Standardised Before and After Photos: A Protocol for Clinics
A step-by-step protocol for consistent before-and-after clinical photos in aesthetic and dermatology clinics: views, distance, lighting, pose, consent and storage.
Before-and-after photos are the evidence of an aesthetic clinic's work. Yet in many clinics they are taken on whichever phone is nearby, in whichever room is free, from whatever distance feels right. The result is a gallery of images that cannot be fairly compared.
A written protocol fixes this. Here is one you can adapt and pin up in every treatment room.
Why standardisation matters
Every uncontrolled variable can create a fake result or hide a real one. A slightly closer camera makes the nose look larger. Light from above deepens nasolabial folds. A chin tilted down adds apparent fullness under the jaw. We show examples in why 2D before-and-after photos mislead.
Standardisation protects three things: the patient's right to an honest record, the clinician's ability to judge results, and the clinic's credibility if a result is ever disputed.
Step 1: Fix the equipment
- One device per room, ideally clinic-owned, not a staff phone. Read why in stop storing patient photos on staff phones.
- No digital zoom. Use the same lens setting every time; on phones, use the standard 1x camera.
- Fixed distance. Mark the floor for both patient and photographer, or use a tripod at a set distance.
- Grid on. Turn on the camera grid to keep the face centred and level.
Step 2: Fix the background and light
- A plain, matte background in a neutral or dark colour. Avoid patterned walls and shiny surfaces.
- Two soft light sources at 45 degrees on either side at face height, or a ring light directly in front. Turn off overhead tube lights if they create shadows.
- Blinds closed so daylight does not vary by time of day.
- Flash off unless it is part of your standard.
Step 3: Prepare the patient
- Hair tied back, off the face and ears.
- Jewellery, glasses and makeup removed.
- Same clothing neckline or a clinic gown.
- Neutral expression: lips relaxed and closed, eyes open, looking straight ahead.
Step 4: Shoot the standard views
For most facial treatments, capture:
| View | Head position | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Frontal | Facing camera, level | Overall symmetry, skin |
| Right 45° oblique | Turned so the far eye's outer corner meets the cheek line | Cheeks, tear troughs, jawline |
| Left 45° oblique | Mirror of above | Same |
| Right 90° profile | Full side | Nose, chin, lips, neck |
| Left 90° profile | Full side | Same |
Add treatment-specific views where needed: animation views (frowning, raised brows, smiling) for neuromodulators, a chin-up view for the neck, a top view for the hairline.
Keep the head level using the Frankfort horizontal plane: an imaginary line from the top of the ear canal to the lower eye rim, parallel to the floor.
Step 5: Time follow-ups sensibly
Swelling and bruising can distort early photos. Agree a follow-up schedule per treatment, for example two weeks for fillers and neuromodulators, and record the interval with each image.
Step 6: Record consent and store securely
- Record specific consent for clinical photography before the first shot, and separate consent for any marketing use. See patient consent for clinical photography.
- Store images in a secure system linked to the patient record, not in a phone gallery or messaging app.
- Name files consistently: patient ID, date, view, treatment.
The limit of even perfect 2D
A perfect 2D protocol still cannot measure volume or projection, and small differences in head rotation remain hard to control. That is why clinics doing fillers, contouring or long programmes add 3D scans for the views that matter most. Our 2D vs 3D comparison explains where each fits, and measuring aesthetic results in millimetres shows what 3D adds.
With Edebo, a single phone pass captures the face from every angle at once, so you are not relying on five separately posed photos lining up. Consent is recorded with every scan.
Frequently asked questions
What are the standard views for facial before-and-after photos?
The common set is frontal, left and right 45-degree oblique, and left and right 90-degree profile, plus treatment-specific views such as upward chin view for the neck or smiling views for dynamic lines.
Why do my before-and-after photos look inconsistent?
The usual causes are changes in camera distance, lens zoom, lighting direction, head tilt and expression between visits. Fixing these variables with a written protocol solves most of the problem.
Do I need patient consent for before-and-after photos?
Yes. Clinical photographs are personal data. Record clear, specific consent for clinical use, and separate consent for any marketing or social media use.
Edebo is a measurement and visualisation tool, not a diagnostic device. Clinical decisions remain with the treating practitioner.