National Lipstick Day And You Thought It Was Just Red Lipstick

For National Lipstick Day, I thought I would look at lipstick from a photographer’s point of view.

We take lipstick color for granted. We see red lipstick and think, well, it is red. But at the professional level of photography, especially when photographing cosmetics and other products where color is part of what is being sold, “red” is nowhere near precise enough.

The color in the photograph has to accurately match the actual color created by the manufacturer. That means color accuracy becomes serious business.

It starts with lighting. The color temperature of the light needs to be known, consistent and reliable. Then there is white balance and comparison against a known color reference, like the color chart you see in my photograph. The monitor used for evaluating and retouching the image must also be properly calibrated so that what I am seeing is actually what the image contains.

And then there is the photographic equipment itself. The camera, sensor and lenses all contribute to how accurately and precisely color is recorded. At the professional level, image quality is not simply about sharpness. The quality and accuracy of the color palette matters too.

All of those pieces have to work together from the moment the photograph is shot through the final processed image.

And you thought it was just red lipstick.

You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com

Thank You!