NYC Wedding Photography Blog

On that special wedding day, every bride wants to look her very best and be at her most beautiful. How do you make sure your wedding make-up stays on all day, looks flawless in your wedding photos, and manage to still look like you?

As a wedding photographer, I decided to write this blog post to help all the brides out there learn about what type of make-up looks great in front of the camera. Also, to organize all the information that they need to know in order to make the process easier.

Here are some examples of my favorite and the the most beautiful natural bridal makeup for your wedding day:

via Refinery 29

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

UK Harper’s Bazaar June 2013

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest, Photo by Elizabeth Messina

via Pinterest

via Everything Fabulous

 

 

As a wedding photographer, I understood the importance of proper make-up for my own wedding day.

I knew that my makeup should compliment the style of my dress. I wanted a very natural look to match the scenery, with earth-toned colors and lots of browns and golds. I wanted the look to be something between natural and glamorous. My makeup artist agreed, we had similar taste in style and were on the same wavelength about the look I was going for.

Too many brides whom I photograph are reluctant to wear more makeup than they are accustomed to. My advice to future brides is to put more trust in the makeup artist. You are going to need to wear more cover than you are used to because the camera reveals more detail than the human eye. Many makeup artists work on fashion shoots and they know what the camera needs. It’s better because your photos will come out looking very natural and require less retouching.

You can read more about The Story Behind My Wedding Day. (But looking back, I wasn’t so crazy about my hair. Too much hairspray. :))

Tips for wedding make up:

• Schedule a consultation, or even better, a complete make-up application before the big day with your make-up artist. A trial run will allow you to discuss your make-up needs and desires with your make-up artist prior, ensuring less stress on the day of your wedding. And, it will guarantee that you’ll get the look you want.  You can also discuss make-up ideas/colors for the bridesmaids, mothers, etc. That way, your make-up artist will have something in mind prior to the big day, making sure things run smoothly and efficiently.  This is especially important if their is a large bridal party getting their make-up done.  The trial will give both you and your makeup artist an idea of what to expect on your big day as well as peace of mind.  And plus, it’s great to use for your engagement photos, bridal shower, bachelorette party or engagement party! [via http://artistrybybriana.wordpress.com/tag/bridal-makeup/]
• Remember, your make up run-through is the time to experiment, try different ideas, colors, etc.  Don’t be afraid to say you don’t like something. Tell your make-up artist what you like or dislike about the make-up. Talk to your make-up artist about your comfort level and have a conversation that will allow you to both understand and get to know each other. Once you have your look down, make sure the make up artist writes everything out.
• It’s helpful to have an understanding of what you want and what to expect before venturing into the make-up artist’s chair. Take the time to go through magazines and pull out makeup styles that you really like, even tear out the ones you really don’t like. It could be how a certain feature is played up, or that great lipstick color, or how the skin glows, or even how they used way too much eyeliner. It helps tremendously to show your desires by pictures rather than endlessly describing it.
• Prepare pictures and swatches of wedding dress and bridesmaid’s dresses. Having pictures of the dresses will give the make-up artist a starting point for designing the perfect look for you as well as your bridesmaids. Fabric swatches of the wedding dress and bridesmaid’s dresses and a description of the flowers will also help when choosing colors. The colours should compliment both the dress and the flowers. This will give the make up artist an idea about the color scheme, the wedding theme, and the style of the wedding (Romantic, glamorous, classic, casual, formal, etc.) and then she can find a make up look that will compliment all the element in the wedding. All of this is easy show to a makeup artist using pictures.
• Ask your make-up artist what colors and style he or she thinks is best for your skin tone and facial features.

http://www.stylemepretty.com/florida-weddings/2011/05/20/wedding-make-up-tips-from-kimtasha/

The style you choose for your wedding make-up will ultimately depend on your personal preference, but there are some other factors to consider:

• The time of the ceremony – is it a day or evening wedding? A lighter, more natural look is more suited to a day wedding and a more dramatic look is suited to an evening one.
• The time of year – If you are having a Spring/Summer wedding, go for bright, pastel colors. Warm, deeper shades will lend themselves well to a winter wedding.
• Your skin tones and hair color? There are two color palettes- warm or cool.
• If you are Blonde or fair skinned, cool tones of grey, blue, soft pink and lilac are ideal.
• If you are brunette or olive skinned, warm neutral tones of brown, taupe, burgundy & red are more suited.
• Remember, your make up should be a little more dramatic than your everyday make-up as you can tend to look pale and wash-out in photos if your make-up doesn’t stand out. it’s crucial that the bride’s makeup doesn’t fall by the wayside. After all, going easy on the makeup can leave a woman in white looking unnaturally pale, while overdoing can create unflattering look. As a wedding photographer, I know how important it is to have good foundation that will last the whole day to look good in the photos. Often times when I’m retouching close-up photos from a wedding, I notice brides who put too little make-up, or make-up that didn’t last through the whole day. This makes the photos more difficult to retouch, and would have looked better if more attention was paid to the make-up on the wedding day. Sometimes it may seem like more make-up than you are used to, but remember that for photographs and all-day longevity you’ll need more than usual.

[via http://www.girl.com.au/wedding-make-tips.htm]

• If you’re applying false eyelashes, single eyelashes are the most natural-looking.
• It’s especially important you get a make-up look that suits your skin type and face shape.
• Be wary about changing your skin care regimen too close to your wedding day as there’s always a risk of breaking out as your skin adapts to change. Stick to the products that you have always used, or go to a good beautician if you want any intensive treatment.

Unfortunately, many women wait until they are only a few months away from their wedding day before they even begin to give any thought to skin care. Start early and take care of your skin now. You will need to work out your skin type to help you establish a proper skin care regimen. This, combined with good eating habits, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise will ensure that your skin will be radiant on your big day.

[via http://www.scribd.com/doc/80488158/Wedding-Day-Makeup-Tips-and-Advice]

• Even if you don’t usually splurge on your skin, getting a facial at least three times before your big day is worth the investment. Having a facial is a good way to de-stress and detoxify the skin, especially when you have a lot on your mind and so much to organize. A good facial will help rejuvenate the skin through surface cleansing, deep pore cleansing (sometimes including blackhead extractions), exfoliation, toning and moisturising. Achieving flawless skin will also help make-up glide on and look more natural.

[via http://www.weddingbeauty.com.au/facials-skincare.html]

• Don’t panic right before the wedding and decide to get an overly aggressive cosmetic procedure. The last thing you want is to have an allergic reaction to something used on your face right before your wedding day or to have to much redness on your face. Do any treatments at least 2 weeks beforehand, though you can do a basic at-home facial mask one week before. Get an extra exfoliating treatment a month to two weeks before the big day to make skin really glow.

[via http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/wedding-day-beauty-countdown/p57782/page9]

• The groom needn’t be left out either. Having a pre-wedding facial can also help him say goodbye to any dryness, dead skin, impurities or build-up. With a clean shave and a few dollops of moisturizer- he’ll also be glowing.

[via http://www.weddingbeauty.com.au/facials-skincare.html]

• Not only is a facial great for the health of your skin, but it’s also relaxing and can be very helpful for dealing with the stress of wedding planning. It’s a nice break from wedding planning.

[via http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/reminder-book-your-facial]

• On the morning of your wedding, make sure your face is well cleansed and moisturized. If you’re prone to an oily T-zone, use an oil-free moisturizer for your wedding day.With all moisturizers, it’s better to wait at least 20 minutes before applying foundation to give it time to really sink into your skin.

[via http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style/weddings/wedding-make-up/20-wedding-make-up-tips/display/page/4]

• To keep your make-up looking good all day, use a translucent powder or blotting sheets to take away any shine (especially important before the photos). Take cotton buds for any eye make-up that needs tidying up, and if a make-up artist has done your make-up, be sure to have purchased the shade of lipstick they have used beforehand so you can keep yourself touched up all day.

[via http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style/weddings/wedding-make-up/20-wedding-make-up-tips/display/page/4]

• If your bridesmaids, Mothers, etc. will be getting their makeup done professionally along with you, make sure you give them these tips as well.  And, most importantly, make sure everyone arrives with a clean, makeup-free and moisturized face! Things are going to be hectic enough that you don’t want your makeup artist to also have to worry about scraping last-night’s makeup from the bachelorette party off everyone’s face.  Keep things simple for the big day, and make sure everyone is on the same page about what time they need to arrive. Better yet, give them a schedule with these tips and instructions included to make things a little easier.

[via http://artistrybybriana.wordpress.com/tag/bridal-makeup/]

• Makeup experts caution brides not to go overboard with excessive eye makeup, too-bright lips and cheeks, and heavy, cake-like foundation.
• Instead of over-emphasizing every lovely feature, experts encourage brides to play up one and take it easy on the others. Beautiful and slightly dramatic eye makeup offers the most bang for your buck in terms of appearance (and it will photograph nicely, too). Smoky eyes, paired with sheer or light-colored, glossy lips are a glamorous, but not overwhelming combination that’s popular for evening brides. Just be sure to keep a light hand with the eye makeup.

[via http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/weddings/5-wedding-makeup-tips1.htm]

The Daytime Wedding Bride:

• The natural light that accompanies a daytime wedding can be a bride’s best friend, both in pictures and in person. An unfussy look is the safest bet for daytime weddings because neutral tones emphasizes the bride’s true beauty, rather than relying on a lot of attention-grabbing makeup. Brides should use minimal foundation to avoid unsightly caking, which is revealed in detail by daylight. Blush in a peach or pink color (depending on skin tone, of course), paired with pastel or natural-toned eye shadow creates a look that’s both fresh and classic.
• Daytime brides — especially those having outdoor events — should also consider steering clear of dramatic eyeliner colors, such as black or dark brown. Instead, opt for softer colors like charcoal or mahogany, which will still make the eyes pop.

[via http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/weddings/5-wedding-makeup-tips2.htm]

For more tips about make up, and to see additional examples of bridal make up, take a look at some make up ideas:

[Above images via BHLDN]

You can see more make-up inspiration on my Pinterest.

You can also read tips from one of my amazing brides, Shiri Sarfati. In this article, she shares her skincare secrets leading up to her big day. She is the VP of an amazing skincare company, Repêchage.

“Since 1980, Repêchage has produced .. products for intensive anti-aging, sensitive, dry, oily and combination skin conditions, anti-acne, intensive anti-cellulite, daily body care and hand and foot care. All products are based on the wonders of seaweed and the best botanicals the earth has to offer. Even our extensive make-up collections is based on seaweed.”

Shiri was my one of my brides, and gave me a some of her Repêchage products as a thank-you present after shooting her engagement session with her sweet fiancee, Lawrence. I completely fell in the love with them and the spa products, they are AMAZING! :)

1920s Make up Inspiration

I’m obsessed with everything related to the 1920s, so I decided to add a little bit of information about the 20s make-up style.

In the ’20s, the makeup industry was relatively new, and women were just beginning to purchase cosmetics on a regular basis. Dark red lipstick was the hot ticket because it was the only color available. Mascara was far from today’s tube and wand combo — it came in a cake of wax that you added water to in order to create a paste you’d brush onto lashes with a small brush.

One of the most iconic beauty looks of the ’20s was dark lipstick that outlined and emphasized the cupid’s bow of the upper lip.

[via collegefashion]

via thefoxling, dovima_is_devine_II

via fluentbeauty

via Flickr, Green Wedding Shoes, Sarah Rhoads

For 1920s Hairstyle inspiration, check out My Bridal Fashion Guide to Hairstyles. Also have a look at my 1920s Style Wedding Dress Inspiration and 1920s Short Dress inspiration.

If you really liked the 1920s and vintage style, I recommend you have a look at these blogs. They are fantastic resources for brides looking for vintage wedding inspiration, and ideas for weddings with a vintage feel.