These are obviously great professional shots. No doubt in anyone's mind. I think the biggest question seen here is how did the skin end up looking so perfect without processing. I would venture that it is completely airbrushed.
J.A.F. is a pro. And being a pro knows that extensive MUA is very good to start with. Then one doesn't have to do so much healing and processing and can concentrate on the lighting, art direction and photography. And I speculate that the MUA used airbrush in a very creative way.
The other day whilst setting up for a shot, the television was playing and one of those infomercials came on. It was about Luminessair – a self use airbrush home make-up kit. Compressor, airbrush and bottles of various shades of foundation and other make-up that could be put on with an airbrush. This is the same airbrush (Iwatta) that we all used for airbrush illustrations until the digital age put much of an end to paint airbrush.
The infomercial showed how easy it was for various guests to apply this make-up and cover up just about any facial damage or imperfections. We are talking about 2-3 minutes to apply by a novice. Then "Hollywood" make-up artists said that airbrush is how all the talent is made so perfect looking and by buying this product one could look like a star. Or at least a whole lot better then normal.
I realized that it would be so easy to do this. And there are dozens of companies offering different version of the DIY airbrush make-up kits. Some even touted as being for photographers. Why spend all the time in PP when one can just paint the model to look naturally beautiful. Check out under the eyes on this model in the red top photos. You can see the airbrush around the eyes, eyebrows and lips. It's just like the infomercial – perfect. Even the hair has been painted with tint and sheen (also available from various on-line purveyors).
Why would J.A.F. post? To show the proper way to do it. Raise the bar. Make the challenge. And perhaps he has given a glimpse into one of the major ways to create the look many may think is almost unobtainable. After seeing the airbrush demonstrations and then this excellent post, I am grateful for the amount of information both have provided. Since I already have the airbrush equipment, I am ready to give it a go. I won't have the experience or expertise of a MUA pro, but can probably do something nice. And make some women (and perhaps men) corporate executives feel very good about their images.
Hi,
You can do it with airbrush quickly.
But a good MUA can also do it without.
Remember that makeup can take up to 60-70 minutes for a beauty portrait, it's not something done in 15 minutes.
The foundation used will make a HUGE difference in the final look.
Some foundations will create a blotchy look that has to be photoshoped, some will create all sort of powder which is a dissaster, and some will create an almost airbrushed look.
Add in the case the perfect skin from Corine and you're there.
Trust me, in 95% of the cases we do need some or a lot photoshop, but with Corine and 2-3 other models I work with on a weekly basis (stephanie is one of them) we don't need alot of photoshop.
