[Haleyy]

Hi,
I’m new to cameras and photography in general, and a salesman suggested I start with the K-50. I’m wondering if it has a skin smoothing feature and if so how do I use it? I am really only looking to take photos of makeup, as I am a makeup artist, and skin smoothing looks best when showing off eye makeup in photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[parinya-ekparinya]

Hi,
I’m new to cameras and photography in general, and a salesman suggested I start with the K-50. I’m wondering if it has a skin smoothing feature and if so how do I use it? I am really only looking to take photos of makeup, as I am a makeup artist, and skin smoothing looks best when showing off eye makeup in photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

There is no built-in skin smoothing feature on Pentax K-50. There are options like 'Clarity' and 'Skin Tone' that you could use to enhance skin on Pentax K-70 or Pentax KP.
I would not recommend you to choose Pentax if you are looking for the automatically skin smoothing feature. Smartphone cameras are good at that kind of things in many cases. If you are looking for an interchangeable lens camera, you may have a look at Fujifilm X-A5. Above all, I would highly recommend you to learn how to post-process and retouch the photos; there is the learning curve, of course.

[K1N8]

It's a software/ post processing feature, so the camera hardware doesn't really matter. Very few cameras will have that build in.

Have a look at the Google Snapseed app, for an easy and free option that works with any photo. The portrait tool comes with skin smoothing.

[Not a Number]

You can do it in post-processing (search for dozens of tutorials on this) or you can try the old school method of using a diffusion filter on the lens.

Cokin X-Pro 083 Diffuser 1 Resin Filter CX830 B&H Photo Video

[clackers]

Hi,
I’m new to cameras and photography in general, and a salesman suggested I start with the K-50. I’m wondering if it has a skin smoothing feature and if so how do I use it? I am really only looking to take photos of makeup, as I am a makeup artist, and skin smoothing looks best when showing off eye makeup in photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You want to use postprocessing to do this, Haleyy, because you want to choose the eyes, lips and hair to be very sharp, and the skin to be smoothed. Welcome to modern photography, you'll spend more time at the computer than behind the camera. And yes, it's what the pros whose photos you admire do. Or their employees do, if they're wealthy enough.

[Haleyy]

Thanks everyone! You’ve been so helpful!

[Billk]

Don't assume you always want to sharpen eyes and soften skin. If you shoot for sharp eyes, they usually don't need anything done in PP. Also, don't assume you always want to soften skin. A professional makeup job will usually mean very little needs doing in PP.

Check out Anita Sadowska's videos on youtube on fashion retouches.

My photography teacher, Peter Coulson, has website tutorials (subscriber ones unfortunately) on his techniques. He is very anti the usual defocussing techniques for skin smoothing and uses dodge and burn techniques instead. Those are very important for no make-up fashion looks. You can see the results on his main (free) webpage peter-coulson.come.au

[clackers]

Don't assume you always want to sharpen eyes and soften skin. If you shoot for sharp eyes, they usually don't need anything done in PP. Also, don't assume you always want to soften skin. A professional makeup job will usually mean very little needs doing in PP.

Check out Anita Sadowska's videos on youtube on fashion retouches.

My photography teacher, Peter Coulson, has website tutorials (subscriber ones unfortunately) on his techniques. He is very anti the usual defocussing techniques for skin smoothing and uses dodge and burn techniques instead. Those are very important for no make-up fashion looks. You can see the results on his main (free) webpage peter-coulson.come.au

Peter Coulson has a hair-makeup page and I'd say they're all post-processed, Bill.

To see what the industry expects, Google the terms 'makeup photography' and look at the Images results.

Here's a shot I did using the Pentax DFA 50mm f2.8 Macro for sharpness. Headpiece created for the occasion, as well as a paper wedding dress!