The Ultimate Beauty Industry Brand Shoot Guide
A successful brand shoot for your beauty business should showcase more than just headshots—it should highlight your artistry, expertise, client experience, and the ambiance of your space. Whether you’re a salon owner, makeup artist, hair stylist, wax specialist, or spa owner, this guide will help you create a diverse and powerful image library for marketing, social media, and your website.
Location Planning
The setting of your shoot plays a crucial role in telling your brand’s story. Consider:
Your Studio/Salon/Spa – Capture the reception area, treatment stations, styling chairs, and product display shelves.
Photography Studio – Often the best choice for most industries, a studio offers great natural lighting, minimal distractions, and a neutral backdrop that keeps the focus on you and your brand.
SALON EXAMPLE
PROPS
To ensure variety and depth in your photos, pack these essential items:
To ensure a well-rounded shoot, pack these must-have items:
Service & Treatment Tools – Brushes, makeup palettes, curling irons, wax pots, skincare tools, tweezers, massage oils, towels, etc.
Branded Products – Packaged and unpackaged retail products like skincare, haircare, and cosmetics.
Tech & Booking Tools – Laptops, phones, appointment books, tablets, or POS systems.
Marketing Materials – Brochures, business cards, branded packaging, and signage.
A Model – Someone who represents your ideal client to stage consultations and services.
WARDROBE
Wardrobe & Styling Tips
Your team’s wardrobe should reflect your brand’s professionalism and personality. Keep these guidelines in mind:
Make sure your outfit(s) for the shoot hits exactly the brand identity and personality we have strategically developed. (casual, luxury, authentic, cheerful, etc.)
Your brand's colour palette is your reference for choosing “on brand” outfits, props, studio, etc.
Professional Yet Approachable – If you wear uniforms, ensure they are clean and wrinkle-free.
Simple Accessories & Clean Grooming – Avoid loud patterns or excessive jewelry to keep the focus on your expertise.
Well-Styled Hair & Makeup – Reflect the beauty industry standard with polished yet natural looks.
Ensure your clothes are free of wrinkles, stains and marks.
SHOT LIST
Must-Have Shots
A variety of shots will ensure your brand is well-represented across all platforms:
Client Experience & Interaction
Greeting a client at reception
Consulting with a client on beauty goals
Applying makeup, styling hair, waxing, or performing a facial/massage
A client reviewing their reflection after a service
Service & Treatment Delivery
Action shots of hair styling, makeup application, skincare treatments, massage, or waxing
Close-ups of tools in use (brushes blending foundation, scissors trimming hair, wax being applied, etc.)
Before-and-after transformations (with client consent)
Environment & Branding
Reception and treatment areas styled beautifully
Product shelves, workstations, and decor elements
Flat-lay images of tools and branded packaging
Team & Brand Personality
Candid moments between team members
A professional yet relaxed team photo
Behind-the-scenes moments preparing for a service
Pro Tips for a Flawless Shoot
Declutter Your Space – Ensure all areas are clean, styled, and free of distractions.
Plan a Shot List with Your Photographer – Communicate your brand’s goals and must-have images.
Utilize Soft, Natural Lighting – Position treatments and styling areas near windows if possible.
Capture Versatile Images – Shoot in multiple angles and formats for website, social media, and print materials.
Pinterest is an amazing resource for inspiration when planning your shoot. Take a peek at our board here and we encourage you to create your own.
WHO TO HIRE
When selecting a photographer please ensure the following;
They are a BRAND photographer
Their approach to shooting matches with the location of choice (ex. if they are a natural light photogapher does your location have natural light?)
You have reviewed their portfolio and their style matches your brand
Do not worry if they aren’t available “asap” - we would prefer you wait for quality vs picking based on availability
Want to run your options by us? We would be happy to take a look and provide our feedback!
NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Capture both vertical and horizontal images (your client requires all orientations for their marketing)
Capture all the types of shots listed above (not all headshots!)
Marketing will require various shots, angles, close ups, etc. (variety is key)
Save the files the client business name (ie. My Wolf Design not: “MWD”, “image12345”)
Images for web use should be no bigger than 10MB
Providing client with both High res at 3600px and up and web size at 1024px is critical
Please share with the client expected final file delivery timeline
Please ensure number of edits are adequate to complete the project (shot amounts provided in this guide)
