Salon Photoshoot Ideas: A Step-By-Step Guide to Planning a Brand Photoshoot

Are you ready to take your salon website to the next level? A great way to make a lasting impression on potential clients is through stunning brand photos. But where do you start? Planning a brand photoshoot for your salon can seem overwhelming. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide full of salon photoshoot ideas that will help you create an unforgettable experience and capture beautiful images that showcase your unique style, personality, and essence of your salon experience. So hire a photographer, round up some models, and let’s get started!

Step 1: Gathering Inspirations for Your Photoshoot

When it comes to planning a brand photoshoot for your salon, the first step is always gathering inspiration. This can be done in a number of ways, but we recommend starting with a mood board. Your mood board should include a collection of images that capture the overall feel and aesthetic you want for your shoot. You can create a mood board by hand or use a tool like Pinterest. You’re welcome to use my pre-curated Pinterest Board “Photoshoot Ideas for Hair Salons & Stylists” as a starting point.

Really pay attention to how certain images make you feel. Are they moody, dark & mysterious? Are they bright, clean and cheery? Are they black & white with some grain edited into them? Notice the images you gravitate to that give off the closest vibes to the overall essence of your salon experience – both inside the salon, and online.

Be sure to pin ideas for the following sub-categories of your shoot:

• Hair model photos
• Casual, modern headshots
• Salon Stylist Team photos
• In-action/behind-the-chair photos
• Photos of your salon
• Detail shots

If you check out my pre-curated Pinterest Board, click the “To-Do’s” to see the pins organized into these categories. Feel free to do the same with your board!

Once you have your mood board full of salon photoshoot ideas, it’s time to start thinking about the specific details of your shoot. What kind of props do you need? Who will you recruit to model during your shoot? Outfits & colors…what will you and your models wear? Answering these questions will help you start to narrow down your vision and make the planning process much easier.

Step 2: Finding the Right Photographer for your Salon Brand Photoshoot

Now that you know what kind of photos you need, it’s time to start looking for a photographer! If you have any friends or family in the business, see if they have any recommendations. Once you have a few names, do some research on their portfolios and make sure their style matches what you’re looking for, based on your mood board.

When you’ve narrowed it down to a few photographers, reach out and give them a brief description of what you’re looking for. Ask to see examples of similar work they’ve done in the past and get a sense of their process. Once you find someone you click with, book them for your shoot!

BONUS TIP: Hire a videographer

If your budget allows, consider hiring a videographer to capture some video footage as well. Video is powerful! It not only helps to tell your story, but it will keep people sticking around on your website longer and accelerate your know–like–trust factor. And even better– you can use your video for reels and clips on social media as well… win-win!

Step 3: Choosing the Perfect Models

If you’re planning a photoshoot for your salon website, the next step is recruiting the perfect models. You already have a roster of ideal clientele to choose from to model, so here are a few things to keep in mind that will help you make the best choices.

First of all, you want to make sure your models represent the type of clientele you want to attract. Another important thing to consider is the hair and makeup style of your models. You want to make sure they complement the overall aesthetic of your salon. One model will do, but more models will help add extra dimension to your website and marketing, as you will be able to feature different hair techniques and specialties.

Finally, don’t forget that attitude is everything! The right model can make even the most simple outfit or hairstyle look amazing just by exuding confidence and personality. So take your time to find models who fit all of these criteria and you’ll be sure to end up with some stunning photos for your website.

Step 4: Picking Out Props and Accessories

After you’ve found the perfect photographer and mapped out the aesthetic of your salon’s brand photoshoot, it’s time to start thinking about props and accessories. What kind of items will help tell your salon’s story and convey the brand message you’re trying to communicate? Return to your salon photoshoot ideas Pinterest board and look closer at what is making your favorite images so eye-catching.

Some things to consider:

• Do you want to use any salon products in the photos? If so, make sure to have plenty on hand!
• What other props might help set the scene? A few well-placed flowers or some candles can go a long way.

Once you’ve gathered all of your props, it’s time to start setting up for your shoot! Play around with different arrangements until you find something that feels right. And don’t be afraid to get creative – sometimes the best photos are the ones that are a little bit unexpected.

Step 5: Planning your salon brand photoshoot shot list

Back in step one, you organized your Pinterest board into categories. Getting photos in each of these categories is essential to having a well-rounded toolkit of photos to use across your website and social media content. Break each category down and make a list of shots you want your photographer to capture under each category. This might be something your photographer includes, so just ask if it’s something they can help you with. Use the images on your Pinterest board for salon photoshoot ideas as you break down each shot idea.

Salon Photoshoot Shot List

• Hair model photos
• Standing straight on with hand in hair
• Casual, modern headshots
• Salon Stylist Team photos
• In-action/behind-the-chair photos
• Photos of your salon
• Detail shots

IMPORTANT: Capture both landscape AND portrait oriented images.

Please talk to your photographer in advance about being sure to capture plenty of both landscape and portrait images. Photographers tend to shoot more portrait (vertical) shots which is great for the mobile version of your website. But vertical photos do not translate well on the computer version of your website, as the screen is much wider. Trust me – you’ll want to have plenty of landscape photos to choose from, so be sure to tell your photographer this!

Step 6: Executing your salon brand photoshoot

After you’ve completed all of the steps above, it’s finally time to see your salon photoshoot ideas come to life in the photoshoot! Make sure you have everything ready and in place before the day of the shoot so that everything goes smoothly. This can be a stressful day, so make it special by hiring your makeup to be done, cranking your favorite playlist, ordering your favorite lunch, and scheduling a massage once the day’s over.

On the morning of the shoot, make sure to arrive early, clean and set up your salon according to the plan you made. If you’re doing a stylist shoot, make sure each station is set up with all of the products and tools you need. If you’re doing a model shoot, make sure your model is comfortable and has everything she needs.

Once everything is set up, it’s time to start shooting! Take your time and make sure to get a variety of shots. You can always edit and select the best ones later. And if you’re not happy with a shot, don’t be afraid to try again. The goal is to get a selection of great photos that you can use on your website and in your marketing materials.

In conclusion

Your website’s photos truly can make all the difference in whether or not your website achieves the ultimate vision you have in mind. And more importantly, they can make or break the success of your website investment. When planning a brand photoshoot for your salon, it’s important you are careful to follow all 6 steps to ensure you come away from the shoot thrilled with your photos. You will thank yourself later when your website comes together better than you ever imagined, with a vibe that feels spot-on to your salon’s aesthetic.