10 Beauty Product Photography Tips & Ideas You Need In 2023

What is beauty product photography? It captures cosmetic products (such as lips sticks, eye shadow, etc.) in a way that catches the eye and eventually makes people buy them. The aim of makeup product photography can vary from one project to another. But mainly, the goal is to present the product in the most impactful and memorable way.

But, like in any other spectrum of work, there are some quick tips to boost your creativity. Information that will help you bring the best out of yourself. With that goal, here are the Top 10 Tips for your Beauty Product Photography that you can try in 2023.

Now, let us start with the tips without wasting your time.

10 Beauty Product Photography To Style Like Pro

1. Show what your customer wants to see

First, you must understand that your makeup product photography is an attempt to grab your customer’s attention. For that, you must understand the use of the images first. It can be for eCommerce, social media, something to display on a website, or something for the brochure.

If you are working for a client, ask them what precisely the image will be used for. Learn about their expectations and deliver what is best for them.

Another point you shall remember is to ensure you understand the viewer’s intention.

Know what they like the most about the product. How will they use the product? Ask these questions before you prepare for the shoot.

• Is the product targeted at people who can afford expensive makeup or for everyone?
• What makes this cosmetic product unique from other competitors?
• Can you use any particular elements in the frame to elevate your message?

And more. Either ask your client or the customer itself.

These little but crucial details will help you create a familiar frame that the audience can trust and buy from your customer.

2. Understand the Brand Motto

Every brand has its aim, mission, and USP (Unique Selling Proposition). In beauty product photography, the USP/motto of the brand must be reflected in your images. A common theme is followed in the brand’s beauty product photography, including how you position your product, the background you chose, and the colors you would like to highlight.

Your makeup product photography will reflect the brand image, so you must be conscious of what you add or remove from your frame.

If a brand has a USP of using natural products, adding ingredients in the frame will give the advantage of conveying your message. You may also note that you don’t have to do this with every photograph you capture.

You can use this beauty product photography tip when launching a new product or a group photograph of the products. Again, knowing the customer would help you know whether or not you need to showcase the USP. 

3. Show the Details

Usually, in beauty product photography, items that are to be captured are of the size of a hand. But while you are charging them, you must show the close details of the product. Customers wish to see how the product looks in real life.

Details are also the factors that turn your beauty product photography into an impactful frame that persuades people to make a purchase.

In the world of online, the fear of being conned can be removed by showing every little detail of the product.

4. Set up your shoot

Every project and every client that you work with will have different goals. Some would like to portray their product in one way and some in another. Specifically, in beauty product photography can vary from land to sky. And you, as a photographer, need to be ready for this creative challenge.

Before the shoot, ask your client to pin down some images on pictures that he likes and would wish you to capture similar to that. You wouldn’t be copying the style, but you will understand the expectation and vision of your client.

Here, do your research and development concept shoots to see what works the best. Here, try out different compositions, ISO, light, etc., and finalize the top 3. Lastly, work around the product with your pre-shoot preparation and the finished top 3 ideas.

Also, Read – Best Product photography equipment

5. Leverage the angles

In beauty product photography, usual is not an option to catch attention. People tend to get attracted to unusual angles that they haven’t seen before. Be a 360-degree photographer and find something new.

Basic frame knowledge is undoubtedly necessary, but rather than that, there aren’t any rules stopping you to explore. Moving around and trying new angles will bring perspective to the frame.

Show something unusual yet impressive in your beauty product photography and find yourself in the soft spot of creative advantage.

6. Props out of the box

If we haven’t said it before, Props play a vital role, but they aren’t always crucial in beauty product photography. Whenever you are using a prop, make sure it is not seeking the attention of the main product itself.

Also, note that the prop you are using matches the color scheme of your shoot. Moreover, if you use props, keep the number to one. Multiple items in the frame often break the focus and act as a distraction.

The goal with props will always be to enhance the product, not to be in a frame. Also, if you are capturing it for eCommerce purposes, instead not add props. Use Only for banners, social media, and advertisements.

7. Choose the right background

The next tip in beauty product photography is to choose the perfect background. The motto, customer expectations, and your client will surely tell you how they see the product. But as creative leverage, you have the power to explode their emotion to a higher level.

For example, if they see a product to be cheerful, you can add contrasting bright colors in the background. Whereas if they see a product colorful, you can use a monochrome or black background to pop out the colors.

Again you can choose any background according to your will where the product is highlighted. On the eCommerce site especially,  the background is usually preferred as wide. But still, you can add natural shadows to enhance the picture.

8. Capture the action

Lately, when we talk about beauty product photography, we need not think about the product standing alone. Especially in banners, the products are displayed in action. Moreover, sometimes in unusual ways.

This catches the attention, brings life to your image, and helps you explore angles of creativity in your sight. While a product is in action, capturing the details is very important, but if you are successful, the result can be one of a kind.

9. Set a tone

Tone describes how your product is perceived, especially in beauty product photography. Styles can vary from pastel colors to bright royal colors, and it all depends on the product.

But most commonly, the tone is set by the brand itself. If it is an accomplished brand, it will follow a specific manner with the website, social media, and other campaigns. You shall keep the wheel rolling by maintaining the style.

If you are with a new client looking for beauty product photography, make sure the tone is essentially unique and attractive. Showcases the overall motto of the company. You can also read excellent tips for Lifestyle Product Photography.

10. Choose your theme

Recently, brands are also very active on social platforms, calling out issues and taking a stand for them. The marketing has also shifted from just capturing the product to a new world showcasing the value.

In beauty product photography, the trend has followed quicker than in any industry. Hence if you are working on a particular theme, ensure you are thorough with it. Don’t lose your tone, yet be active on the social issues with your photography if you are doing so.

Bonus tip

As you have finally gone through the beauty product photography tips, here are essential tips you should keep in mind. It’s about sharing visual information about the product. The more authentic your product image looks, the better it is. And for that, outsourcing post-production efforts comes in handy. It is essential that the work you did, stands out the way you wished it to. But unfortunately, cameras don’t do justice to your creativity, and that’s where you need to work with professionals.

If you want to edit your beauty product photography, outsource them to PixelPhant. We are a leading product image outsourcing service that helps eCommerce and product photographers with their post-production efforts. Get a free trial of the best product image editing service now ?.