I recently had the opportunity to do a portrait shoot that was unlike any I’ve done before. And, through that experience, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the transformative power of professional make-up and hair styling. These three photos are all of the same model, taken on the same afternoon.
The professional make-up artist I worked with was Kazu-san. We had met several months earlier through Instagram, and had talked about doing a collaboration at some point. Then, in February, Kazu-san contacted me and told me she finally had time, and that she had lined up a model, Serina. Kazu-san teaches makeup at a college during the week, and does professional and personal projects in her spare time. She has done makeup for famous actors and artists, in movies and in television, and often travels to the U.S. for work. Last year, for example, she went to L.A. to do make-up work for the Emmy Awards Show. While in the U.S. she learned a technique for applying makeup using a specialized air brush, and she has brought the technique back to Japan. She is now a master teacher for DINAIR, and its Japan representative. She teaches the technique to college students now, and it is gaining popularity in Japan. I had never heard of using an air brush to apply makeup, let alone seen it in action, so it was fun to watch Kazu-san at work. For Serina’s first “look”, Kazu-san applied brightly colored makeup around her eyes and cheeks. It reminded me of the makeup used on Cirque Du Soleil performers.
Once the makeup was done, we started with some straight headshots. We took the photos in Kazu-san’s studio, so I chose a wide aperture to make the background less prominent. At first, we shot with Kazu-san’s work station and mirrors as the background. Kazu-san’t studio has a bright and cheery feel, so I thought it worked as a backdrop. When seen up close, the makeup is really remarkable. It is dry to the touch and the air brush allows for subtle gradations and color mixing that I don’t think would be possible using traditional make-up.
I took a few photos with Serina looking up at me to emphasize the makeup even more, and show-off her beautiful eyes.
Serina wanted to try some photos while lying down on the floor, so we took some like that, with the green carpet becoming the background. I liked how relaxed her mood was in these photos, like she might just take a nap.
We tried a different background after that, using a red curtain to provide a contrasting color. I liked how the shadow from her lashes fell on her cheek.
For the next look, Kazu-san went for a more classic style, pulling Serina’s hair back to reveal her high cheekbones, and using skin-toned colors for the make-up. The look brought Audrey Hepburn to mind.
With her hair back, and the makeup accentuating her features, Serina’s beautiful face and nice smile really shone.
Next, I had Serina look up at the camera. This is a really flattering look for her as it emphasizes her eyes.
The make-up, hairstyle, and black gloves reminded me of another era, so I edited some in black and white for a film noir look.
For a variation, I had Serina stand next to a mirror in the studio, and integrated reflections into the photos.
I also used the mirror as a backdrop, to add a sense of depth.
For Serina’s final look, Kazu-san and her assistant turned Serina into a bride, with her hair hanging loose, and bright, natural looking make-up. This time, we went outside to get some photos.
Serina really looked like a bride on her wedding day!
We walked to the river, not far from Kazu-san’s studio. The sun was going down, so the light was soft, but there was a strong Spring wind blowing Serina’s hair all around, so Kazu-san and her assistant had to keep fixing it. There was a plum tree just starting to bloom, so we used that and the river as a backdrop.
I thought this look worked well in black and white as well.
As dusk approached, it became challenging to get enough light onto Serina’s face without washing out the background, so I took out a small, portable LED light. It is just a cheap emergency light that fits in my hip pack, but it can work as a fill when necessary. Kazu-san’s assistant held the light for me while I took a few more.
Finally, it was too dark and windy to take photos outside, so we went back to Kazu-san’s studio to get a few indoor shots.
This was my first time to have a professional make-up artist and stylist to work with, and I was impressed by the “professional” look of the photos. Kazu-san is a true artist, and it was inspiring watching her work. And, Serina is a radiant model, with a timeless beauty. She is young, and just getting started in modeling, and I suspect she will get a Iot of work in the future. I hope I have more opportunities to do collaborations like this in the future.
You can see more examples of Kazu-san’s amazing make-up work at her website, A.K Promotion:
And, you can see more photos of Serina on her Instagram page: