Photography Tips for Nails, Beauty & PMU

How to capture crisp, true-to-life photos that show off your artistry.

Even small tweaks to settings or technique can transform average snaps into portfolio-level images.

This quick guide gives you both the essentials and some deeper hacks (like dealing with flickering under artificial lighting).

1. Optimise Your Phone Settings

• Clean your lens - even a tiny smudge can ruin fine detail.

• Turn off flash - harsh light distorts colours.

• Use Portrait or Macro mode - background blurs make your work really pop.

• Tap to focus - select the area you want to keep nice and sharp.

• Adjust exposure - slide up/down to balance brightness.

• Enable grid lines - follow the rule of thirds for better composition.

2. Lighting Techniques That Work

• Natural light is best; position yourself near a window.

• Continuous lighting like a ring light ensures even light. An 18" light means you can hod your camera right through the middle of it.

• Avoid overhead lights that cast shadows.

• Use reflectors to bounce light and fill in shadows.

• Avoid overly warm bulbs - daylight-balanced lighting (~5,500 K) preserves true colors.

3. Angles, Composition & Macro Tools

• Nails: flat-lay and close-ups at slight top-down angle work really well

• Brows: straight-on + ¾ profile for symmetry.

• Lips: relaxed posture, even lighting.

• Before & After: side-by-side comparison.

• Macro lenses capture ultra-fine details for nails, brow strokes, and lip gradients.

👉 Recommended: [Amazon Macro Lens – ]

4. Flicker & Flashing Issues

Artificial lights can cause flicker or bands in photos/videos.

Why it happens:

UK lights run at 50Hz; LEDs/fluorescents flicker at that frequency.

Phone sensors not synced = flashing or lines.

How to fix it:

Record at 25 or 50 fps to sync with lighting. Adjust shutter speed (1/50 or 1/100 sec) if possible.

Use anti-flicker settings in camera apps (Open Camera on Android).

Lower phone refresh rate if your device allows. Always test a short clip first to check for flicker.

5. Editing Like a Pro

• Stick to minimal edits: brightness, contrast, clarity, crop.

• Avoid heavy filters – clients want real results.

• Use apps like Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, or VSCO.

• Keep backgrounds neutral and use the same background as a theme or your branding.

• Apply subtle branding: logo watermark or consistent color palette.

6. Showcase Your Work Effectively

• Before & After Shots: highlight your skill and results.

• Client Consent: always get permission before posting photos.

• Branding: consistent colors, watermarks, and style help recognition.

• Social Media Optimisation: hashtags, location tags, and engagement increase visibility.