How To: Take Good Close-Up Makeup Pictures

A lot of you have asked me how I can get my FOTDs to show up so clear so here are some tips I picked up from years of being a camera whore.

What I Use: Sony Cybershot DSC-T70. I have been using this for the past 2 years.

* Get the right lighting. Daylight is definitely the best for taking pictures. However, if you can only take pictures at night just like me, make sure the background is well-lit with a halogen lamp. Not only will this help bring out more details, I swear it brightens up the face and makes those nasty shadows and bags under your eyes appear lighter too!

* Use the flash. I know a lot of people worry about the flash washing them out, but I personally love it and use it in pretty much all my pictures. The key is to make sure you are using the right kind of flash. Most cameras have a setting for flash intensity and remember to set the ISO levels to low. I also find the flash to reduce blurriness.

* Always shoot in Macro mode. This is the one with the flower icon and is practically made for closeup shooting. Having said that, if you are shooting at a distance under Macro mode, the pictures will come out blurry.

* Use the red-eye reduction feature. This works by having a flash go off right before the main flash to make your pupils contract, thus reducing “red eye”.

* Find your best angle. Mariah Carey’s known for her right side whereas I prefer my left. Practice with your camera and a mirror and trust me, your hard work will pay off!

* Experiment. There is a reason why cameras come with so many different modes and features. Play around with yours to figure out what works best on you.

* Steady, steady. While it’s impossible to grow a steady hand, you can always get a tripod to prevent shakiness.

Check out Camera Ready Makeup Tips by Celebrity Makeup Artist Kathy Aragon and my makeup tips For taking passport/yearbook pictures! Got more photography tips? Share!