My favourite blog posts are the ones where I actually get to make, build, or do stuff. So I knew that this was going to be a fun one. I decided to do a blog post about this not only because it’s fun, but because I believe that taking great pics of your work is what sets the top-level nail studios apart on social media.

It takes a little bit of time, but I truly believe that taking great pictures is one of the best things you can do for your marketing, your brand, and ultimately for growing your nail business.

Not only does it show your work in the best light, it also catches the eye of people scrolling on Instagram. Professional pictures give you a step up in looking polished, professional, and skilled.

So I put different techniques to the test to see what works best for photos. I tried different lighting styles, poses, cameras… I even made a lightbox (so much fun!)

In this blog post I’ll give you some tips and ideas to up your Instagram nail pic game, no matter what your level, and help you get noticed.

Oh, and by the way… pictures are very subjective. Everyone has their own style and preference. There is absolutely no wrong or right way to take photos. I hope you can see this post as inspiration and not a rulebook.

Okay, let’s dig in!



The misconception about nail pictures on Instagram



Facebook and Instagram are huge for building up a portfolio of your best work. Potential clients and current clients love getting inspired and wowed by your nails. I barely ever get my nails done, and I seriously can’t get enough of nailfies (is that a word?)

But I think that there is a misconception about the real purpose behind your nail work and pictures.

If you’re a salon looking to capture the eye of clients, you’re not competing with other nails techs. You’re not looking to show off a technique that other nail techs don’t know how to do.

The average person (aka potential client) just wants to see pretty pictures of nails. They probably don’t care much about the details that you obsess over.

The most important thing is to make your pictures relatable, high-quality, and consistent.

Relatable means this: your nail pics shouldn’t necessarily look like they were taken at a nail salon. Make them look like an everyday person who’s showing off their nails to their friends. Make them a little unique and different instead of your standard “nail salon pose”.

High-quality means this: Good lighting, good camera, good poses. In that order. If there is one thing I’ve learned about nail pictures from this blog post: lighting is EVERYTHING. After that it also helps to have a good camera and finally good poses.

Consistent means this: Especially on Instagram, you want all your photos to speak to your brand. When people see them, even without a watermark or your logo, they know it’s you. So take lots of pics and develop your own style and “trademark” when it comes to taking pictures.

I’ll cover more of these things going forward.



Lighting: the holy grail of awesome photos



If there is one single lesson I’ve learned it’s this: you need light, and lots of it. More light than you probably think you need.

Do not take pictures indoors without an extra source of light, whether that’s a window, a close lamp, or a ring light! Just don’t do it!

With that said, I thought I’d experiment with different types of lighting to see what effect it has on my pictures.



First I started with a simple camera flash: