» Jotronic’s Photo Guide

Why would anyone care about taking the best possible photos of their hair??? Well, some people may not care at all but if you want to accurately document your own hair transplant experience for reference then why not take the best photos possible? Also, if you are going to post your photos on the web for others to learn from you owe it to yourself and to those that are hoping to learn from you to take the best photos you can.

They need to be consistent. They need to be in good lighting. They need to show good detail. This list of do’s and don’ts is from my own experience over the past several years of taking photos of my hair transplant progress. I hope you can learn from my experience and pass it on to others. If you see anything that may need to be updated or modified then please let me know.

1. Use the lighting from the room you are taking the photos in. Do not use the flash accessory on your camera.
2. It tends to work out better if you take your photos in your bathroom. The environment is small, the lighting is usually adequate and you have a mirror in which to judge your angles.
3. Any lighting that you have available in the room should be slightly in front of and above the area to be photographed. You never want the source of lighting to be behind the subject,(you head).
4. Place the camera on a steady support such as a bathroom counter or shelf to steady your shots. Almost all cameras come with a timer delay feature of ten seconds. Use this to get the most stable images. You do not want any “blur” effects to ruin your shot. It will take several practice shots to get proficient at using your camera in this manner but it will be worth it. You can place your camera in one place for all angles of the shot. Turn yourself for each angle, not the camera.
5. CONSISTENCY!! Take consistent photos of yourself. This means taking photos from the same angles throughout your documentation process. This helps to truly see the progress.

   Suggested angles are…90 degrees left and right. 45 degrees left and right; face forward; face slightly turned downward to show hairline; Chin to chest to see overhead view; direct view of the back of your head to show the donor area; back of your head while looking slightly up to show your crown area. Remember, you don’t need to move the camera for these shots. Move yourself.

6. While taking photos indoors is more appropriate is does help to spice up your portfolio by taking some shots outdoors.
7. When taking close up shots of your hairline or any other particular area of interest make sure to turn on your macro feature on your camera. This should be used when taking photos from less than 1 1/2 to 2 feet away. If you don’t know how to enable this feature then look in the manual. If you don’t have your manual anymore then you can most likely download a new one from the manufacturer’s web site.
8. When you are finished taking your photos you need to review them. Ask yourself if the photos are what you would want to see from someone else. Are they clear? Are they consistent with previous photos? Do they give an accurate representation of what your hair really looks like?

The below photographs demonstrate the impact of flash photography on perceived end results of a hair restoration procedure.

Note how the density increases by several orders of magnitude with only the use of a flash. Be sure to click the thumbnail to see the larger image.

List of things not to do when taking before/after photos of your hair transplant.

1. Do NOT use a flash. The bright light from a flash can cause each hair to generate a strong shadow of itself lending to the illusion of more hair.
2. Do NOT allow lights in the background. It will cause an overall dark look to your hair resulting in an inaccurate view of what your hair really looks like. Some web sites employ this technique often to give their patients the look of having more hair than they do in reality.
3. Do NOT simply hold your camera in two or even one hand. This will lend to an increase in blurriness in your photos.
4. Do NOT be afraid to take photos of your hair with your face showing. You can easily block out your face or alter it so no one can see who you are. Even better is if you decide to go “full Monty” like I did. It adds a better overall depth to the hair transplant.
5. Do NOT take still images from a video camera. Stills do not have the resolution needed for showing good detail. They often turn out too dark or too grainy.
6. Do NOT use a web cam to take your photos. They never turn out good enough to see any detail. Investing in even the cheapest of digital still cameras is a drop in the bucket compared to the price of a hair transplant.
7. Do NOT allow even ambient light to enter the room where you are taking your photographs. If you are in your living room, kitchen etc. then close the blinds and/or curtains. If you are in your bathroom and have windows then close the blinds and the shower curtain. Ambient light will darken the overall look of your hair transplant.

Well, that’s it. Again, if you have anything to add or think I should change anything based on your experience then let me know. I am by no means an expert so I’m open to suggestions.

I hope this helps you to understand how to take good, clear photographs. If you can share them with others via your own web site like I have then you will be doing someone you may never meet a HUGE favor!

Peace,

Jotronic