Makeup for photoshoots

How to Do Men's Makeup for a Photoshoot

 
Elsie Goycoolea
By Elsie Goycoolea. Updated: January 16, 2017
How to Do Men's Makeup for a Photoshoot

When many people are going bare-faced and ditching makeup, there are many others that are beginning to embrace the wonderful qualities of putting on makeup. Women have a long history of wearing makeup to accentuate natural features; as well as, add some color to eyes and lips. However, men are starting to appreciate just how a little bit of makeup can help add some sophistication and flair to their look. Knowing the theme of the photoshoot and the image to be portrayed will help determine how much makeup a man should wear.

In this oneHOWTO article we detail how to do men’s makeup for a photoshoot.

You'll need:
  • Concealer
  • Mineral translucent powder
  • Lip balm
  • Transparent mascara (optional)
You may also be interested in: How To Do Contouring Makeup for Beginners
Steps to follow:
1

Think about the aim of the makeup. Makeup can be a helpful tool to add some spice to a photoshoot; however, you must know the role of makeup and the purpose of using makeup on the model. Too much makeup may affect the level of masculinity portrayed and may distract from the overall message portrayed.

2

Prep the makeup. It is always better to start with a natural look, and if needed, add any other elements as the look is being created. You will only need concealer, mineral powder and lip balm.

3

Prep your face. First, make sure that you are starting with a clean and fresh face and that you have looked at the clothes the model is going to wear; as well as, you have checked out the set. That way you may have a clearer idea of where to go with the makeup.

No matter the case, the first step to do men's makeup for a photoshoot is to apply moisturizer to protect your skin and keep it soft.

4

Apply concealer. Then, start by applying a small layer of concealer under the eyes and over blemishes. The key is to use as little as possible and blend in well. You can always apply more as the photoshoot evolves.

5

Instead of using foundation, use very light mineral translucent powder and dust over oily areas of the skin. Men have strong prominent lines and you don’t want to hide them out with makeup.

How to Do Men's Makeup for a Photoshoot - Step 5
6

Apply transparent mascara. We don’t recommend using eyeshadow; but you may want to use some transparent mascara on the upper lashes to widen the eyes. Be careful with this step specially if the model is shooting close-ups. You can use Vaseline instead of mascara if you prefer.

7

Finally, apply some lip balm. You may go all natural or choose a lip balm that has a small amount of color. Make sure that there is no gloss added as it will interfere with the lights and may taint the clothes.

How to Do Men's Makeup for a Photoshoot - Step 7
8

Torso makeup. If the model will be showing the torso, you may also apply some makeup to enhance the core frame. However, remember that nowadays lighting is enough to create visual effects and thus playing around with different lights may produce outstanding effects.

9

Usually, that is all that you will need to prepare a male model for a photoshoot in a way to accentuates natural features without appearing too feminine. However, at times you may want to use more makeup to create unique effects.

For instance, artistic or cinematic photoshoots often require the use of costumes to help deliver a story. Makeup is used to complement the clothes chosen and help the model step into the character.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Do Men's Makeup for a Photoshoot, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.

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How to Do Men's Makeup for a Photoshoot