Taking Before & After Photos: 3 Easy Tips for Better Skincare Selfies

Embarking on a skincare journey is a commitment.

So, if you are going to invest the time, money, and care into your new routine, you want to make sure it’s worth it. 

Taking before and after photos throughout your process allows you to visually track your progress and witness your skin’s improvements firsthand. As you track your progress, and watch your skin transform, it also helps keep you motivated to stay on track and keep the momentum going.

While taking normal selfies consists of flattering angles in front of a visually appealing background, your skincare selfies should focus more on where you would like to see areas of improvement.

If you are consistent enough in your shots to see changes week over week, it will be an exciting part of the process to get to look back and see how far your skin has come.

I’ve gathered a few tips and guidelines for successful before and after photos. My hope is that these recommendations help you to snap clean and consistent photos, so you can better track your skincare journey and the progress you make along the way.

• Find a room with natural light streaming in through a window, or opt for a bathroom with vanity lights. 

• Avoid overhead lighting and bright lamps which can cast unwanted shadows. 
  

• Ideally, you want your spot’s light source to face you straight on. This way the light spreads evenly across your face, highlighting both sides equally.

• You might even choose to take your photo outdoors, but just like overhead lighting, you’ll want to avoid direct sunlight to avoid shadows. Stand under a porch, or sit in your car where you’ll get great natural light, but no direct sunlight.
  

• If you don’t have a great light source, consider buying a “selfie light” for your progress photos. You can find inexpensive clip-on lights for under $10 online.

• Take your photos around the same time of day so your lighting is consistent.
  
• Doing your photos on the same day every week will make it easier to track your progress accurately from week to week.
  
• Set a weekly alarm or reminder so you don’t forget.
  
• Make sure you have enough time to do your skincare routine beforehand, to ensure your face is fresh and clean for more consistent results.

• Flip your camera to face you and hold it close enough so that your face fills the screen without much background distraction. 

• For skincare before and after shots, you want to get up close and personal. Getting a close-up shot will not only help you to see those fine lines, wrinkles, pores, and discoloration but will also help you stay more consistent with your shots as you frame your face within the parameters of your screen each time.
  

• Make sure you are going for a #nofilter photo experience.
  

• Once you have your face framed, you can use your finger and tap on the screen to focus on certain areas. Tap and focus on a couple of different areas you want to track.
  

• When you take the photo, look up to the top of your phone where the camera is, rather than looking at your face... or close your eyes.
  

• You need 3 shots: one straight on, one looking left, one looking right.

• Take a few photos at each angle to make sure they are clear and you can see your primary concerns. At the end, narrow down to the three best shots that clearly highlight your primary concerns.

• Save in a “Before & After” folder on your phone so they are all in one spot for easy reference, or look for an app that can house all of your photos and allow you to play around with a side-by-side comparison.

Maintaining a dedicated skincare routine requires commitment and patience, but the results are undoubtedly worth the effort.

Consistently caring for your skin with the right products and habits can lead to noticeable improvements over time.

As you track your progress along the way, it will be exciting to watch your skin’s transformation month after month.

Whether it's combating signs of aging, balancing your skin tone, improving skin texture and pore size, or achieving a healthier complexion overall–if you remain consistent with your regimen and continue taking photos regularly to track your progress, your results will only continue to motivate you to keep going.

Remember, skincare is a journey, not a sprint. By staying committed and patient, you're investing in the long-term health and appearance of your skin, ultimately earning the rewards of a radiant and youthful complexion. 

Embrace your routine, give it time to work its magic, track your transformation, and enjoy the beautiful results it brings.