Getting A Great Photo

Each face painting is a work of art.. the only downside is that the artwork is only temporary. At the end of the day the colours will be fading and it will come time to wash it all away.
This is why it is equally as important to be able to take a great photograph of your designs to make them last forever. The photograph become a piece of artwork in itself.

Now you don’t necessarily need a fancy camera to take a great shot (Although it wouldn’t hurt).
There are a few key tips to remember to be able to get the magic shot.



Framing your shot. When taking a photo, especially of a face painting, you want to make sure that is the main thing you see when you look at the picture.. fill the screen with the face, get up nice and close to show off all those details. Crop the picture across the hairline or just above the face, and just below the chin or just above the shoulders. Think about where the design sits on the face and try to keep that balanced in the picture.

Also be aware of your

Background. Keep it as plain as possible.. I like to stand infant of a white wall or have a black cloth hanging behind them (having an assistant to hold the cloth up can be very useful). I will use a plain black banner (with just my brand name in the corner) set up behind the model at events for quick and easy photos.



Lighting. Lighting is so very important in taking photos. Where possible, plan your shoots for the daytime to make the most of the natural light. I set my photos up in front of a large window, but away from direct sunlight. Avoid bright directional light that will create hard shadows, and also make it hard for the model to see. If you are unable to avoid direct light I like to use a white diffuser/reflector.
If Natural lighting isn’t available, I try to take photos in as much light as possible (white light over warm lighting to show colours off more accurately). I still try to avoid direct light on the subject to eliminate harsh shadows. When using the flash on my camera I will try and create a diffuser (a piece of paper held in front of the camera, on an angle towards the ceiling) to bounce the light around the room.

Costumes.  Some of my models bring their own, as they may have a theme in mind, such as Mermaid or Bunny Rabbit.  I roam the costume shops for extra props, such as pirate eye patches, swords, clown wigs and noses, and witches hats.  These can add great color and fun to your photograph.

Props – I bought a zombie at a Halloween sale and let my model hold it on her lap… This added a lot of dimension to her Day of the Dead makeup… Dont forget to hit the stores the day after halloween.  I purchased many props for over 50% off and use them regularly when taking pictures.