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Was just browsing around pbase for some of the female portrait works. There was some really nice portraits taken outdoors, the skin tones, skin and everything is just near perfect smoothness (whereas skin textures still shows).

Makes me wonder, is make-up a real matter that makes portraits stand out? Or this is mostly matter of the quality of the lighting?

From the pictures I saw, they were taken outdoors and I'm not really sure if any lighting modifiers or softening technique was used, I know every studio shot is done by that, but what about outdoors?

As a photographer with absolutely no clue about makeup, what is the trick behind those smooth looking portrait? Ok, the photographer can handle lights, but what about the makeup?? Is a makeup artist really needed for this purpose?

At the risk of sounding too effeminate, make up does help even out the skin tones. For the face, make up artists and some females tend to use foundation to provide an even tone on the face then add the eyeshadow, etc.

Think of foundation powder as an undercoat for your wall or fence before you paint

PiroStitch wrote: For the face, make up artists and some females tend to use foundation to provide an even tone on the face then add the eyeshadow, etc.

You've got me more than lost here....

Is there anything I call tell my subject how to put her makeups? Well, I might not know what I will be talking about, but I hope she can understand... lol

You can try, but protect yourself with a monopod first just in case. If they get shirky about it, just say you want them to look their best, etc.

If they had a makeup artist, I'd suggest it to the makeup artist as it's their work you're going to be portraying as well.

You've got me more than lost here....

Think of wall with a rough surface and maybe a few cracks.
Foundation is like smoothing the surface with polyfiller and giving an even colour with undercoat so the final paint looks smooth with an even overall colour.
Now depending on how you light the wall depends on how flattering it looks. If you shine a light onto the wall from across the room, it will not show up any imperfections, especially if its not a strong directional light. So a fluoro type light will look better. If you shine a torch or another directional type light across the surface so its beam is close to parallel with the wall, it will create mini shadows and highlight any imperfections on the walls surface.

This is a way to play with surface lighting and not getting your face slapped
I on the other hand, after making the polyfiller analogy may get my face slapped by any of the female members at any future member meets that I attend