Start with soft, natural light

Face a large window during daytime and turn off strong indoor lights. Direct sun creates hard shadows, while mixed daylight and warm bulbs can change the apparent undertone.

Choose bright but indirect light. If one side of the face is much darker, move farther from the window or face it more directly.

  • Avoid direct sunlight and strong shadow lines.
  • Avoid colored light from curtains, walls, or screens.
  • Use the same location and time window for every comparison.

Keep the camera consistent

Place the camera near eye level and keep a comfortable portrait distance. Very close wide-angle shots can distort the face, while automatic exposure may change if the background varies between photos.

Clean the lens, disable beauty filters, and use the standard camera mode unless the app guides you differently.

  • Keep the face centered and fully visible.
  • Use the same camera and lens for the full session.
  • Do not change exposure or white balance between swatches.

Reduce color interference

Pull brightly colored clothing away from the face or cover it with a neutral gray or off-white fabric. Keep the background simple. Heavy foundation, bronzer, vivid lipstick, colored contact lenses, or recently dyed hair close to the face can influence the comparison.

You do not need a perfect studio setup. The goal is consistency: let the changing swatch be the strongest color difference between images.

Review before submitting

Check that the image is sharp, evenly exposed, and free from filter effects. Make sure highlights are not blown out and shadows still contain detail.

Emma's guided photo session is designed to help keep these variables stable across the draping sequence. If the light changes significantly, repeat the affected photos rather than mixing two lighting conditions.

Questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a ring light?

Natural indirect daylight is preferable. If a ring light is the only option, use a neutral setting and keep its brightness and position unchanged for every photo.

Should I remove makeup?

Minimal or no makeup gives the clearest view of natural coloring, especially when comparing foundation, bronzer, blush, and lipstick tones.