Your before-and-after photograph is one of six judging criteria — and it's the one entrants most often lose marks on.

The problem is almost never the result. It's that the two images aren't comparable. Different lighting, a slightly different angle, a phone held closer the second time. Any one of those changes how skin looks more than months of excellent treatment does, and when a judge can't tell whether they're seeing improvement or better lighting, they can't credit the improvement.

This guide solves one problem: making the "after" identical to the "before" in every respect except the skin.

What's inside

• What to shoot with — imaging systems, professional cameras and phones, and what each one does and doesn't solve for you

• The three required angles, with a diagram of camera positions and correct camera height

• Setting up a fixed position you can return to six months later

• Lighting — why treatment room lighting works against you, and what to do instead

• Phone camera settings to turn off, most of which are on by default

• Preparing your client, and photographing clients who cover for religious or cultural reasons

• Timing — when to cleanse, when to shoot, and when not to

• What will get an entry disqualified

• Body and non-facial areas

• A pre-submission checklist

Who it's for

Any professional skin therapist documenting a client journey — whether you're entering the Best In Skin Awards or simply want your clinical records to hold up.

Free to download, no strings. We'd rather every entry we receive was well photographed.