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Make-up for Video

As a video producer, you have to be a jack-of-all-trades. You need to be a master of shot composition, lighting and audio. To get the most out of your talent, you need to be a good director, and to put it all together, you need to master a slew of post-production techniques. Many videographers focus so much on these production skills that they overlook a simple step that can make their productions look more professional. That step? Make-up.

It is important that your talent look its best on camera. Here are some practical make-up tips that you can apply in 10 minutes or less, even if you don't know the difference between mascara and foundation. This article will explore three different people that you might encounter as you set out to shoot video, and tell you how to choose the best make-up strategy for each person. Along the way you'll learn principles that you can apply to anyone that you shoot for your productions. The pros do it. You can too.

African-American Male (Age: 30)

Make-up Tools: Hypo-allergenic translucent (loose) face powder, box of tissues, disposal lip brushes, eyelash comb, dark brown (smooth) eyebrow pencil, lip primer.

Purpose: Use translucent powder to remove the shine from the face without changing the natural skin tone. This is a must for on-screen personalities with dark skin. This powder comes in a loose or compact form. Hypo-allergenic powder is for sensitive skin and since you probably don't know what type of skin your talent has, it is best to use one that is hypo-allergenic.

1. Start with a clean, dry face. Use a tissue to wipe away any moisture.

2. Drape an apron or towel over the talent to make sure no make-up residue gets on the clothes.

3. Using a medium-size powder brush, apply a small amount of translucent powder to the forehead, coming down around the cheeks and finally covering the entire face. Do not apply to the neck area. You should apply only as far as the jaw line and blend it from there, so it looks as natural as possible.

4. With the eyelash comb, brush the talent's eyebrows in the direction they naturally grow. This will give the face an even look, with all facial hair going in the correct direction.

5. With the eyebrow pencil, going in the natural direction of the eyebrow, run a very light pencil over the eyebrow. This prevents your talent's features from washing out under hot studio lights.

6. Get your lip brushes and primer ready. Stroke the brush across the lip primer - (never place the lip primer directly on the talent's mouth) and apply the primer to the lips in even strokes.

White Female (Age: 21)

Make-up Tools: Liquid foundation (full coverage), concealing cream, loose powder, blush, lip liner, lip gloss (semi-transparent), eyebrow pencil, eyelashes/adhesive, mascara, tweezers, triangular sponges and cotton swabs.

Purpose: Liquid foundation gives the skin a smooth, even look. Full-coverage foundation will block out any blemishes or blotches that would normally show up under hot lights and video closeups.

1. Start with a clean face. Apply concealing cream to any areas that appear dark (under the eyes) or to any skin discoloration. Blend. Professionals often apply some concealing cream under the nose to highlight any area shadowed by the lighting.

2. Using a triangle sponge, place a small amount of foundation on the sponge and apply in upward/circular strokes. When applying foundation around the nose and under the eye area, be extremely careful. Use light stokes that go inward toward the nose. The skin under the eye is the most sensitive.

3. With the powder brush, apply loose powder to the face, using light, even strokes.

4. With the blusher brush, swipe blush over the cheeks (start from the cheek and mid-center eye and brush into the temple). The color concentration should be on the cheek itself. The closer you get to the temple, the lighter the blush should appear. Reminder: keep lipstick and blush in the same color family. Do not let your talent wear pink lipstick and red blush; this will give the talent's face an awkward appearance.

5. Use lip liner (in the same color family as the lipstick) to line the lips before applying gloss. This will prevent the lipstick from "bleeding" on screen. If you would like to make lips appear smaller, move the lip liner inside the lips' natural line. To make lips appear larger, apply the lip liner outside of the lips' natural line. Apply lip gloss/lipstick with a disposable lip brush.

6. Brush the eyebrows in the natural direction of growth. Apply eye pencil to the eyebrow with a medium/light hand.