To accurately determine your coloring, it is essential to provide properly taken test materials.
The higher the quality of your photos, the more precise your result will be.
The higher the quality of your photos, the more precise your result will be.
STYLIST LIDA SAVA
FACE PHOTO WITH A WHITE A4 SHEET
Color Photos Guide
Required materials:
- A face photo with a white A4 sheet
- Draping photos
- A close-up photo of your eyes with a white A4 sheet
- Real-life photos
Lighting. Use natural light — but no direct sunlight. The light should be soft and diffused (a bit cloudy morning works best).
Stand facing a window.
The photographer should position the camera close to the window glass (where the light comes from), making sure that neither the camera nor the photographer casts shadows on your face or the A4 sheet.
Any window is suitable except a south-facing one (unless it is a cloudy day).
Turn off all artificial lighting — even if it is not visible in the frame, including lights in other rooms, as the camera still registers it.
Stand facing a window.
The photographer should position the camera close to the window glass (where the light comes from), making sure that neither the camera nor the photographer casts shadows on your face or the A4 sheet.
Any window is suitable except a south-facing one (unless it is a cloudy day).
Turn off all artificial lighting — even if it is not visible in the frame, including lights in other rooms, as the camera still registers it.
1.
White sheet. The sheet must be a plain white A4 sheet.
Do not replace it with fabric or any other material.
No text or markings even on the backside of the sheet, because it may make it greyish as a result.
Do not replace it with fabric or any other material.
No text or markings even on the backside of the sheet, because it may make it greyish as a result.
2.
How to hold the sheet. Hold the sheet slightly below your chin, facing the camera, in the same plane as your face.
If you slightly tilt your head upward toward the light, adjust the sheet accordingly so it remains in the same plane.
I use the sheet to assess the quality of light falling on your face.
If the sheet does not appear clearly white in the photo, this indicates incorrect lighting — the photo will need to be retaken.
– Keep the sheet flat (do not bend it)
– At least 90% of the sheet must be visible in the frame
– Do not shoot from too far away — the interior should not be visible; you must be close to the camera
If you slightly tilt your head upward toward the light, adjust the sheet accordingly so it remains in the same plane.
I use the sheet to assess the quality of light falling on your face.
If the sheet does not appear clearly white in the photo, this indicates incorrect lighting — the photo will need to be retaken.
– Keep the sheet flat (do not bend it)
– At least 90% of the sheet must be visible in the frame
– Do not shoot from too far away — the interior should not be visible; you must be close to the camera
3.
Photo quality check. Zoom into your photo.
The photo will be suitable for analysis if I can clearly see:
– skin pores
– individual eyebrow and eyelash hairs
The image must not be blurry, soft, or hazy.
The photo will be suitable for analysis if I can clearly see:
– skin pores
– individual eyebrow and eyelash hairs
The image must not be blurry, soft, or hazy.
4.
Position relative to light. The photo must be taken facing the light directly.
Side or top lighting is not acceptable.
Make sure there are no shadows on the face:
– under the brows
– along the sides of the nose
– under the cheekbones
Shadows create false lines and distort the analysis.
Side or top lighting is not acceptable.
Make sure there are no shadows on the face:
– under the brows
– along the sides of the nose
– under the cheekbones
Shadows create false lines and distort the analysis.
5.
No flash. Flash must be turned off.
Even if it seems harmless, it still affects the result.
Even if it seems harmless, it still affects the result.
6.
Hair. Ideally, your natural hair should be grown out by at least 3 cm.
If this is not possible, or if your hair is mostly gray:
– pull your hair smoothly back away from the face
Also include a past photo that meets the same requirements as a test photo (natural lighting, natural hair, brows, lashes, no permanent makeup or with minimal makeup).
If your hair is currently natural:
– remove it from the face
– lift slightly at the roots
– ensure it is lit by the same light as your face (not in shadow)
Do not cover your hair with a towel.
If this is not possible, or if your hair is mostly gray:
– pull your hair smoothly back away from the face
Also include a past photo that meets the same requirements as a test photo (natural lighting, natural hair, brows, lashes, no permanent makeup or with minimal makeup).
If your hair is currently natural:
– remove it from the face
– lift slightly at the roots
– ensure it is lit by the same light as your face (not in shadow)
Do not cover your hair with a towel.
7.
Face – makeup & permanent makeup. The photo must be taken without makeup.
Cleanse thoroughly — including any residue between the lashes, as it affects contrast.
Wait until your skin tone returns to its natural state.
If you have permanent makeup, carefully neutralize it using foundation or powder to match your natural skin tone.
Cleanse thoroughly — including any residue between the lashes, as it affects contrast.
Wait until your skin tone returns to its natural state.
If you have permanent makeup, carefully neutralize it using foundation or powder to match your natural skin tone.
8.
Clothing. Your clothing must not be visible in the frame, as it will reflect color onto your face.
Ideally, you should be bare-shouldered.
The A4 sheet will cover your body, so no color interference will occur.
Ideally, you should be bare-shouldered.
The A4 sheet will cover your body, so no color interference will occur.
9.
Eyes. Your eyes must be fully open, so that the eye color is clearly visible. Your facial expression is not important for this analysis. You may open your eyes wider than usual if needed.
What matters is that your expression does not create shadows, and that all the natural tones of your features are clearly visible and evenly lit in the picture.
What matters is that your expression does not create shadows, and that all the natural tones of your features are clearly visible and evenly lit in the picture.
10.
Neutral background. A calm, non-bright background is required.
If you follow the setup described in point 1, the correct result should be a dim, muted room in the background — with no bright spots.
Ideally, the background should appear white, gray, or in other neutral tones.
Please do not place a curtain behind you.
It will interact with the color of your face and distort the analysis.
(A plain curtain without folds may be used for beauty type photos, where color is not relevant — only lines matter.)
If you follow the setup described in point 1, the correct result should be a dim, muted room in the background — with no bright spots.
Ideally, the background should appear white, gray, or in other neutral tones.
Please do not place a curtain behind you.
It will interact with the color of your face and distort the analysis.
(A plain curtain without folds may be used for beauty type photos, where color is not relevant — only lines matter.)
11.
Number of photos. Prepare several shots with the white sheet and several close-up eye photos.
Do not select the photos yourself — please send all of them.
I evaluate specific criteria that may not be obvious.
Do not select the photos yourself — please send all of them.
I evaluate specific criteria that may not be obvious.
12.
Phone camera. If you are using a phone:
– use only the rear camera (not selfie mode)
– clean the lens carefully from dust and fingerprints to ensure image quality
– use only the rear camera (not selfie mode)
– clean the lens carefully from dust and fingerprints to ensure image quality
13.
DRAPING PHOTOS
Immediately after taking the photo with the white sheet, take photos in the same position and same light using drapings.
Drapings can be:
– plain, solid-colored fabrics, no prints (check your husband/children’s wardrobes as well for more colors)
– towels
– bed sheets
– fabric pieces in different colors
They should be placed over your shoulders from the front, covering the chest and shoulders, but not touching the chin.
All requirements listed above for the white-sheet photo apply here as well.
Try to include a wide range of colors:
– warm and cool
– bright and dusty
– light and dark
Take 30–50 draping photos — the more, the better, but quality is key.
Drapings can be:
– plain, solid-colored fabrics, no prints (check your husband/children’s wardrobes as well for more colors)
– towels
– bed sheets
– fabric pieces in different colors
They should be placed over your shoulders from the front, covering the chest and shoulders, but not touching the chin.
All requirements listed above for the white-sheet photo apply here as well.
Try to include a wide range of colors:
– warm and cool
– bright and dusty
– light and dark
Take 30–50 draping photos — the more, the better, but quality is key.
EYE PHOTO WITH A WHITE A4 SHEET
The photo must be taken as close as possible, so that the following are clearly visible:
– eyebrows
– eyelashes
– iris
– eyebrows
– eyelashes
– iris
REAL-LIFE PHOTOS
Your selection must include:
photos in clothing of different colors
photos from your youth
All photos must be without sunglasses or headwear.
photos with natural hair, eyebrow, and eyelash color
photos without permanent makeup (if you currently have it)
Total number of real-life photos: approximately 30
