8 Tips to Great Before and After Photos for Your Salon

Ask Your Clients Permission

This is a given. Before taking a photo of a client of any kind, be sure to ask them permission to do so.

Keep the Focus on the Hair 

When capturing a before and after shot, the emphasis should be on the hair and nothing else. For example, if the client has a bright and distracting pattern on their shirt, it might be best to take the transformation photo with the salon gown still on. Likewise, consider your background. Is there clutter at your workstation? Can other clients/stylists be seen? If so, either clean what is in sight or relocate to a quieter space. An idea to stay consistent is keeping the same background in all of your before and after photos. Doing this can build your brand and create a consistent aesthetic.

Don’t Be Afraid of Extra Styling 

Sometimes a photo of the immediate results doesn’t do the transformation justice. If this is the case, don’t be afraid of spending a little extra time spicing up the styling. Whether it’s adding a product for texture or curling a few loose strands, the additional effort will pay off in the photos and highlight the significance of the transformation.

Find the Best Lighting

The top two rules of capturing quality lighting in your transformation photo? No flash and no filters. It’s crucial to find the best lighting, whether it be artificial lighting underneath your station or closer to a window where there is the right amount of natural light. Flash can add shadowing to your photos and if you’ve found the perfect lighting, it isn’t necessary. A filter also isn’t necessary, as it gives the wrong impression of what the transformation actually is. This can easily deceive clients and seem unprofessional.

Take Advantage of Your Time by Considering Angles

You only get one shot at snapping a photo of your clients before their look changes.  Knowing this, make sure that you catch all of the angles you can. After all is said and done, you’ll be able to sort through them and choose which angles capture the transformation best. For a more impressive comparison, choose a before and after photo of your client that was taken at the same angle. If the hair is the only change, there will be a more impactful contrast between the two photos.

Be Sure Your Client Is Happy With Their Look

If you’re taking our advice and capturing multiple angles of your clients’ transformation, then more than likely you’ll have at least one set of photos that include their face. If this is the case, make sure that your client appears pleased with the results. A full grin isn’t totally necessary, but something other than a frown or straight face will go a long way. The process in itself should be a fun experience, so it shouldn’t be difficult to capture a genuine smile.

Capture What’s Trending

It is highly unlikely that you’ll have the time to capture every great transformation that happens in your salon. Not only are you looking to capture the most impressive transformations, but also the ones that are going to spark the most interest. What are the current trends? If a certain style, cut, or color is trending now, capturing photos that show your salon can do it will draw potential clients in.

Before and After Photos Improve Your Portfolio

While the photos being taken are intended for sharing on your salon’s website, social media platforms, etc., you’re also creating your own styling portfolio. Whether you are a stylist or strictly a salon owner capturing photos of your stylist’s work, having a personal or business portfolio is beneficial for everyone involved.

Before and After Photos Showcase Your Services

Before and after photos don’t just highlight what a big difference you created for a client, they demonstrate what your stylist/salon is capable of doing. If a potential client is researching where to get a certain look, and they come across photos where your salon has done it well, then you’ve more than likely gained a new client.

Before and After Photos Make Great Reference Tools

Similarly to showcasing your services, before and after photos serve as great references. If there has ever been a conversation with a client where you’ve pulled up a photo from the web, or they’ve brought one up themselves to describe what they’re looking for, then you understand how useful your salon’s own photos can be.

Before and After Photos Show a Client What’s Possible

Sometimes a client doesn’t know what they’re looking for until it’s right in front of them. They also might be unable to visualize what transformation their own hair could have. A before and after photo is a great example of putting an image into someone’s mind and showing them what is possible.