Cosmetic product photography is a small niche but an important one. Cosmetic photographers need to know how lighting works and what angles look best in the photo. That also means they must have broad knowledge about makeup, its types, shades, and colors. For instance, trying to shoot a foundation in bright sunlight will not be successful because it will make light reflect the picture and appear very ugly. Despite that, cosmetic product photography always poses challenges. Here are seven cosmetic product photography ideas to help you create great images of your products!
1) Using natural light
. Most professional photographers will push to their limits how much they can shoot during the day with only natural light and then try to get indoors when it's already dark outside, or an artificial lighting system needs to be set up. That means you should always look for new ways to make a photograph differently - that could be a new angle, a better use of shadows, or simply trying out something bold and unrealistic. You'll come across many companies that have managed to take great shots around noon with just one window as their main light source.
2) Reversal film effect
In this case, you can take photos with shiny backgrounds - like chrome or silver surfaces. It's always cool to try out how great it looks when there is something shiny, and in the foreground, there is a product, while everything in between these two will become blurred. It's the ideal way to add sophistication and elegance to your cosmetic product shots.
3) Make use of shadows
Shadows are another great tool in your photographs, especially for beauty shots. If you make shadows with different shapes and add some contrast to them, you can create a sense of depth in your images, making them look more interesting. To make shadows is easy - if the product is on a white background, then simply blocking the light from hitting one side of your product will help you achieve that effect.
4) Use reflections
You can take photos with reflective backgrounds (like mirrors). It's always nice to place something under a mirror so that it can reflect light onto the object you're shooting. It will add a feeling of realism and depth to your images, which makes them look more captivating.
5) Use white backgrounds
White backgrounds are another common feature in beauty product photography. They make every detail visible and allow for sharpness and focus (especially important in close-up photos). You could choose between different types of lighting when making use of a white background - sometimes it's better to use natural light, but there are also situations when setting up an extra lamp that will help you achieve that perfect shot that you need! For example, if the product needs some extra light to make it look better on camera, using your light source will help you achieve that.
6) Use a high-key effect
The high Key Effect is one of the most popular methods used for beauty photography. It's based on making brightness stand out - usually creating pictures with very bright backgrounds and not bright subjects. This technique works well for metallic/shiny materials since they reflect so much light onto their surroundings. It works well if you have a white background to play with - this way, every little specification of dust or bit of hair will become visible, thus leading to even more contrast in the final photograph.