Over the years, clients have always found new ways to discover your salon. The phonebook days are gone, and people are now using Google and Facebook to find new places to help them look beautiful. Today, salons that succeed make sure they stand out online. In fact, one of the most important ways to capture a client’s attention now is to ensure your website, app and Facebook page have beautiful, vibrant salon photos to greet your online visitors.
The Art Of Taking The Perfect Salon Photo
I know it may sound obvious, but it is amazing just how many salons go through all the effort of making their business look lovely, only to then take terrible, unappealing salon photos to promote themselves online. With that in mind, today we are going to look into how to capture images that do your business justice.
Right away, the first word of advice I would give is to hire someone to take professional pictures of your business. It may be pricey, but those snaps will be one of the main appeals for new clients to come through your doors.
Related | How You Can Get 1,200 Salon Customers To Hate You (And Not Even Know About It)
What If Money Is An Issue?
Well then here is a great alternative. When I was in college, I bought myself a professional DSLR camera. To make some pocket money, I took freelance work as a photographer. But to get those gigs, I first went out and offered my services for free to local businesses. They received free, top quality photographs and in return, I had photos for my portfolio and referrals from businesses. This was so I could go to the next company with evidence of my work and get paid.
Pretty slick, huh? So long story short, what I would recommend is that you contact and try hiring someone from a local art college or an establishment for filmmakers and photographers.
What If You Want To Take Your Own Salon Photos?
Okay, so maybe you are more interested in doing it yourself. In that case, here are some key points to take on board.
Camera
You don’t have to use an expensive, fancy camera to take a lovely salon photo. These days, your phone’s camera has the capability to capture some great shots. Of course, if you know someone with a good camera, then definitely try to borrow it for a day.
Lighting
One of the main differences between a good and a bad photo is lighting. If you don’t want to rent professional lighting equipment, then I would recommend trying to use the windows and sunlight to your advantage.
One thing you should avoid is taking a photo with a window straight ahead. This will create shadows on your salon’s interior decor or blow out the windows. Either way, it’s not pleasant. Also, try to get rid of any unwanted, unattractive shadows with out-of-frame lamps and lights. This will ‘lift’ the image and make it more appealing to the client’s eye.
Related | 3 Photography Lighting Styles For Stunning Salon Portraits
Angle
Don’t just stand anywhere to take salon photos. Find the best spot to position yourself. Look at the layout of your salon; make it look inviting and warm.
Balanced
Keep the camera as balanced as possible. Crooked angles are off-putting.
Focus
The benefit of a nice camera is that you can add depth-of-field to your perfect salon photo. This means there are both crystal clear and blurry areas. This can help the viewer’s eye focus on a given area. Whether it be a service or retail, having one thing as the focal point can make an image look spectacular. These two images below are great examples of depth-0f-field:
Busy or Non-Busy
Some people like to take salon photos when they are at a busy time in their salon, showing clients the business’ popularity.
That’s one way of doing it. On the other hand, many people prefer to showcase their salon in a more peaceful, quiet way. The benefit of this salon photo style is that it is
(a) more controllable,
(b) easier on the eyes,
(c) more inviting to the viewer than looking at a place full of people.
For More Information…
For a more comprehensive look at the Do’s & Don’t of taking salon photos, check out this SlideShare:
In the end, it’s important to remember that each salon is different. Not all of these points will work together at once. When trying to take the perfect salon photo, look around the room, and with these points in mind, find the best possible way to capture your business’ vibe.
Also, if you’re interested in learning how to take control of how clients treat, react and rate your business online, why not sign up for the Phorest Academy ‘Online Reputation’ Masterclass? Click here to save your spot at the next webinar.
Sign Up To The Next Phorest Academy’s Online Reputation Webinar
Thanks for reading, and good luck!
#LetsGrow
