You've spent time developing your products, choosing packaging, and getting the details just right. But have you given the same consideration to how those products are photographed?
The background, lighting, and styling all influence how customers perceive what you're selling. And sometimes, the background does more work than you might think.
Creating the Right Look
When photographing a new collection of body mists for Libra Rising, a boutique in Skippack, Pennsylvania, I wanted the images to reflect both the season and the personality of the business.
Libra Rising draws inspiration from nature and the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Those influences appear throughout the shop in its crystals, natural materials, and celestial imagery.
I wanted a seasonal backdrop that reflected those influences, so I started searching.
And searching.
I wasn't looking for just any pretty fall scene. I wanted the right colors, natural elements, and atmosphere to complement the collection without competing with it.
Once I found the image I had in mind, I had it printed as a custom backdrop specifically for the session.
But the backdrop was only part of the equation.
The body mist bottles have beautiful metallic caps, which can be tricky to photograph. Reflective surfaces tend to pick up bright spots and unwanted reflections from their surroundings.
By carefully positioning the lighting, including backlighting, I was able to minimize those distractions and keep the attention on the products.
The backdrop created the mood. The lighting and composition brought everything together.
Each body mist was photographed individually using the same backdrop and lighting. This gives Libra Rising the flexibility to promote different scents as they're available while maintaining a consistent look across the product line.
Photography That Reflects Your Product's Value
Think about everything that goes into creating a product: the ingredients, materials, packaging, and countless decisions made before it's ready to sell.
Your photography should reflect that same level of care.
For customers shopping online, photographs are often their first introduction to your products. They can't pick them up, feel the texture, or experience them in person.
Thoughtful backgrounds, styling, and lighting help communicate the quality and attention behind what you're selling.
That doesn't mean every product needs an elaborate setting. Sometimes a clean, simple photograph is exactly what's needed.
What matters is choosing an approach that fits the product and how you want to present it.
One Photograph, Three Marketing Uses
Here's where a little planning can make a big difference.
For Libra Rising's body mist collection, I composed the original photograph with three formats in mind.
The horizontal image works for Facebook and website banners. A tighter square crop is useful for Instagram posts or website product pages. And a vertical version can be used for Instagram and Facebook Stories.
All three came from one original photograph.
Planning for different formats while photographing meant one image could do the work of three.
Ready to Give Your Products the Spotlight?
Your products deserve photographs that reflect the thought and care you've put into creating them.
Whether you're introducing something new, updating your website, or preparing for a seasonal campaign, let's create photographs that are ready to work for your business.
Have a product or collection you're getting ready to photograph? Tell me what you're planning.
Corinne & Company provides product photography for businesses in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and works with brands that ship their products to the studio.
