Black and White (B&W) photography has a special set of problems. For example, since B&W film is not sensitive to the color red, with normal makeup the red areas appear too light in the print. To overcome this problem, a purple color with lots of blue in it is used on the cheeks and lips.

In general, photographic makeup is heavier than regular makeup. For head shots the makeup can be lighter, because larger image-size holds up better during the magazine printing process.

Faces come in many different shapes. Photographic makeup should maximize the natural beauty of your face while minimizing any facial irregularities. The ideal photogenic face is oval in shape. If the face is too round, a darker shade of makeup is used on the front edges to simulate shadows, making the face appear more oval. If the face is too narrow, a lighter shade is used on the sides, with the same result. The photographer can also compensate for facial irregularities, by using various lighting arrangements.

In many modeling jobs makeup artists are not available. Therefore, you must learn to apply your own makeup. When you apply for modeling jobs, questions will be asked to determine your skills in applying makeup.

The best way to learn more about applying photographic makeup is to visit local "beauty supply" stores and ask for suggestions. Sometimes the staff will do a free evaluation of your face, and recommend the most suitable makeup styles for you. Look through the yellow pages of the phone book to find locations of local beauty supply stores. After you have completed your research, build a photographic-makeup kit and start practicing the techniques. Most young women are already familiar with basic makeup techniques, so it usually takes only a few days to complete the research, build a kit, and learn how to apply the makeup. By the way, children and men also use makeup during photographic modeling assignments. The makeup kit that you build will go with you to every interview and assignment.

HAIR
Long hair, at least to the shoulders, is best for female models. No matter what length your hair is, start with a good basic style that allows for versatility. Which hairstylist you choose is critical. Pick a good one based on your own experience, or ask for recommendations from your friends or relatives.

After you have your hair styled, practice changing the look of it. Remember that every time you change your outfit during a modeling session, the look of your hair should also change. Some of the variations are as simple as adding a scarf or flower, or fashioning a wind-blown or a wet look. Most photographic modeling jobs include a hairstylist, to assist you in changing the look of your hair.

POSING
Learning to pose is a career-long process. No matter how much experience you have, every time you work in front of a camera, you will discover some new way of showing your creativity. As a new model, you must first learn to relax in front of the camera, so that you can begin to develop creatively.

Here are two suggestions on how to enhance your posing skills:

Do I need to attend a modeling school?
No. In fact, most photographers tell us that they actually end up having to retrain the model to get her out of bad habits that a particular school got her into. While some schools can be quite good, a mediocre school is a total waste of time and money.

One big problem with some modeling schools is that they tell every single girl that walks in how beautiful she is and how she would make a great model. While that statement alone is not always true, it’s a fairly normal statement to make if you’re getting paid a commission to sell lessons. They’re trying to encourage you to subscribe to the school! But their classes are usually primarily geared toward runway modeling and the high-fashion industry. Since there are physical requirements such as height for these jobs, telling a short girl that has no chance of getting those jobs that she can if she takes the school is, in our opinion, a crime.