On makeup and beauty pagents

[conuly]

I have no opinion on beauty pagents for children. My gut feeling is that if the parents aren't forcing the kid into it, or sacrificing their education/friends/family for it, there's no problem. But I'm open to discussion.

However, if you're going to complain, please stop complaining about the makeup. Yes, I *know* that when you see a little girl with that much makeup on, you think it looks like they're forcing the kid to grow up. Yes, I know you associate that sort of makeup with prostitution and sex and what else. But you're seeing a kid with natural lighting, close up. You're not seeing that same kid when they're up on stage and you're in the audience. The sort of makeup that looks overdone in real life is barely visible when you get up on stage - and it's just enough to make you noticeable to the people in the back row. For real life, it's a lot of makeup. For stage? It's nothing. Once you're under those lights, it all fades away. No, really. Find something else to complain about.

Comments

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

What about when you are looking at when they have portraits done? The lighting should work similar to stage lighting, or the parents/MUA should adjust accordingly.

When they have too much for a photo taken by a professional, they have too much makeup on.

[stejcruetekie.livejournal.com]

That's not quite accurate. The point of makeup on stage is to project features over a distance. Portrait shots are up close, so you really don't need near as much makeup.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

But what I am trying to say is if they are having portraits/headshots done, why are they overly made up?

[conuly]

My feeling is that 1. often the photos are taken right before or after a pagent, and parents feel it's easier to put the makeup on before the photo/not take it off and 2. once you start doing that, it's easier to be consistent if the makeup's always on in those portraits.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I'd have to see a pagent live, I suppose, but it just doesn't sit right with me, from a technical standpoint as far as photos go.

And wouldnt you want your kid to look good in the headshots?

I suppose it could be worse, could be the like the photos on some of those 'little girl model' sites. Those look really creepy and the kids sometimes look drugged or SOMETHING.

[conuly]

I don't know from beauty pagents, but I remember our dance recitals, and skating. Jenn, of course, is insanely pale, but even so, you wouldn't *believe* the amount of makeup you put on to just look *normal* when you're up on stage. (Jenn notwithstanding, even people with non-plaster skin need to put on tons of makeup.)

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I have a vague idea, from when I thought it would be fun to be in a band for a couple of months. :D

But I also know how much lighting is used (in at least some circumstances) by professional photographers, and that to look that heavy and actually have prints made, with no one saying 'hey, wait a minute' is odd.

It's funny too, just looked at a friend's LJ and he has a closeup shot from a runway show he shot, and while the special effects makeup (there was a theme to the show) was bright, the regular eye/cheek/lips looked ok.

Of course they're older so it probably doesn't look that bad anyways.

He also does a lot of before/after show candids, of them getting made up, etc. Besides learning a hell of a lot from him on the technical side (although I can't see myself getting into portraits), I like the behind the scenes look at fashion shows.

Way to drift a thread, kibbles!

[divabat.livejournal.com]

I had potraits done and I had TONS of makeup on. The lights used are REALLY BRIGHT and if there isn't enough makeup on, the person looks really washed out and pale.

The makeup isn't that noticeable when the photos are done.

[divabat.livejournal.com]

And oh, I have medium brown skin.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

But it is noticed on the portraits of these pagent kids, so I do think they ARE trying to make the kids look like that.

I'm a photographer, I may not make a lot of money off it yet, but I do know that they use a lot of lighting, often, and it does wash you out.