Hi makeup experts and enthusiasts!
I’m a professional photographer with hundreds of weddings under my belt.
From 2008-2021 the desired look for brides was to eliminate the shine from oily skin.
Then it suddenly switched to “Glowy” skin where the skin looks extra oily and shiny.
So now I’m in a tough spot while lighting and retouching photos.
I need to somehow discern who wants to look oily and who doesn’t.
Any tips for me?
Thanks so much!
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They want this. Remove all pores and keep every highlight and shine.
Do you meet with the bride before the day? Maybe take some examples of before and edited photos for them.
Yes I do. I love this idea, honestly. Let the photos do the talking so people can request the look they want.
Basically how celebrities look now, ex Hailey bieber
What people are aiming for is plump, youthful, tan, moisturized skin that looks natural. Like a woman with perfect skin after being on vacation for 2 weeks. So, they attempt to imitate that by using foundation that has a “shine” to get the plump look and gloss over pores, bronzer hitting the parts of the face that would be hit by the sun, more natural tone blushes and “full” blush placement to achieve the youthful and flush look, and glossy lips.
In regards to photography, which I know nothing about, I guess what people are going for is how they look in the light at sunset (golden hour?) That’s the kind of filter people go for lately. So kind of the golden orangey tint/lighting to give that fresh tan look.
Might be something you ask the bride. I don’t think most would be offended.
Another way might be to take your cue from the makeup, especially if they had a makeup artist do it because the MUA probably did the makeup according to what was requested.
If they have a matte look on, I would assume that to be their preference. Similarly, if the makeup is already dewy or the overall look is the light no-makeup makeup trendy these days, I would think that they will want the pictures to look like that.
I think the glow shouldn’t be exaggerated too much when retouching though; most women who want dewy still don’t want to look like a sheet of oil.
Glowy skin would be like tops of cheekbones and maybe tip of the nose that looks shiny and other parts not so much. At least that’s what I’d like to see for my self. No glowy forehead or chin
You may need to give each client a picture that’s edited to have “glowy” greasy skin and the same photo retouched to remove the greasy look. Then explain what makeup is required to get the final result. If they insist on makeup that isn’t compatible with the final result that they want, charge them for the extra retouching time or drop them as a client.
I think this is a really great idea. Sometimes I don’t think language is ubiquitous enough to convey the different looks. I’ll start doing this during meetings.
Thank you! I read the post and thought, “Don’t they do that with make-up?” I thought that was the point of all the highlighters, illuminizers, light-reflecting make-up on the market. To ask your photographer to retouch all of your pictures seems like the most difficult, and expensive, way to get this effect.
Look up face makeup templates online and there will be various resources for different face shapes. The placement of highlighter and illumination is the key points people want when referring to glowy. Oily is seen as a displacement out of the template zone. A softening retouch to high impact areas and mattifying around what is considered the T zone. Your best bet is understanding makeup placements and stick to those targeted areas.
Good luck! Sounds like a nightmare. And yes glass skin does look oily … not sure why this is a trend now. I’m sure it’ll pass.
Makeup and complexion trend has been flopping back and forth from matte to dewy and back again for decades. It’s a way for beauty companies to sell product. The Kardashian matte / dog bone dry makeup trend lasted foreverrrrrrrr. Now people want to look like a mirror. Most people look better somewhere in between.
Youthful sheen but not greasy
Look up glowy wedding makeup in insta. You will see a bunch of photos edited to perfect the skin while emphasizing highlighter and overall brightening.
Open up a bridal magazine
Ask if she wants a dewy or matte complexion.
I personally don’t like the “glowy” makeup look, I think it looks oily on me. But the point is to look very natural, youthful, and moisturized. The “natural gleam” should highlight the face, especially the cheekbones and nose, basically the places you use highlighter makeup.