Which Lens is Best for Product Photography?
Lenses are single-handedly the most important piece of gear that will make or break your photos.
You can work with a ten year old camera and have to shoot in a incredibly low light situation. However, if your lens of choice is not optimal, you won’t get the photo you are looking for.
With that being said, I would argue you can quite literally use any camera at all for product photography, but I would advise you to be very selective about your lens choice. My biggest piece of advice when it comes to investing in camera gear is to save your money for the lens, and to forego the kit lens for something more specific to your interests.
How to Photograph a Luxury Boutique Hotel
I reached out to a few hotels in cities I was curious to visit, and connected with the PR company that manages Zero George, a luxury boutique hotel located in Charleston, South Carolina. The charming architecture, friendliness of the locals, and the lure of fresh hearty cuisine drew me in to the city.
There are several aspects to hospitality photography. Besides capturing the beautiful interior and exterior spaces of the the hotel, you have to keep in mind you are helping to sell an experience through the imagery.
How to Photograph Beauty Drinks
I’ve photographed food products before. And I’ve photographed skincare and beauty products before. However, I had never photographed a consumable beauty product before, until my project with Beaumore. They are a California-based, Asian-inspired brand that makes collagen beauty drinks as well as supplements.
The shoot would focus on showing both individual bottles as well as the full packaging, set among soft neutral tones and pops of color that matched back to the packaging colors.
How to Create Nighttime Photography in Studio
For Forest Rhapsody’s new release of their Nocturnal Trilogy night cream, I was tasked with creating a series of dark moody nature scenes showcasing their product. The main focus was to make it look like all of the images were taken during nighttime or twilight, as the product is meant for overnight use.
Staying true to Forest Rhapsody’s branding and vision for these images, I chose to style the settings with various nature elements and narrow down the use of florals to vivid and rich hues of blues and purples only to complement the ingredients and nighttime color palette.
How to Plan a Model Lifestyle Shoot
For the first photoshoot I ever did with skincare brand Pinkslip Beauty, we worked with 2 models on location showcasing their clay mask products.
There were so many different details and logistics to take care of when planning this project. From talent casting to location scouting, preparing wardrobe and props, and planning all 12 shots in just under 2 hours, this was a whirlwind of a photoshoot! And here’s all it all came together.
What is the Best Camera for Product Photography?
While I would argue you don’t need top of the line equipment to get started in product photography or even to start a business, your gear is still a crucial factor in your photography experience. With so many options on the market, it can trigger decision paralysis if you haven’t done the proper research into what would work best for your needs.
So in today’s blog post, I’ve highlighted which cameras I keep hearing other product photographers rave about, the camera I started off with, and the camera I personally use right now (and love).
Rose with Love by Clean Mundi
Launched just in time for Valentine’s Day, Rose with Love is a new body butter from Clean Mundi. The brand reached out to me to shoot a mini campaign of still images to be used for their product launch. These images would be on their website, email newsletters, social media, and thank you cards, so I had to keep in mind styling and cropping that would allow the flexibility for such varied uses across only 4 images.
The mood of the shoot was dark, sensual, feminine, and focusing on self love, and based on various shades of pink and deep blush colors.
Colorful Photoshoot with Clean Circle
While much of my work steers towards softer neutral colors, I loved having the chance to work with their bright and colorful packaging in this shoot. The main goal was to highlight key product features and ingredients all while invoking a sense of self pampering and personal care.
Forest Rhapsody Rebrand Shoot
The new branding is still inspired by the beauty and ancient remedies found in nature, with rich hues and vibrant textures, also highlighted in their new packaging design which uses a deep forest green and gold metallic lettering. Based on their brand guideline and notes, I set about creating imagery that would convey the mystical and the sublime, relying on nature elements, yet always letting the beautifully designed products shine on their own.