How to create eye-catching hair photography

How many times have you opened a magazine and been amazed by a beautiful photograph? Well, chances are it took months of planning to get that one look.

So what makes a great photo? Many top hairdressers will spend at least £20,000 on a collection, but it is possible to get great results no matter what your budget.

Follow these top tips from award-winning hairdressers and photographers and you might become an award-winner yourself!

Lisa Shepherd, Lisa Shepherd Salons, Midlands

1. Know your budget and stick to it. Break it all down so that you know what you can spend on each aspect. You must also keep to timings on the day of the shoot as this will help to keep your budget in check.

2. Always cast your girls yourself as it's really important to meet and greet the girl. Make notes on all your model cards as their hair often changes. Check that not only do they look great but that they have the type of hair that you can work with - a girl can look amazing but have hair that is impossible to style.

3. Plan, plan, plan. Get all your ideas together and use mood boads to brief the photographer, stylist, make-up artist and your team. Always pack your session bag yourself so you know you are prepared for every eventuality.

Andrew O'Toole, photographer

1. Ensure you cast great girls.

2. Visualize the collection on the judging wall.

3. Think outside the box for a progressive shoot as opposed to a formula of long-medium-short hair.

HJ's 2009 Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year Ken Picton from Ken Picton Salon, Cardiff Bay

1. Ensure that the team you choose to work with all understand your goal on the day.

2. If you don't find the right girls on your first casting, recast until you do.

3. Don't leave anything to chance - preparation is key.

John Rawson, photographer

1. The girl is everything!! Don't just look at the hair but get models who have a strong and varied book.

2. Preparation is paramount - have  several meetings, talk to all the team, confirm everything so that there is no chance of anyone not understanding the brief. Don't leave  it to the shoot day as it's too late.

3. Make the collection beautiful, you want them to appear everywhere.

HJ's 2009 Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the Year Kevin Kahan from Kevin Kahan, Bangor, Belfast

1. Create a mood board and share it with your fashion stylist, make-up artist and photographer long before the shoot to ensure you are all singing from the same song sheet on the day.

2. Follow your dream and stick to what you want to do. Remember that it's your shoot; listen and take advice but remember if you don't like the way it's going, pull in the reins and refocus the team.

3. Ensure you have enough backstage support in terms of hair prep - know exactly what you want to achieve with your model's hair before entering the studio and have the tools to do it.

HJ's 2009 Scottish Hairdresser of the Year Janer Stewart at Angels, Aberdeen

1. Have a firm idea of what you want to achieve, but also keep the company's branding in the front of your mind.

2. Ensure that your team tick all the boxes in terms of professionalism and achieving the ultimate goal.

3. Shoot all eight images in one day - it is hard work but it ensures continuity.