I certainly was no different from any other bride, in that I wanted my wedding photographs to turn out absolutely perfect. With the beautiful Salt Lake City backdrop, an impeccably dressed bridal party, and incredibly handsome groom, all that was left to ensure stunning photos was myself. I decided it would be wise to consult not only my make up artist to come up with the perfect look, but my wedding photographer as well; this would enable me to have gorgeous makeup that would enhance the pictures. The following is a compilation of what I learned from both.
Your wedding make up will obviously be slightly different than your normal, daily make up routine. Whether you are doing it yourself or having a professional do it, make sure you use natural lighting, like near a big window with the sun shining. Artificial lighting can give you an inaccurate view and poor lighting, leading to make up lines and the over-application of products.
Prep your face as you normally would: cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize before you apply any makeup. If you tend to have oily skin, use oil-free products so you have oil control. To get rid of puffiness around your eyes, press a cold compress to them and then apply Preparation H (I swear this is not just a beauty myth – it does work!).
When it comes to your concealer, you should use a thicker formula than those sheer ones so that you can completely cover any blemishes. The concealer should be a couple shades lighter than your skin tone to ensure full coverage. Do not cover your entire face in foundation, use the thick concealer for blemishes only, and then cover everything with a more sheer light formula or foundation powder is a great option. Make sure you blend from face to chin to neck; this will eliminate any make up lines along the jaw line. Reapply your powder throughout the day and in between photo shots, to create a mat finish look and keep oil and blemishes at bay.
Your eye make up should be only slightly more than you would wear normally. Highlight the brow bones with a light shimmery eyeshadow to create a gorgeous glow. However, avoid anything that is too frosty or bright, it will look shiny in the photographs. Most importantly, this is your big day, so make sure your make up is something you love and reflects your personal style.
Last but not least, my Utah wedding photographer suggested taking wedding photographs in the evening when the sun begins to set (around 5 pm) and the lighting is a bit softer. This softer light makes everyone look better and more radiant and makes for overall better photographs. This should also be the case when taking your engagement photos or bridal pictures.
We are coming to find out here on the western half of the world, that there are certain foods that contain antioxidants which actually prevent you from looking older. In numerous studies, it is confirmed that antioxidants react to certain chemicals in your skin. These particular chemicals interact with the UV light that comes from the son and causes your skin to appear more aged. Antioxidants slow down this process greatly.