 

OTHER: The matching is easy with the option of ordering samples first for only $1.oo. Once matched, you can also purchase a darkener (O+) or lightener (O-) to adjust and completely customize the color of your foundation if your skin shade varies through the seasonal changes (ie darker in summer and lighter in winter).  You can blend it with your daily moisturizer for the perfect tinted coverage or apply direct for a fuller coverage. This formula is buildable which offers you control over your result without caking and the silicone base makes flaking a non-issue once set. Face Atelier also makes a concealer and setting powder that work perfectly with the foundations to create that flawless finish. Best of all, it is sans SPF so it photographs beautifully making it ideal for any Makeup Artist Kit. It is no wonder that FACE ATELIER was the official makeup sponsor for Madonna’s 2006 Confessions Tour. 

Helpful Tips:

For a sheer coverage you can blend with a damp cosmetic sponge.

Medium coverage is best achieved using your clean fingers or a foundation brush to blend.

For a full or heavier coverage, buff on with a dense kabuki style brush one layer at a time until you reach the desired coverage. (For myself, I applied only one layer and then a touch more in the T-Zone for a full coverage look. Again, it doesn’t take much product to really see a difference.)

For those who desire a matte finish, simply blot skin with a clean tissue after application and then set with a translucent powder. 

This product is SPF free, so if wearing day-to-day, use a moisturizer or primer with SPF.

* To check out the website and order  some samples , visit the  website by clicking here:  FACE ATELIER   

I hope this has been helpful and feel free to check back for updates and before/after photos using this product.

KristineMarie