Are you short on skincare product photography ideas?
A skincare brand’s visual identity can be influenced by the quality of its product photos.
Other than the product photos on the brand’s online stores, the photos for Instagram play an important role too.
You can’t just use the same images you got shot for e-commerce or your store on Instagram too.
Instagram has grown out of photos that look too pushy.
A skincare brand should have product photos that highlight the best things about the product in the most aesthetic manner.
In the fast-paced world of beauty and wellness, captivating visuals are key to standing out.
From highlighting key ingredients with close-ups to creating engaging before-and-after sequences, each image should resonate with your audience.
In this post, we will delve into the world of creative compositions, strategic use of props, and the impact of incorporating lifestyle elements into your shots.
Whether you’re a seasoned brand or just starting, these seven ideas will equip you with the tools to showcase your skin care products in a way that not only captivates but also fosters a deeper connection with your audience.
Table Of Contents
Skincare Product Photography Ideas to elevate your brand’s image
1. Use Skincare Product Photography to showcase the ingredients
At the core of every skincare product is a carefully curated blend of ingredients designed to nourish and rejuvenate the skin.
Harness the visual power of these ingredients by employing close-up shots that illuminate their textures, colors, and unique qualities.
When a potential customer scrolls through your Instagram feed or browses your website, these detailed shots create a lasting impression.
A skilled photographer knows how to manipulate lighting to accentuate these features, ensuring that your skincare products are perceived as not just bottles and jars but as potent elixirs for radiant skin.
Amazon link to affordable vinyl backdrops for product photography
2. Show the true size of the product with an image of it held in the model’s hands
Your potential customer should be able to identify the size of your skincare product.
Make your model hold it in her hands and it’s a bonus point if you also show the texture & consistency of the product like in the reference shot above.
I often see brands avoiding spending on a professional hand model, which isn’t ideal.
To make your photos look premium and improve your brand’s image, you need a hand model for the job.
Also, a quick tip! Remember to guide the model to get a fresh manicure and match the color of her nails to the brand’s aesthetic.
There’s nothing more off-putting than a close-up shot of the hand with chipped nails.
Also Read: 5 Essential Tips For Product Photographers
3. Use water as an interesting element to create beautiful reflections or little waves
You need a skilled product photographer to nail this shot.
This shot needs the expertise of lighting to bring out the texture and reflections of the water.
It might look as if the water is just being thrown slowly from the side and that’s it.
But in reality, this shot takes much more planning & proper setup to get the best results!
If water is relevant to your skincare product, save this idea as a MUST-HAVE product photo.
You can even have droplets of water sprayed on the product to add a little extra oomph factor. Use a mix of glycerin and water to get the perfect droplets.
4. Lifestyle flatlay in a setup that mimics a home or a vanity
Skincare is not just about products; it’s about the lifestyle they represent.
Infusing lifestyle elements into your skincare product photography creates an emotional connection with your audience.
It goes beyond showcasing what your products are to illustrate how they fit into the lives of your customers.
Imagine a photo of your moisturizer next to a cup of tea, bathed in the warm glow of morning sunlight.
This isn’t just a product; it’s a moment—an invitation to indulge in self-care, a visual representation of the soothing experience your product offers.
Achieving this level of connection requires more than technical proficiency; it demands an understanding of the emotions you want to evoke.
A professional photographer and a stylist can collaborate with you to identify and capture these lifestyle moments.
Customers aren’t just purchasing products; they are investing in an experience.
Also Read: 5 Secrets Behind Perfect Flatlay Photos
Amazon link to aesthetic props for lifestyle product photos
5. Skincare Product Photography using hard light
Most brands get soft light photos and post them on their socials.
Hard light product photos are more difficult to shoot but they appear striking on socials.
They have an added level of pop and make the viewer stop & stare for a second.
As a skincare brand, one should get a few product shots done in a hard light setup.
If your product comes in a transparent glass bottle, it will create some great shadows like in the reference shot above.
Suggested pocket-friendly artificial light to create a hard light setup
6. Close-up shot of the product being applied on the area it is meant for
A close-up shot of the product being applied paired with a happy model is a must-have.
If you’re a Photographer reading this, don’t keep the aperture too low as that will result in some areas of the face getting blurred out.
A prime lens is best suited for shots like these. I usually take them on my Viltrox 85mm F1.8 lens with my Sony A7III.
Also Read: Are You A Product Photographer On Instagram Struggling To Find Leads? Here’s the Best SOLUTION
7. Showcase different products or variants of one in a single photo
You can show all of the products that your skincare brand sells or variants of one product in a single shot.
This lets the viewer know about the different types of products available at a single glance.
Make sure that all of the products are in focus in the photograph.
