Makeup for High Def camera…


I recently did makeup and hair for a video shoot for Photographer/Director Richard Radstone. The video was shot in High Definition on a Red Camera. Leading up to the shoot, I was asked about 1200 times if I had experience/knew how to shoot Hi-Def. In fact, increasingly over the last 3 years whenever I’m being hired onto a video shoot of any kind, that’s the number one question. The answer is not only yes, but essentially I’ve always shot for Hi-Def. Why do I say this? Because I’ve always been a technically clean makeup artist, and I’ve always used a light hand in applying makeup. These are the two essential ingredients for a successful HD makeup. Here are my tips and hints for successful makeup in Hi-Def as well as some myths that I find not to be true.

What’s great about High Definition? You can see everything. What’s not great? You can see everything. That crystal-clear, life-like appearance means that nothing “slides” with regards to makeup (and hair). Also, when you’re talking moving video you’re also not talking about Photoshop. You have to be clean in your application. The retoucher is not going to run in and save you from a sloppy makeup application.

Myth: You have to use airbrush makeup.

Truth: While I’m not knocking airbrush makeup at all, and yes, airbrush is great for HD you do not have to do airbrush for your foundation makeup. Proof? I didn’t do airbrush in the clip above. I rarely do airbrush foundation for face-work, that’s just my personal preference. What you do have to do is be clean, clean, clean in your foundation application. No color mis-match, no streaking, no clear line of demarcation. Check your foundation work and then check it again and then check it again.

Myth: You have to use makeup marked HD.

Truth: Well… yes and no. You do not have to, but it certainly helps. The modern HD makeups – and we’re talking foundations here – are made to go with the modern HD medium in that they’re highly pigmented in lighter base formulations. You can use a regular cream foundation, for example, but you run the risk of it looking heavy and obvious which is never the point of a good foundation. A good foundation should just look like beautiful skin. The only other product for which there are “HD” specific items is powder. A word of caution about HD powder; we all saw the unfortunate pictures of actress Nicole Kidman on a red carpet. That was – in my guesstimation – a buildup of HD powder. Once HD powder sets the makeup if there isn’t any moisture on the skin for the powder to hold onto, it’ll build up. In addition, because it’s so finely milled, this buildup may not be visible to the naked eye and may only appear under lighting conditions. Therefore, I suggest using HD Powder for your setting powder only and not for touch ups.

Myth: You can’t use strong color in HD.

Truth: You can apply any color you want however, again, your application needs to be extremely clean and precise and you have to be careful not to be too heavy handed unless that is the desired look. I think people got the can’t wear strong color idea not because of the actual color but because of the formulation of the product, i.e. – shimmer and sparkle do not generally work in HD and sheen has to be really controlled. I generally stick to matte eyeshadows and blushes and satin finish (not too glossy) lip colors. In doing so I’ve never had a problem no matter what color I’ve used.

SIDENOTE: This was my first time being responsible for hair on a Hi-Def video shoot. It was an experience but I learned a lot. I was very glad I had a BedHead stick and lots of hairspray on me. Every little stray hair shows like crazy and since she was moving the hair obviously moved and had to be put back into place on each take. That wasn’t fun. However, the final results were worth the effort.

Article title taken from the song “Living on Video” by Trans X

NOTE: This was shot – and this article written – clear back in 2010 when shooting in high definition, and on a RED camera were new. Needless to say things have changed a lot since then. The makeup looks great tho. I could totally see this as a perfume ad lol…

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