Hair photography tips to transform your feed

Is your hair photography up to scratch? Do your photos make the incredible hair work you do each day stand out from the crowd?

Social platforms have become the go-to place to find new stylists and barbers, but people aren’t just looking for good reviews. They’re looking for pictures of happy faces and fabulous hair! So, it’s crucial your images shine.

We spoke to our Australasian Education Manager and talented photographer, Nichola Hand (check out her latest collection), to get some top-tips for Insta-fabulous photos. We’ve even selected a few gorgeous examples from our talented OCS stylists.

1. Lighting and backdrop

Lighting can make or break a photo. So first up you need to pick out your ‘go to’ spot in the Salon. The ideal place would be near a window. Natural light captures hair colour way better than salon ceiling lighting, which can be very warm.

If natural lighting is limited, you could invest in a ring light set up. If you have space, the biggest option (19”) is better. It will light your whole subject, without causing shadows. You can also buy a cool and warm bulb, which you can change to reflect the tones within the hair. They are generally reasonably priced.

A neutral background is also important! This will help your client and the colour stand out. Too much clutter will distract from the hair. Once you have chosen your spot, keep using it for continuity! It will make your Instagram feed look way more professional.

2. Phone vs camera

Camera quality in both iPhones and Androids is getting better and better. So, if you have either natural light or a ring light, and you’re only using your images for social media, the camera on modern phones is perfect.

If you want to produce higher quality images, potentially for your website, you might want to invest in an entry level DSLR. You can pick one up easily online. It doesn’t have to break the bank to do so, as you can pick-up second-hand equipment.

3. Posing your client

The most flattering angle is to slightly tilt your clients’ head down and ask them to look away from the camera. Remember to take multiple images, and change your angle slightly to give yourself more options.

When photographing the back of the hair, lower your camera so you’re slightly shooting up. This will give the image depth, especially for long hair.

4. How far away to take your photo

This depends on a number of factors – lighting, space and length of hair – but if possible, leave a decent amount of space around your client so you have the option to crop in later. If you take the image too close-up, you don’t give yourself the option to play and get the composition right when you’re designing and creating your social tile.

5. Composition

Look at what’s in your shot. Be mindful of anything in your frame that shouldn’t be there. Like something above your client’s head, or the corner of the wall, (e.g. air-con unit, radiator or a messy mixing bowl). If there is anything other than your client, it will detract away from the hair.

6. Cropping and editing.

Be careful not to over edit your image. You only really want to be balancing the lighting. Any more than that and you’re manipulating away from your colour. Avoid any kind of saturation or de-saturation as it will affect the whole image not just the hair.

You can easily edit the basics on your photo library app. But if you fancy getting creative, you can try out apps like Canva, Boomerang and Dipic. This can bring a different feel to your images, like adding borders, creating collages or adding text. You could also use iMovie to stich images together and create a video.

7. Keep practising! 

You may not become a photographer overnight, but if you keep at it, you’ll only get better!

Build hair photography into your client journey steps so you remember to snap every single one of your beautiful creations. Remember, just because you take a photo doesn’t mean you have to use it. But if you don’t take it, you won’t even have the option.

And don’t forget to tag your clients into your social posts! It’s a great way to encourage them to follow you on social media and share your posts on their pages, creating more publicity for you and your salon.

 

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