If you’re going to have your picture taken for an important occasion (a prom, your debutant ball, your wedding, etc.),  you’ll want your make-up to enhance your features for posterity.

Have you ever seen yourself in a picture and think that your face looks twice as wide as you know that it is? Why does this happen?

First and foremost, cameras cannot see shapes. Cameras perceive shapes based on contours, due to light and shadow and color differential.

Make-up can make a difference.

The easiest rule to follow is: light brings forward and dark moves back.

If you wish your face to look thinner, the outer sides (not the top, as you’ll make your face appear cut off and more rounded) of your face must be darker than the center (the camera doesn’t need a huge differential. Unless you’re having a still portrait taken, you’ll need to look good in person). The easiest way to achieve this is by using a powder with a brush that’s two or three shades darker than your natural color.

If you have more chin than you’d like, start at the center (under your chin) and pull the brush back toward your jaw line on both sides until the desired effect is achieved (you’ll be surprised by how dark you can make this area while still looking natural in most lighting).

Your eyes are the hardest, but if you’re reading this post you’re probably a make-up maven and already do a pretty good job. Basically, it’s the same as everywhere else. If you want the ball of your lid to look bigger, it needs to be lighter. If you want your brow bone to recede, it must be darker. If the opposite is true, do the reverse.

a bit extreme, but you get the point

Here’s some fun tips from:

• PopPhoto – Celeb examples
• MakeupandBeauty – Your DMV License