Every woman is beautiful, even when she’s not wearing any makeup. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In other words, the way one perceives beauty is unique to each individual. If we leave aside the philosophical issue of aesthetics, there is no blanket definition of what beauty is and isn’t. Societal standards of beauty are constantly changing. This applies not only to our perception of beauty but also to the way it is portrayed in our photography. 

The standards of beauty that claimed people who are young, thin, wrinkle-free, wear makeup and trendy clothes are no longer valid and haven’t been for a long time. Beauty is natural and there is nothing more natural than a woman or man with wrinkles, no makeup, moles, or freckles, without any retouching to remove imperfections. 

Makeup as optional added value 

There’s nothing wrong with wearing makeup. It’s up to each individual whether they feel better with or without makeup. It’s each person’s personal decision to. The important thing is that they wear makeup for themselves and not to fit in with societal standards or the desires of their partner.  

No one should ever be afraid to step in front of a camera as they are. 

In photography, complete and honest reality is met with the need to retouch and correct the slightest flaws. Since we’re not used to seeing any flaws in photos, a little wrinkle or pimple can make us feel self-conscious. Don’t let yourself be fooled. Everyone has something they’re unhappy with that is not visible in photographs because of editing.  

Photographing women with no makeup

There are many forms of a person’s appearance and they may look better from certain angles than others. It’s our job as photographers to find the perfect angle that is most flattering for our model. And it doesn’t matter if she is wearing makeup or not.  

Besides camera angle, lighting is also incredibly important. The right lighting is especially important for makeup-free models. Lighting can help avoid unflattering shadows or darker areas around the eyes which are much more pronounced without makeup. And, as always, it’s all about how the model feels. Confident and happy women are radiant, content, and beautiful. 

If you decide to shoot a model completely natural, without any retouching or enhancements, make sure she feels comfortable and happy. Try making her laugh with a joke, because there is nothing more beautiful than a smile. 

To truly capture natural beauty, it’s important to overlook any flaws and not immediately think about what needs retouching and what doesn’t. If your model is make-up free, she probably wants to be and feels good that way. It’s important to take that into account. It may seem like a challenge at first, but it’s actually easier than you think.