3 Things Every Nail Artist Should Know to Take a Fantastic Nail Art Photo

Whether you're just beginning to share your nail art online or you've been at this for a while, there's one thing we all have in common: the need for good photography skills. In this post, I'm sharing three big things you should know in order to take amazing pics of your beautiful manis. Let's dive in...

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1. Good lighting

Lighting can truly make or break a nail art photo. To start out, you don't need to break the bank on fancy new lights or a shadow box. The next time you take a picture of your nails, just find a window. A bright place in your home. The brightest or nicest light you have.

Choose a source of light that’s either natural or something you already own. This will instantly boost the quality of the photo and assure that your unique design can be seen.

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2. Complimentary background

There are no rules for nail photography backgrounds. I recommend a white background for most photos, but it depends on what you’d like to do and how you want to showcase your mani. Here are some suggestions…

  • White paper or posterboard

  • Black paper or posterboard

  • A complimentary color [to your mani] paper or posterboard

  • Grass

  • A tree

  • Wood floor or wall

  • Blanket

  • Rug

  • Water

Literally any setting can be a fabulous background for your nail art or swatch. The main thing is to make sure your background doesn’t detract from your art or take your eye away from the focus of the photo. It’s up to you how you want your photo to look, so be creative!

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3. Take more than one photo

Don't stop after just one pic! Snap a few photos of your nails in various poses, with different backgrounds, with a different polish bottle in hand. If you just take one photo and call it a day, you run the risk of it being blurry or having a shadow.

Take a few photos so you have options. Later, when you're ready to edit and watermark, sort through your pictures and choose the one(s) you like best.

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And that's it! You now know three exquisite, valuable tips for acing your next nail art photo shoot!

So, now that you've just skimmed the surface of nail art photography, why not learn even more? To expand on the three things you learned here, I encourage you to check out my newly-released "A Beginner's Guide to Nail Art Photography" eBook. It features eight chapters, each one on a different topic, like lighting, hand poses, and photo editing, plus my personal tips and tricks. With strategies and tools curated specifically for a fabulous nail art photographer like you (yes, you are even if you're just starting!), this book has got you covered.

I believe in you and I hope you'll allow me to help guide you on this journey. You can take that first step today by checking out my eBook shop and using code YES for 10% off.

CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO MY EBOOK SHOP!

Have a polished rest of your day,

- Cali

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31 Unique Nail Art Ideas (with something for everyone!)

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3 Ways to Incorporate Mindfulness into Painting your Nails