Investing in a good photographer for your wedding is not the only solution for photographs you'll treasure for ever. A picture does not lie. Blemishes, dark circles and an uneven lip line are apparent, even with the best photographer. You will be captured on film for eternity, so why not look your best? Relying on your own expertise may sometimes be a mistake if you don't normally wear makeup or understand different lighting situations. Why not look like the prettiest version of yourself on your wedding day?

The help of a professional makeup artist will help you reduce your stress level on your special day. Makeup artists who work regularly with photographers understand how colour and texture read on camera. Just for the record, the camera is red- and blue-sensitive, which means red blotches and a ruddy complexion are even redder in photos. A good foundation and concealer to tone down irregularities in skin pigmentation will help correct this. Sweat and perspiration are another issue. A sweaty brow will catch the flash and translate into a blank white spot that makes it difficult for a photographer to retouch. The solution is a good powder. Whether it's pressed or loose, it sets the foundation and keeps the makeup long lasting. If your skin is prone to be oily, blotting papers will help reduce the shine.

Whether your wedding is going to be photographed indoors or outdoors, day or evening, makeup plays a significant role according to the lighting situation. Daylight can make you look washed out if you are not wearing enough makeup, and wearing too much can look scary to your guests. In a lower light setting, makeup should be enhanced. Lighting is dimmer, so you want to accentuate your features a little more, without looking too dramatic.

Makeup should be long-lasting and waterproof. Tear-proof eye make-up such as waterproof mascara is essential, as is a long-lasting foundation. Keep a compact of pressed powder, lip colour and blush in a small, elegant bag that you or one of your attendants can carry.

Nothing is worse than feeling unlike yourself on your wedding day, so wear what makes you comfortable. A clean, fresh and radiant makeup looks best for a daytime wedding while a more dramatic glamour look suits a wedding after dark. Being "camera-ready" will produce more flattering and much more natural photographic results.

Lori Pinsky can be reached at ***.***-****, e-mail