Portfolio Image Tips – Vagaro Support

All portfolio images submitted will undergo a quality assurance review based on the criteria below. Approved images will be automatically posted on your Vagaro Listing Page, and by following our guidelines, your work may also be featured in Vagaro's Gallery. When necessary, we may edit your images for lighting, color, or other adjustments; however, if your image's description is unrelated to the shown service or doesn't meet our quality standards, it will be excluded from our Gallery.

For example, in the images below, notice that the Approved image follows our guidelines, while the Denied image is blurry, uses flash, and includes a frame and text.

Here are our guidelines to help you get your images featured, but we reserve the right to deny images for additional reasons.

Note

Only images related to Barber, Beauty, Fitness, Wellness, Tattoo, and Pet Grooming services are eligible for approval.

Do's

Consider your lighting. Use natural-looking light, positioning your model with the brightest light in front.
Keep it simple. A plain background like a blank wall lets your work stand out.
Take advantage of all input fields. Use a caption, title, and description fields to communicate important details about your work.
Showcase your own work. Using original photos of your work gives clients an accurate view of your skills.
Reserve your portfolio for the work you're most proud of. Use your Venue Gallery for flyers, product photos, and promotional content.
Use original photos whenever possible. Uploading images directly from your camera roll preserves high resolution and clarity.
Upload as many portfolios as you want. There's no limit on portfolios, and each can include up to three photos, ideal for before-and-after shots without collages.
Use real clients to showcase your work (with an exception for pet grooming services). Photos of real people give potential clients a realistic sense of your work.
Get closer. Physically moving closer helps keep photos sharp without relying on zoom.
Be proud of your work! Taking these steps elevates both your photos and your online presence.

Don't's

Don't use flash. Flash photography can create dark shadows and bright spots, leading to harsh lighting in the final photo.
Don't use a busy background. Showing too much clutter, mirrors, or workstations can distract from the work you're showcasing.
Don't add extra graphics to your photos. Adding logos, graphics, text, or heavy filters can detract from your work and impact how accurately it's depicted.
Don't use photos from stock websites or other service providers. Potential clients want to see your work, not someone else's.
Don't share flyers, product photos, logos, or other promotional images in your portfolio. Your portfolio is for showcasing your skills, while the Venue Gallery is ideal for promotional content.
Don't upload a screenshot of a photo. Screenshots lower image resolution, causing blurriness. It may also include graphic overlays that are hard to crop out.
Don't collage multiple photos into a single image. Collages make your work harder to see in detail and can be visually distracting.
Don't use non-human models (with an exception for pet grooming services). Styles on mannequins often look different than on a live person.
Don't rely on camera zoom for details. Excessive zoom can reduce photo quality; get physically closer instead.
Show nudity or graphic content. Content should be family-friendly and professional.
Don't rush. Take pride in capturing high-quality photos that reflect the care you put into your work.