I have had a few REALLY fun product shoots lately which have reminded me how inspiring and creative these types of projects can be. Way too often, people resort to photographing their products on boring, white backdrops– which is fine for Amazon but, personally, I want to see something a bit more aspirational when I am shopping online....amiright??Here are my 3 top tips for taking your product photography from bland to brilliant:1. Create a story around your product. A friend recently told me about another Vermont business called Red House Bags because she thought I would like their products (she was right.) When I went to the website, I was immediately captivated by the gorgeous photos, the warm light, the beautiful landscape– I wanted to be IN those photos, holding one of those bags.That website is the PERFECT example of storytelling with products.Obviously, for a variety of reasons, we often can’t hire models and orchestrate elaborate photo shoots for our products. Instead, we are working in our home or studio, and need to convey a story through a tabletop photograph. We do that through our lighting, the use of props, and the colors we choose.As an example of what I mean, check out these shots I did for Forest & Field Collective, a Vermont based company that creates gift boxes filled with the most beautiful products. Jessamyn, the owner, already had images on her website that showed the items included in each box so, instead, she wanted me to create photos that showed the items in a lifestyle setting.For each shot, I staged a little “scene” and incorporated the products within it: the gardening scissors with beautiful flowers, the lit candle in a calming environment, the baking items on a kitchen counter with some ingredients. The point of telling a story is to elicit emotion from your audience- to get them to picture themselves in that moment and really feel it. The product is almost secondary to the story and yet it’s the STORY that sells the product. 2. Use light like a prop.I have the great honor of doing regular photoshoots with the amazing Laura Zindel, (another incredible Vermont artisan….we have a lot of them here!) Before each shoot, Laura chooses a color palette and creates a mood board of what she wants to accomplish. For this recent Spring 2023 shoot, Laura wanted to veer away from the traditional light, Spring colors and go with a darker palette paired with dramatic lighting. All three of us working on the shoot (myself, Laura and Gretchen– the amazing food stylist who regularly works with me) are former art school nerds so we decided to emulate a chiaroscuro effect, with deep, dark shadows and defined highlights.To create this look, we used a dark surface on the table top (Bruno) a dark backdrop on the wall, (Coal) and a single light source coming from the side. I used a strobe for these shots but you could just as easily use natural light. The key is guiding the light to fall onto your subject (the product), which involves blocking light on the areas you want to be darker. I use black foam core for this purpose. Additionally, I didn’t use a bounce card to fill in any shadows– instead I let the shadows fall where they may. The effect is almost ethereal – the photos practically glow– and, because the product is the lightest thing in the image, the viewer’s eyes go right to it. Below are another few examples from shoots with Chemex and Real Pickles. Again, in both scenarios, one light source was used, coupled with darker props and blocking of light in strategic areas so that the product stood out. You can see an example of how to do this HERE.3. Create layers and texture. In those images of Laura Zindel's products above, did we NEED the wooden boxes in those shots? After all, we already had a backdrop on the wall and fun props around the product. The boxes weren’t necessary. However, the addition of them adds a ton of warmth, texture and visual interest and really takes the photos to the next level. This is the magic of layering. The key to adding layers to your photos is to do so in a way that doesn't compete with the impact of your product. If, for example, the boxes in the photos had been the same color and/or same level of brightness as the ceramics, they would have been a fail. The viewer’s eyes wouldn’t know what to focus on in the images. Instead, you want to add layers that fade into the background a bit so that the focus is still on the product. You can use fabric, paper, (I love old music sheets or faded book pages), wooden boards, boxes, items from nature, (driftwood, moss, rocks and tree bark can all work beautifully) and basically anything else that adds depth and texture to your photo without detracting from your subject. For example, in the image below for Farmers Body, we wanted to keep the image simple but include some natural elements with the sugar scrub. By adding the wooden board and the greenery, we created a frame around the product, which is much more impactful than if we had placed the product directly on the surface. Additionally, we left some space on the side of the image for text, (which is always a good idea when shooting for a website!) In the below photo for Satya and Sage, the addition of the wooden board under the candle has a dual purpose; it elevates the product, making it more important in the photo, and it adds warmth. Also, the shadows on the backdrop provide yet another layer to the photo by creating a sense of place. To learn how to create shadows in your shoot, read THIS. I hope this was helpful and you are inspired for your next photo shoot. Let's all just say NO to boring product shots, shall we?Until next time... xx
For years, readers and bloggers have asked me about my shooting setup. And I always tell them that it's nothing fancy. (At least, nothing fancy like some of the professional studios I have worked in
I got a new colored backdrop from Savage Universal. So I compiled some fun y2k inspiration and got to it. I love the look that we came up with for this shoot. These photos have such a vibe to them. I love how they turned out!
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When we decided to expand the shop, I knew that adding new apothecary vendors would be one of the best uses for the space. I am, and will always be completely enthralled by branding. The gorgeous typography and packing of Triumph & Disaster is what first drew me in, but as with all of the apothecary we bring into the shop, the product inside has to be just as amazing. I never buy from a new brand without product testing first - every new item gets put through the ringer by me personally. In the three years our store has been open, I've tested nearly 1000 apothecary items. If it's in the shop, we've made sure it's worth the shelf space. The Coltrane Clay Pomade is the best I've ever used, hands down. It's light, and doesn't leave a caked feeling in your hair - the reason I'm never a fan of clay pomade in the first place. Until I tried it for myself, I thought I'd never be able to use clay on my hair. But I picked up another jar of the Coltrane Clay as soon as I ran out, and couldn't recommend it more. The Shearer's Soap is a unique product in the shop; it's a pumice soap. It's too intense for normal use, but does a hell of a job at smoothing down any rough patches you've got. The Old-Fashioned Shave Cream is smooth and simple, and smells incredible - evocative of bright, fresh barbershop. A nostalgic smell. I don't shave my entire face, save for lining up with a straight razor. I used this shave cream to line up against the grain, and it had a perfect glide. Not much more you can ask for from a good shave cream. The Rock & Roll Suicide Scrub is still sitting on my shower ledge and gets used twice a week, and it'll be there until I finish the entire tin. It's got a tiny bit of black charcoal but has a great creaminess to it that you don't get with most scrubs. I could wax poetic about the entire line, but that should be enough to get you started. We've got the full line of hair and skin care available in store and online, and we'd love to help you find the product that will work best for you and look great on the sink.
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Bloom Robbins: colourful still life photography with a hand model for a hair vitamin brand by HIYA MARIANNE.
As you may have seen, we recently put our studio up for rent for an hourly rate on Peerspace . As we have been getting the space ready for rent, we have been looking for items that other people might want to use for their shoot. We have started collecting various chairs and stools for fashion shoot
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Like! Pin! Retweet! Share! Social media can be a total blast (until your thumb slips and you Like your ex's post. Oops.). Check out our how-tos for Facebook and beyond.
food photography MISTAKES Food PHOtography challenge ebook 2019 “Making mistakes is a lot better than not doing anything.” B. J. Armstrong BUY NOW! ARE YOU UP FOR A food photography CHALLENGE? Here’s what you get with 21- DAY #FOODPHOTOGRAPHY “workout plan”? fix mistakes? The main guide of the 21-day challenge is more than just an […]
If you’re a professional photographer, you’ve had a chance to participate in a studio photo shooting session. Quite frankly, this one can be really exhausting since the quality of the ... Read more
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Dark and moody photography, also know as Low Key Photography, can be challenging but also incredibly fun and rewarding. In my first years of photography, I was only shooting images in the bright and airy style, so when I started playing with the dark and moody style I struggled. It took me about two years…
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I'm a huge lover of hacks. I love anything that will make me see things with a new perspective and/or help me save time and money. I mean, who doesn't love finding ways to save time or money, right? Today, I'm sharing with you a few of my favorite prop styling hacks. Will they blow your mind? Well,
Using curves in food photography can add softness and natural feel to the photo and to create beautiful compositions.
Rising star Emily Reda channels pre-Raphaelite paintings for the January 2018 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK. Lensed by Paul Zak, the brunette stunner poses in
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This food photography board is a simple DIY project that can be completed in a weekend and can give beautiful texture to your food photography backdrop!
