In today’s social media-driven world, showcasing your work online is a powerful tool for hairdressers to build their brands and attract clients. But what happens when an employee leaves your salon and takes client photos with them? Suddenly, those beautiful before-and-afters that were meant to promote your salon are now being used to market someone else’s new venture. Awkward, right?
This is exactly why having a comprehensive photo and social media policy is essential for salons. Not only does it protect your intellectual property, but it also ensures that client privacy is respected, keeping everyone happy—from your loyal customers to your hardworking staff.
So, what exactly does this policy cover? Here’s a fun and simple breakdown:
1. The Power of Consent
First things first—no snapping pics of clients without their permission! Whether you’re planning to post a hairstyle on Instagram or use it for educational content, your client must be on board. Not only is this respectful, but it’s also the law. Plus, clients can change their minds at any time, so you’ll need to be prepared to remove their photos if they revoke consent. No hard feelings!
2. Keeping Your Salon’s Social Media Accounts Safe
Your salon’s social media pages are like digital storefronts—beautifully curated and full of your best work. If an employee or contractor has access to your account, this policy ensures they only use it while they’re with your business. Once they leave, they can’t keep posting on behalf of your salon, or worse, run off with the account itself!
3. Hands Off My Photos!
One of the most important parts of this policy is ensuring that employees cannot use client photos taken during their time at your salon to build their personal portfolio or market themselves after they’ve moved on. Think of it like this: those pictures were taken on your time, in your salon, using your resources. They’re yours! This policy makes it clear that any photos or videos taken of clients during employment remain the salon’s property.
4. The Dos and Don’ts of Posting
Your policy will help employees know how to create content that reflects your salon’s values. From making sure client photos are flattering and respectful to ensuring that your business complies with advertising laws, this part of the policy is a lifesaver. It’s about maintaining professionalism, building trust, and showing off your fabulous work in the best possible light.
5. When Things Go South
If an employee breaches the policy—like posting a client’s photo on their personal page without permission—it’s serious business. The policy outlines the potential disciplinary actions, which can range from revoking access to company social media accounts to termination in extreme cases.
6. Preventing The Social Media Sneak Attack
One common issue salons face is employees leaving and then using photos of clients to promote themselves. This policy puts a firm stop to that by clarifying that all client photos, videos, and content stay with the salon. So, if your superstar stylist heads to a new salon, they can’t take those stunning balayage photos with them to build their new Instagram following!
Take Home Message
This policy is like your salon’s social media guardian. It ensures that client privacy is always respected and that your salon’s intellectual property—aka those gorgeous client transformation photos—stays where it belongs: with you!
If you want this policy for your salon, Cherrypicka can help you out. Check out our Salon Photography and Social Media Policy for Employees in our DocShop and make sure your salon is protected and thriving, even in the digital age!