How to Take Perfect Before and After Photos

Learning to take perfect before-and-after photos is crucial to showcase your work as a lash and brow artist. If you've created a stunning lash lift or brow tint, share it on social media to attract new clients. But capturing the right shot takes more than a quick snap. Let's explore tips for getting the best results.

HOW TO TAKE PERFECT BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS

Capturing perfect before-and-after photos highlights your skills and transforms your portfolio into a powerful marketing tool. With the proper techniques, you can showcase every detail of your lash tints, brow laminations, or eyelash dye and effortlessly attract new clients. Now, let's explore the steps for taking flawless shots.

1. FIND THE RIGHT LIGHT

The most important part of taking fantastic before and after photos is ensuring great lighting. Lighting can improve the quality of your images while also capturing the fine details of your work, including precise lash tints and professional brow makeup.

If you're in a space with poor lighting or excessive shadows, don't worry! Tools such as ring lights or selfie ring lights, which don't require much preparation and are relatively easy to use, can add picture-perfect lighting to any photo. Remember that there is such a thing as "too much lighting," so avoiding overexposure when taking your pictures is very important. If you own an iPhone, using the portrait feature on your camera is a great way to achieve optimum lighting.

2. USE A QUALITY CAMERA

Now that you've mastered the lighting, it's time to focus on using the right camera. Most modern smartphones, like iPhones or Samsung devices, offer high-resolution cameras that capture sharp, detailed before-and-after photos. If you're using an older phone or a device with a low-resolution camera, consider upgrading or investing in a good external camera to avoid blurry or unflattering shots.

Here's how to optimize the camera settings on popular smartphones:

For iPhone (12 and newer models):

Use the portrait mode for a beautifully blurred background and enhanced focus on your client's features.
Tap to focus on the lashes or brows to ensure they remain crisp and detailed.
Adjust exposure by sliding your finger up or down on the screen to prevent overexposure.

For Samsung (Galaxy S20 and newer models):

Switch to pro mode to manually control the focus, ISO, and exposure for greater clarity and depth.
Use the live focus mode for a background blur that highlights the details of your work.
Ensure you enable HDR for balanced lighting, especially if the room has mixed lighting conditions.

3. CHOOSE A NEUTRAL BACKGROUND

Opt for a clean and neutral background to keep the focus on the makeover. A neutral backdrop prevents visual clutter and will make your images appear more professional. Additionally, a neutral background helps to provide a consistent aesthetic, making both the before and after photos visually cohesive. With the viewer's attention directed toward your work, they'll be better able to appreciate your talent and attention to detail without any distractions.

Speaking of distractions, it's a good idea to make sure there aren't any stray lashes or brow hairs in the photos, which would result in a messy-looking photo. For this reason, asking some of your clients to pull their hair back (with a headband or hair tie) might be necessary.

4. USE TIGHT FRAMING

The focus should be on the client's eyebrows, so you don't need a full-body photo. Zoom in on their face — or even just the eyebrows alone — so the viewer can see the brows in detail. This will help highlight the eyebrows' texture and detail, especially if the treatment involves techniques like microblading, brow laminations, or lash enhancements using a professional lash lift kit.

If the client's eyes will be visible in the photo, ask them to keep their eyes open and to relax. A natural expression will appear more authentic in the final images, boosting the photos' appeal.

5. ANGLES MATTER

Finding the right angle is also significant for showcasing your work. When taking a before-and-after photo, you want to always take a few different images from different angles. Also, consider your client's eye shapes and facial structures. Some eye shapes and facial structures look better from various angles, so you want to take photos that flatter your client's face. For example:

Almond eyes: A slightly downward angle highlights their natural shape and elongates the lashes.
Round eyes: A head-on or slightly upward angle helps balance the proportions and showcase fuller lashes.
Hooded eyes: A side angle or slightly tilted head can emphasize lash extensions and open up the eye area.
Square face shapes: A slight tilt or side profile softens strong jawlines and highlights brow details.
Oval faces: Straight-on shots work well to capture symmetry and balance.

If you're having trouble determining which angle is best, consider starting with a close-up photo of the eyes, eyelashes, and brows. Close-up photos may be the best option for viewing the details of your work on clients who receive lash extensions or a lash lift, or even brow lamination or microblading. When in doubt, try multiple angles and get feedback from a trusted colleague.

6. AIM FOR CONSISTENCY

When taking before-and-after photos, it's best to take them from the same angles and distances and with the same lighting. This way, when showcasing your work on social media or to other professionals or potential clients, they can see how different your clients' brows and lashes look compared to the before pictures.

This uniformity also streamlines your editing process, making aligning and presenting the images easier. The goal is to offer an authentic snapshot of your client's transformation, allowing potential clients and followers to appreciate your skills and the positive impact on the client's appearance.

7. CREATE A TEMPLATE

Design a template that will show off the images in the best way possible. This could be as simple as two images side by side, or you might use a collage-style format that uses three or more images. Whatever you choose, please keep it simple and streamlined so the viewer isn't overwhelmed and can easily pick up on the changes between the two photos. A template will also make it easier to repeat the process for additional before and after pictures.

8. EDIT OUT UNNECESSARY ELEMENTS

Once you've captured the perfect photo, take a moment to edit out any distractions that draw attention away from your work. Use basic editing tools to crop out background clutter, adjust the lighting, and enhance the focus on key areas like their lashes or brows. Apps like Snapseed or Lightroom are excellent for fine-tuning, ensuring your before and after shots look clean, professional, and polished.

WHAT TO AVOID WHEN TAKING BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS

Even small mistakes can prevent you from capturing the true beauty of your work. Here are key mistakes to watch out for:

Poor lighting: Avoid dim or overly harsh lighting, which can distort colors and hide details.
Messy backgrounds: Cluttered or distracting backdrops take focus away from your work.
Over-editing: Excessive filters or retouching can make your photos look fake and untrustworthy.
Inconsistent angles: Different angles between the before and after shots can make your transformations unclear.
Forgetting consent: Always get written or verbal permission before taking and sharing photos of your clients.

TOOLS TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

If you want your before and after photos to look professional and eye-catching, having the right tools is a game-changer. Here are a few must-haves you'll want to keep on hand:

Ring lights or softbox lighting: These give you that perfect, even lighting without any harsh shadows ruining your shot.
Tripods: A steady shot is key! Use a tripod to keep your angles consistent and avoid any accidental blurriness.
Editing apps: Apps like Snapseed, Lightroom, or Facetune are your best friends for simple touch-ups and a polished finish.
Phone camera attachments: Macro lenses are excellent for getting those close-up shots of lashes or brows, ensuring you capture every detail.