A picture is worth a thousand words – but what about two pictures? Before and after photos are effective for demonstrating change or transformation. This is extremely useful for showcasing the value of a product or service. They’re also handy for personal use, such as progress photos for a fitness journey.

Ready to create this standout design for social media? Discover how to do before and after pictures and get your audience talking with Adobe Express.

Why make before and after pictures?

Before and after pictures are everywhere, and that’s because they work so well. With two side-by-side photos, you can display a comparison, change, or transformation. This is especially useful for businesses in marketing, health, and beauty. Before and after photos are most effective on websites, social media, and even a personal blog.

Here are some reasons you might want to make a before and after picture:

• Personal art project progress.
• Showing progress on a fitness journey.
• Displaying home renovation/DIY projects.
• Comparing family photos from childhood.
• A hairdresser showing before/after hairstyles and cuts.
• Dentists/orthodontists showing treatment outcomes.

How to take your before and after photos.

Before and after pictures show a dramatic change or transformation to something. Taking high-quality photos is the best way to convey this. Here are some simple tips to help you take picture-perfect photos.

1. Use natural light.

Lighting is arguably one of the most important aspects of taking before and after pictures. A dark or grainy picture won’t convey your message well. Natural light or bright, artificial light can allow for consistent lighting and enhance the quality of your photos.

If you’re taking pictures indoors, use the natural light pouring through the windows. If the room doesn’t benefit from natural light, consider using photographic equipment for a balanced, professional finish. Avoid shadows and aim for the same light for both photos.

2. Ensure consistent angles and perspectives.

Before and after pictures aren't as effective when taken from different angles. You want to capture the same subject with the same background and lighting. This will allow viewers to register the changes made and draw an easy comparison.

Let’s say you’re taking a before and after picture of a kitchen renovation for your restaurant. Using the window or room corner as a reference point can ensure each shot has a consistent perspective. Alternatively, marking the spot where you’re standing can allow you to snap pictures from the same distance each time.

3. Explore different camera settings.

Don’t be afraid to adjust your camera settings as you see fit. Your smartphone or camera can only do so much. It can be useful to explore built-in editing options to achieve the best possible results. This includes adjusting the brightness, contrast, colour/hue, focus, and more.

Luckily, you have many how-to guides and tutorials online for your exact phone or camera model. For more professional photo editing, Adobe Express’s image editor is also available. Avoid using filters in before and after photos, as they can distort the true representation of changes and appear unrealistic.

4. Keep things stable.

Steadiness is a key element of before and after photos. Even the steadiest hands can wobble, leading to blurry or unfocused pictures. Using a tripod or resting your phone or camera on a stable surface can give your photos a solid foundation.

There are plenty of affordable tripod options for cameras or tripods designed for smartphones. If you’re in a pinch, you can always rest your phone against a prop on a flat surface, such as a stack of books or a shelf.

5. Take multiple photos.

Taking more than one photo gives you more material to work with. Your first photo might be the winning shot, but it’s better to have more options.

Try different lighting conditions or experiment with different angles and perspectives. When it’s time to make your before and after collage, you’ll be glad to have multiple shots. You might even choose the photos you least expected.

How to do before and after pictures with Adobe Express: Step-by-step.

Adobe Express lets you make before and after photos in just a few clicks. You can also customise your pictures with photo effects, image enhancers, image resizing, and more.

Make expert before and after pictures with the handy side-by-side collage tool:

• Go to the collage tool. Head to the free side-by-side collage maker tool on Adobe Express.
• Choose your side-by-side template. Create your before and after collage from scratch, or browse the full collage template library.
• Upload your images. Select your preferred side-by-side layout, then drag and drop your images, or click the ‘Upload images’ button.
• Adjust your before and after collage. With your photos added, make any necessary tweaks to the collage. You can adjust border space, swap images around, and more.
• Download and share. Once you’re happy with your before and after picture, click ‘Download’. You can share it via link or post directly on social media.

How can Adobe Express help you create before and after posts for social media?

Creating before and after pictures is easier than ever with Adobe Express. Once you upload your photos, you have a range of advanced tools and features at your disposal. Here are just a few ways Adobe Express can help:

1. Choose from a library of free templates.

Whether you’re going for a chic or quirky design, our free collage templates can match your vision. Browse side-by-side templates for your business and create before and after images that speak for themselves.

2. Experiment with a range of editing tools and effects.

Customise your before and after collage with the Adobe Express editor tool. Play around with stickers, animations, and text, or use Generate Text Effect to create one-of-a-kind font styles to match your brand assets.

3. Create and plan social media posts.

Wondering how to do before and after pictures on Facebook and other socials? The Adobe Express side-by-side collage maker tool lets you easily rescale your before and after pictures for any social channel.

4. Save and upload your designs in seconds.

Once you’re satisfied with your before and after photo, you can download and share your design. Create a sharable link to collaborate with your team, or upload directly to your preferred social media channel for audiences to see.

5. Schedule your before and after content.

Want to schedule your before and after picture uploads on social media? The Adobe Express editor has a built-in Content Scheduler to plan your content ahead of time. Schedule days, weeks and months in advance and publish as much and as often as you want.

Create the perfect before and after templates with Adobe Express AI.

Push beyond your creative limits with Adobe Express’s AI Template Generator. This handy tool uses advanced technology to craft a variety of professional templates from a single prompt. Describe what template you want to create – from static social posts to flyers and business cards – and the template generator will provide several options. Enhance your template with stickers, fonts, and more AI-powered tools like Generate Text Effect for a high-quality finish. Whether you’re a cosy café or a tech startup, the AI Template Generator will quickly produce seamless before and after collages ready for social media.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

What’s the best way to present before and after photos?

The best way to present before and after photos is to place them side by side. Ensure consistent angles, lighting, and background to highlight the changes. This demonstrates transformation and allows your audience to make an easy visual comparison.

How do you do before and after pictures of your face?

Consistent angles, lighting, and framing are important for before and after face pictures. Take photos of the front profile, left profile, and right profile, keeping the subject’s head horizontal. Ensure they have a neutral expression with their eyes open, and aim for natural, soft lighting.

How do you do before and after pictures on Instagram?

You can make before and after pictures on Instagram using the layout tool. Create a new story and select the Layout tool. Change the grid layout to the side-by-side template, upload your photos, and save. Alternatively, make your before and after pictures with the Adobe Express side-by-side collage tool, then upload them directly to Instagram.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.