7 Hair Photography Tips from A Professional Photographer
As a photographer, you may have overlooked the specialty fields that are beyond wedding and portrait photography. For instance, did you know that photographing hair is a real thing? Hair photography has become an independent field in which you need to sharpen your skill these days.
Many hairstylists, salons and hair product companies demand a standard set of photographs to promote their work. If you are considering venturing into this field, then you will likely be met with open arms once you establish your clientele.
Hair Photography Tips
To help you photograph hair like a professional, we have put together the top seven things to put in practice.
#1. Keep the photo’s background clean and simple.
Sometimes less is more; this is certainly the case when photographing someone’s beautiful locks. It’s crucial to make sure you don’t have a distracting background that will confuse and distract from the head of hair you are photographing. Opt for white or a lighter color and allow additional room for text/copy if it’s for a magazine.
Pro Tip: Shoot some horizontal and vertical orientation as it will provide flexibility to the client’s marketing strategy.
#2. Use your lens at maximum aperture for greater depth of field.
When looking at your lens, turn the aperture to the lowest number. Depending on the lens, the f-stop will appear as f/3.5, f/2.8 or f/1.4. When photographing in Aperture Priority, you maximize your depth of field. The effect focuses on one area while the other areas remain out of focus. Professional photographers strive for this look as it helps make the final image pop while focusing in on the interesting design elements.
#3. Create a striking look by using a backlight.
One of the simplest ways you can photograph someone’s hair is by taking advantage of a powerful light source. By positioning your model in between the light source and yourself, the light will backlight the hair. So, if you are wanting to create a natural look then using the sun at sunrise or sunset is an ideal time to take advantage of a backlit situation.
