A Primer on Nail Photography

Half the battle is great decoration, and the other half is a good photo.
Skill, talent, a great idea, time and effort devoted to perfecting every detail of the decoration, and finally, a dazzling result.Now just snap a photo and...All that work for nothing—the wrong colors, gray leather, flat embellishments.How can you showcase your skills and build a solid portfolio when the photos you've taken don't do justice to the actual, stunning results?? 

The basics of photography are like a good beauty product—essential.
Photography is a tool that allows you to showcase the results of your work not only to your client but also to a wider audience..Not to mention the ability to submit photos to contests or post them online. 

A bad photo can really hurt you.
What is visible in the photograph is subject to evaluation and criticism.Poor color, "unattractive hands," and a bad composition don't make for a good review, and no one will take into account that "in reality, the designs might actually be wonderful."..."

The basics of photography are essential for your profession.
They support your skills, offer opportunities for further growth, and give you the chance to achieve many successes.We've created this "Short Guide to Nail Art" just for you".

Here is a collection of basic rules and tips to keep in mind when photographing your nails.These aren't difficult rules, and you don't need an expensive, professional camera—you can apply them even if you have a regular, compact digital camera. Take a little time to practice them, and you'll quickly see how much they'll enhance your photos..

1.Camera
There are different types of cameras: digital SLR cameras, compact cameras, cell phone cameras, and many others.We'll focus on these three types.We advise against using cell phones right from the start—poor quality, blurry photos, or color distortions, which are usually beyond our control.

A digital SLR camera—when you have a good understanding of the ins and outs of photography—can deliver the best results: precise close-ups, white balance adjustments, the right depth of field, etc..However, this is quite expensive equipment, and you need to become thoroughly familiar with how to use it before taking photos.

A piece of equipment that almost everyone has is a standard point-and-shoot camera.For our purposes, it is important that it have an optical zoom and a macro mode (usually indicated by a tulip symbol).Besides, the more megapixels (MP or Mpx) your camera has, the better the photo quality..

Image stabilization is a very useful feature.Prevents blurring of photos caused by camera shake.
Image stabilization is turned on, but the photos are still blurry?It's worth investing in a tripod.For photographing nails, a small tabletop tripod may be sufficient—it costs around 20 zł.When folded, the tripod takes up very little space and is very lightweight, so you can easily take it with you when visiting a client.

2.Macro mode (tulip icon)
These days, almost all cameras have a macro mode.It allows you to take very close-up photos of small objects, such as fingernails.However, this mode isn't always necessary—a photo of the entire hand taken from a distance of a dozen or so to several dozen centimeters may not require this mode.In macro mode, photos have a very shallow depth of field.This means that all parts of the photo that are slightly farther away or closer than the point of focus will be out of focus.Therefore, in this mode, special attention should be paid to precise focusing.

3.Light: How to Get a True Purple?
What causes the colors in a photo to look distorted??This is influenced by the color temperature of the light.Depending on the type of light, we classify it as warm, neutral, or cool.Warm light is, for example, the light emitted by a standard incandescent bulb; cool light is, for example, the light from a fluorescent lamp; and neutral light (best for photography) is sunlight.Photos of nails taken under a desk lamp will therefore look significantly different from photos of nails taken in daylight.

Daylight best reproduces true colors and has another very important advantage—it is diffused.This means that the edges of the cast shadow are delicate and softened.In "auto" mode, most cameras automatically adjust their settings for this type of light.

If the colors appear distorted, it's a good idea to check whether the camera has a white balance setting.
In compact cameras, white balance settings usually offer four options.Daylight—sunshine, cloudy daylight—sunshine behind a cloud, incandescent bulb, and fluorescent light.There might also be a night mode, but we won't be using it.

When taking photos under artificial lighting—such as a desk lamp that emits yellow light—set the white balance to "incandescent.".When using this type of lighting, it's a good idea to illuminate your nails from two or even three sides.

Light sources commonly used in the home often have different color temperatures.You should make sure to use only one type of light—for example, only incandescent bulbs—otherwise, even with the correct camera settings, the colors will still be distorted..So remember that the best photos are taken in natural light, sunlight, or under professional studio lighting.

NOTE!Avoid using the built-in flash.
Flash flattens the image, creates glare and harsh shadows, overexposes the bright areas of the photo, and causes color distortion.
For those who insist on using a flash, we recommend covering it with something like a piece of breakfast paper, which will help diffuse the flash.
A light that is too close to your hand can also cause color shifts and overexposure in certain parts of the photo.

 

4.Focus
The focus should be on the most important element of the composition—the nails.The camera's autofocus should focus the photo properly on its own, but if it doesn't, it's a good idea to switch to manual mode if your camera has one.Focusing issues can also occur when the camera is too close to the subject (even in macro mode).One solution might be to move the camera farther away and, if necessary, use the zoom function.

 

5.The Background—So Inconsequential, Yet So Essential.
The purpose of the background is to highlight the character of the decoration being photographed, which is why choosing the right one is very important.

The background color has a significant impact on the colors of the hands, nails, and nail art.Light reflected from the background takes on its color and can cause discoloration in other parts of the photo.The background should therefore be chosen to complement the decoration.

Elaborate designs on an equally elaborate background won't look their best, as they will distract the viewer's attention from the nails themselves.It’s worth using the “contrast” method—rich decorations on a delicate, solid background, and a subtle, delicate design (such as a French manicure) on a bold, patterned background (such as a floral one)..

"Tłem" dla zdobienia są również ozdoby lub biżuteria trzymane przez modelkę - one również nie powinny być przypadkowe. Przedmioty trzymane przez modelkę mają bardzo ważną funkcję - dzięki nim można ukryć krzywe czy grube palce lub duże dłonie modelki.

The background should complement the design, so it’s worth giving it careful thought. 

6.Composition—Artistic Madness or the Beauty of Simplicity?
The composition is made up of all the elements of the photograph: the decoration, the positioning of the hands, the color and type of background, the framing, and the lighting.

The simplest composition is the central composition—the most important element of the photo is placed in the center of the frame.However, it may give the impression of being boring, banal, and static.However, this is not the only option.In photography, there is a very simple rule regarding focal points: if we draw two lines dividing the image vertically into three equal parts and two similar lines horizontally, the four "focal points" are located exactly where these lines intersect.".
By placing the most important element of the composition in one of the focal points, it is sure to catch the viewer's eye.

Maybe it's worth applying this rule?We encourage you to experiment.

The composition should not be random, and every element of it should be carefully thought out.For example, the positioning of the hands allows you to hide or emphasize the model's distinctive hand features.Interlacing your fingers into a "basket" shape will hide crooked fingers.For thick fingers, take a photo up to the first knuckle; for slender hands, cross one hand over the other.

It’s also a good idea to photograph your hands at a slight angle—they look better that way than when photographed “flat.” Also, make sure your fingers aren’t clenched too tightly or fully extended—otherwise, with delicate skin, unnatural redness or light spots may appear..Fingers that are spread too far apart also don't look good as a whole.

7.Graphics Programs
Everything was done by the book, but the photo still turned out poorly?In that case, the only option is to edit the photo in an image-editing program.
Photo editing programs have many different features, but these adjustments are all you need for nail photos: contrast, color saturation, and sharpness.You can download good programs for free from the Internet; it's worth doing because they can be very useful..This is especially true when taking photos late in the evening under poor artificial lighting. 

A few more tips:
Remember—a bad photo can hurt you, so before you post it in your portfolio, make sure it's taken as well as you possibly can.The effort you put into creating the decoration and taking good photos will definitely pay off.

Avoid taking photos of your nails immediately after the treatment.It's worth waiting a day or two after your manicure—that way, you won't see cuticles around your nails that are shiny from the olive oil or reddened—the olive oil will have had time to absorb and help your cuticles regenerate.

Always take more than one photo—you can choose the best one from them.

Once the decoration is finished, experiment with the background, lighting, props, and composition—you're sure to capture your audience's interest with the overall effect..

We're giving you a guide, but practice is the key to getting the best results, so start snapping away!!
Show that you're a professional and that you pay attention to every detail of your work.

Send us the best photos of your nail art to our email, and we'll post them in our gallery and showcase your skills to the whole world.