Personal Branding Photography for MUAs

Strong imagery plays a powerful role in how makeup is experienced, shared, and remembered. In this advanced module, photographer and makeup artist Nolene de Jager introduces you to the fundamentals of photography and shows how this knowledge can be combined with your makeup skills to create cohesive, visually engaging images.

You’ll explore how makeup, lighting, composition, and camera settings work together, while also learning how photography supports personal branding and visual storytelling. This module is designed to help you better understand how your work is captured and presented, giving you greater creative control over the images you produce and share.

Advanced Module: Personal Branding Photography for MUAs

Understanding How Makeup Is Seen Through the Lens

Makeup does not exist in isolation. The way it is photographed can dramatically change how color, texture, and detail are perceived. This module helps you understand how photographic choices influence the final image, allowing you to make more informed creative decisions.

You’ll learn the basics of photography, including lighting, angles, camera settings, and image composition, alongside planning tools such as mood boards, shot lists, and call sheets. You’ll also explore how consistency in imagery supports a clear visual identity across portfolios and social platforms.

Whether your goal is to improve the quality of your images, better document your work, or explore personal branding in a creative way, this module supports growth through practical learning and applied technique.

Three portraits showing different lighting conditions

Module Topics

In this module, we will cover the following topics and beyond:

About the Author : Nolene De Jager
Course Introduction
Makeup
The Importance of Consistency
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Recreate Looks From Your Makeup Heroes
Practicing On Friends and Family
Create Face Charts
Photography
Introduction to Photography
Photography Basics
Foundational Rules of Photography
Rule of Thirds
Backgrounds
Angles
Photo Lighting
Light Temperature
Lumens
Soft Light vs Hard Light
Natural Light
Artificial Light
Catchlight
Camera Theory
Aperture
Shutter Speed
ISO

Different Types of Cameras
Image Theory
Pixels
Image Editing
Filters vs Presets
Building Cohesive Social Media Feeds
Planning a Photoshoot
Inspiration/Style/Mood Boards
Call Sheets
Shot List
Checklist
Finding a Location
Social Media and Building
Your Personal Brand
Social Media
Personal Brand
Target Audience
Platforms
Social Media Algorithms
Let’s Summarise!
Portfolio
Portfolio and Social Media
Building a Professional Portfolio
Conclusion
Assignment

Module Outcomes

By completing the Personal Branding Photography for MUAs Advanced Module, you will be able to:

Understand core photography principles, including lighting, composition, angles, and camera settings.
Recognize how makeup translates on camera and how photographic choices affect the final image.
Plan a photoshoot using tools such as mood boards, call sheets, and shot lists.
Create cohesive imagery that reflects a consistent visual style.
Apply basic image editing techniques while maintaining the integrity of the makeup.
Explore how photography supports personal branding and visual storytelling.
Build confidence in creating and selecting images that represent your creative approach.
Develop greater awareness of how makeup, photography, and presentation work together.

Ready to Explore Photography and Personal Branding?

The Personal Branding Photography for MUAs Advanced Module is available exclusively to students enrolled in our Professional Makeup Artistry Course and includes a dedicated tutor and a six-month course extension.

If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of photography, refine how your makeup work is captured, and explore ways to present your artistry more intentionally, this advanced module offers a valuable opportunity to expand both your technical knowledge and creative perspective.