Everyone wants to look great in photographs. There are two great, relatively inexpensive, ways to take a great black and white photo. You could purchase black and white film such as Afga or Ilford. The other option, which is the one I prefer, is to use a digital camera and take a normal photograph, upload it to a computer and edit the photo to grayscale.
Once your method has been selected, determine the background. In most photos it's best to have a simple or solid color background. This is also true with black and white photos. I took the photos below against a solid colored wall. If your hair is dark, choose a light color as your background to create a great contrast.
As far as cosmetics are concerned, stay away from shimmering, iridescent eye shadows and lipsticks. They tend to catch the light, which is fine in some cases, but if you are seeking a classic, black and white photo choose matte and velvet shades instead.
Let’s start with the eyes first. Apply the lighter shade on the lid and on the brow bone. Be sure to concentrate the lighter shade where the bone juts out the most. Next, apply the darker shade on the crease and blend very well.
Now, let’s work on the cheeks. Remember, our makeup application is for black & white pictures and that the magic is in the varying degrees of contrast. Therefore, locate your cheekbone and apply blush, in a sweeping motion, just under the dip of your cheeks.
After that, line your lips. Using your lip brush, apply a matte lipstick over the entire lip area. Be sure to blend the lipstick into the line you just made. Purse your lips together. Reapply the lipstick again, if needed. A clear, high-shine lip gloss can be applied over the lips for a nice texture in the photo but try a few shots without it first.
Lastly, if you feel nervous, it will show in your eyes and how you hold your mouth. So, be sure to act natural. Imagine you are looking, lovingly, at your child or someone you hold dear to help relax the muscles in your face and smile.
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