Jessica Frost Promote your services and track client progress with great before and after photos.
It’s true when they say a picture is worth a thousand words, especially when it comes to the world of aesthetics. There’s nothing quite as powerful as a great before and after image to show off your skills and with social media playing such an important part in marketing your business, professional looking images can quickly set you apart. Luckily, it’s not hard or expensive to improve the quality of your images.
Keep it consistent
Discuss a formula with your team and ensure everyone is on the same page in order to keep all before and after photos consistent across the business. It’s a good idea to have this written down with visual examples to help guide your team.
The Background
A plain black background (or blue for surgical treatments) tends to be the best choice for highlighting details in your before and after images. A black banner stand is only a small investment and shouldn’t take up too much space in your treatment rooms to be used when taking images. If that’s not feasible, at least try to find a blank background that’s a solid colour.
The Angles
You should discuss with your team which angles are required and take these for every client, even if particular angles won’t show the results of the treatment. We’d recommend taking at least five different angles; a left and right profile, a left and right oblique (roughly 45 degrees), and an image looking straight on into the camera. Don’t try to emphasise the results of your treatment by changing the perspective.
The Labelling
It’s best practice to collate all before and after images your team take into a group folder so they don’t get lost in the scroll of your iPhone photo library. And consistency in the way your photos are labelled is important too. Make sure you’ve got the client’s name, the treatment performed and the dates each photo was taken.
Keep it simple
It can feel misleading if your client has a bare face in one image and a full face of makeup in another. Similarly, wearing surgical underwear in a before image and a flattering swimsuit in the after can look like you’re trying to stage the results. So, it’s best to strip back your client and keep things simple. Ask your client to remove their makeup, avoid any big accessories and wear the same garments in any before and after images. It’s also a good idea to always wear long hair tied back and never put filters over images before uploading them to social media.
Always prioritise the client’s comfort
Having before and after photos is undoubtedly valuable however not every client will feel comfortable having their photos taken, so make sure they never feel pressured. For ultimate comfort, ensure you have a private area to take the images, especially if the client is having to take their clothes off.
You’ll also need to ensure you’re always getting consent from a client for their image to be used. Consider that some clients may be comfortable having their image taken to keep on their file but not used for promotional purposes like social media. So, be sure to explain the difference and ensure you’re on the same page as your clients.
Consider professional equipment
Before and after images can be a really powerful marketing tool for your business to both retain and attract clients so it’s worth considering investing in professional equipment to really show off your skills.
Clinical Imaging is a great example of an innovative system that makes it easy to produce professional before and after photos in your clinic or practice. Everything from pre-set cameras, positioning props, filters including redness and melanin filters, cloud storage and extensive training will make it easy for anyone on your team to get great images.
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