Wedding Makeup Advice From Carolyn Scott

It's the first Wednesday of the new month, and that means, yup, you guessed it, we get a new feature by guest writer, Carolyn Scott, the awesome Raleigh wedding photographer. This week, regarding wedding makeup! Thank you so much to Carolyn for writing this feature! Like always, I truly appreciate it, and am happy to share your wedding photography advice with readers!



I get asked about makeup a lot, which is kind of funny since I hardly wear it and I could probably name about three brands if I tried. ;) But girls getting ready for their big day are really concerned about how their makeup will affect their photographs, so I’ve compiled a list of things to keep in mind as you pick out your makeup artist and makeup location for your day.

1. It doesn’t have to be dramatic: I highly recommend doing what you feel comfortable with. If you want dramatic makeup, by all means make it dramatic! But don’t get pushed into having a lot of heavy makeup by friends or your makeup artist if you aren’t comfortable wearing it. Be yourself and be comfortable because…

2. Not wearing enough makeup is a myth: I’ve photographed plenty of weddings with very natural girls, two in particular simply wore mascara, and that was it. Both of their weddings were published, one in a national magazine, and the other on a popular wedding blog. They looked GORGEOUS and they looked like themselves, which is what they wanted. Did it cause me a problem while photographing? No. Did it make the girls look pale or strange in the pictures? Absolutely not. They looked simply stunning, perhaps even more so because they looked so natural.

3. But there IS such a thing as too much makeup: In contrast to the natural beauty presented by wearing little makeup is the ever-present danger of wearing too much. Too much makeup absolutely can and will cause photographic challenges. Many brides have their makeup done almost like stage makeup for the benefit of the guests to see their features during their vows. The downside to this is the photographs. You will have a ton of close-up portraits done, and you really don’t want to look clownish. Layers and layers and layers can look piled on and create strange skin tone variances and an unnatural-looking surface. Fake eyelashes will definitely be visible and noticeably fake due to the crispness of lenses. Some people are fine with that, but just know what type of look you’re going for instead of being talked into too much makeup.

4. Don’t go tanning the month before your wedding: There’s nothing worse than an orange bride. Your bridesmaids, your groom, your groomsmen, and even your grandma have more than likely not been tanning, so you’ll stick out like a sore thumb in all of your pictures. It’s fine to want a little color, but don’t go tanning for at least a month before your wedding in case your last session turns you orange. My advice? Don’t tan at all. It’s hard to keep orange tones down in pictures and you don’t want to look like a nuclear accident.

5. Get ready in natural window light: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, florescent lighting doesn’t translate well to photographs taken outdoors. Make sure that you do your makeup in natural light so that you’ll have a good sense of what it will look like outside.



(photo credit: Sandra Proudman Photography)

Adele Beauty

Adele took home a handful of well-deserved Grammy awards this past weekend. Beside having an amazing voice, she is also a classic beauty. Wouldn't you agree? Vogue does, and recently posted a few items that can help you achieve that vintage beauty look the singer has mastered. A look that is also a beautiful bridal look. To view the entire article, click the image below.


(photograph by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott)

Basic Bridal Beauty

There's nothing like a natural look on your wedding day. There really isn't. If you're into pounding on makeup, try out a more subtle, yet pretty, look and you may find that you like a more nude look. You'll look a lot more natural and just a more naked kind of beautiful. The Beauty Department has a good tutorial for wedding makeup. To view the entire tutorial click HERE.


(photo credit: Pinterest)

Beauty & Fitness: Maybelline Makeup Lessons

Are you planning on doing your own wedding makeup or having a friend do it for you? Check out Maybelline's makeup lessons on their website for chic and natural ideas, as well as a few more impacting looks! You can choose lessons based on the level of complication, occasion, mood, even the color palette you're looking for. Super groovy.


(photo credit: screen shot of Maybelline's lessons page)

Inspiration Board #14: Handmade Beauty Items

Have you considered purchasing your wedding makeup through small businesses? You don't often think of finding handmade makeup and beauty items for sale, but there is an abundance of amazing makeup and beauty small businesses found throughout the web, especially on Etsy.com. The following are some great beauty care items available internationally for purchase that add a more natural feel to your wedding beauty products. A lot of beauty products from small businesses are also a lot more organic than what you find through corporate brands, and you can often find great deals on awesome products.


(photo credits from left to right: bath salts, eyeshadows, sweet citrus honey soap, solid perfume, shiny lip gloss)

Beauty & Fitness: Naked Elements All Natural Makeup

I love the natural organic makeup by Cecilia Ras of Naked Elements. Her makeup is all handmade and includes a variety of colors all with an earthy nude tone that would be beautiful for a natural bridal look. You can order a sample of any color eyeshadow for a only $2 by purchasing this listing. You can also purchase samples of her blush.


(photo credit: Naked Elements Etsy Shop)