What is lifestyle product photography?
Lifestyle product photography shows products in real-life scenarios instead of on a white background. The goal of lifestyle product photography is to make potential customers feel what it would be like to own the product.
Lifestyle product photography can be used for any type of product, from clothing and accessories to home decor and electronics. The key is to style the product in a way that resonates with your target audience.
According to a study conducted by BigCommerce, 78% of online shoppers want photographs to bring products to life – they want to see the product as if it’s part of their own daily lives.
In this article, we’ll give you tips on how to create images that will resonate with your audience and boost your or your client’s e-commerce sales.
8 tips to help you create stunning lifestyle product images
1. Define your aesthetic
Before you start taking lifestyle product photos, you need to define your brand’s aesthetic. What kind of vibe do you want your photos to have?
Are you going for a minimalist look or are you aiming for something more eclectic? Once you have a clear idea of your desired aesthetic, it will be easier to style your products and choose product photography props that fit with your vision.
It’s also important to keep your target audience in mind when defining your aesthetic. What kind of lifestyle do your ideal customers lead?
Your lifestyle product photography should reflect the lifestyle of your target customer.
For example, if you’re selling luxury handbags, your photos should exude luxury and sophistication.
On the other hand, if you’re selling home accessories in a medium price range, your lifestyle product photos should be more relatable and down-to-earth.
2. Create a mood board
Take a look at other lifestyle product photography for inspiration and start creating a mood board of the looks you want to recreate.
The best way to create a mood board for your photo project is to use Pinterest. You can create a board for each photo project and pin images that inspire you.
This will not only help you keep your aesthetic consistent but it will also make the styling process a lot easier.
Mood boards can also be a great way to communicate your vision to your client and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
3. Find the right props
Props are one of the most important elements of lifestyle product photography. The right props can help you create the perfect mood and bring your vision to life.
Think about what kind of props would be appropriate for your products and the aesthetic you’re going for. For example, if you’re selling beauty products, you might want to use flowers or makeup brushes as props.
If you’re selling home decor, you might want to style your products with books, vases, or candles.
The key is to choose props that are in line with your brand identity and the lifestyle of your target customer.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your props and experiment until you find the perfect combination.
Pro tip: If you’re having trouble finding the right props, try shopping at thrift stores or flea markets. You can often find unique and interesting items for a fraction of the price.
Keep in mind that less is more when it comes to props. You don’t want your photos to be cluttered or too busy.
A few well-chosen props will do the trick.
Product photography props
Here are 5 places where you can search for beautiful product photography props and accessories:
4. Make it clear what the product is for
When styling your products, it’s important to show what the product is for. This will help your customers visualize how they can use the product in their own lives.
For example, if you’re selling candles, you might want to style them with books, vases, and other home decors to convey a warm and inviting vibe at home.
If you’re selling a piece of jewelry, you might want to style it with an outfit to show that it can be worn as part of a complete look.
The key is to make it easy for your customers to see how they can use the product.
Remember, the goal is to make your products relatable and practical. Your customers should be able to see themselves using the product in their everyday lives.
5. Consider color psychology
When preparing for a product photoshoot and choosing props, it’s important to consider color psychology. Different colors can evoke different emotions and feelings.
For example, the color red is often associated with love, passion, and energy. The color blue is often associated with trust, loyalty, and wisdom.
The color green is often associated with growth, harmony, and freshness.
Choose colors that are in line with the message you want to convey with your lifestyle product photography.
For example, if you’re selling a skincare product that promises to reduce wrinkles, you might want to use the color green in your photos.
This will subtly communicate to your customers that your product is all about growth and renewal.
Color psychology is a complex topic, and there are many different factors to consider. But if you keep it in mind while styling your photos, it can be a powerful tool for conveying the right message to your audience.
6. Hire a model
If you want to take your lifestyle product photography to the next level, consider hiring a model.
Models can help you create more dynamic and interesting photos. They can also help you show off your products in new and creative ways.
When choosing a model, it’s important to find someone who fits your brand identity and the aesthetic you’re going for.
For example, if you need to take lifestyle photos of yoga mats, you might want to hire a model who looks fit and healthy.
If you need to take photos of small accessories, you might want to hire a model with delicate features.
When hiring a model, it’s also important to consider their experience and expertise.
Models who have experience posing for lifestyle product photography will know how to style your products in the most flattering way and make them look their best.
If you don’t have a budget for a professional model, you can always use your friends or family members. Just make sure they’re comfortable in front of the camera and are willing to try out different poses.
Pro tip: Make sure your friends or family members wear clothes that will complement the overall look of the photo and won’t distract from the product.
7. Aim for authenticity
The best lifestyle product photos are the ones that feel authentic. They should look like they were taken in a real-life scenario, not in a studio or on a set.
One way to achieve this is by using natural lighting. If possible, take your photos outdoors or near a window and make sure you create a well-lit image. Try to avoid direct sunlight, which can create harsh shadows in your final image.
Another way to achieve authenticity is by using real people in your photos.
If you’re selling lifestyle products like clothes or accessories, consider using models or everyday people in your photos.
This will help your customers connect with your products and see them as something they could use in their own lives.
8. Different angles and focus
When taking lifestyle product photos, it’s important to experiment with different angles and depths of field.
Sometimes, the most interesting photos are the ones that are taken from unexpected angles.
For example, instead of taking a photo of a vase from the front, try taking a photo of it from the side.
Or, instead of taking a photo of a shirt from the front, try taking a photo of it from the back.
Experimenting with different angles will help you create more unique and interesting photos.
It’s also important to experiment with different depths of field. For example, you might want to try taking a photo of a subject with a shallow depth of field.
This means that the subject will be in focus, but the background will be blurry.
Shallow depth of field photos are often more visually interesting than photos with a deep depth of field.
So, don’t be afraid to experiment with different focus when taking lifestyle product photos.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed 8 tips that will help you create stunning product lifestyle photography for social media and e-commerce stores. Make sure you follow these 8 tips to get the best results out of your lifestyle product photos:
- Define your aesthetic
- Create a mood board
- Find the right props
- Make it clear what the product is for
- Consider color psychology
- Hire a model
- Aim for authenticity
- Use different angles and depth of field
By following these tips, you can learn how to take stunning lifestyle product photography that will make your products look their best.
Bonus
Here is a list of 6 companies that are doing lifestyle product photography right:
1. Bang & Olufsen
Bang & Olufsen manufactures high-quality premium appliances (audio speakers, headphones, TVs, players, and more). The company pays great attention to the smallest details in their products and this is clearly reflected through the photos they use on their website and social networks. Bang & Olufsen equipment is not just a technique, but a work of art in itself.
2. Native Union
Native Union offers various accessories such as wireless chargers for phones, laptop sleeves, high-quality cables for devices, and many other products. All of their product images showcase a modern lifestyle, and “modern” is clearly reflected company’s Instagram account. Stylish and minimalistic photo compositions help them differentiate their brand from many other brands in their business niche and ultimately help them sell more products through their e-commerce website.
3. Maude
Maude is a brand that sells premium quality products for intimate care. The company’s strategy is to show its products in use and not just focus on the product itself. In other words, they focus on lifestyle photography rather than conventional product photos. This helps them connect with their target audience on a deeper level and ultimately sell more products.
4. MISMO
MISMO is a Denmark-based brand that produces high-quality bags and small accessories for people who live an active lifestyle. The company’s Instagram feed is full of beautiful lifestyle photos that show their products in use. This helps potential customers see how they can use MISMO products in their own lives and ultimately makes them more likely to purchase their products.
5. AATHER
AATHER is a brand that makes hand-made candles with a very minimal and distinctive design and packaging. The company’s Instagram feed is full of beautiful lifestyle photos that show their candles being used in different settings and scenarios. Their photography style is very minimal and distinctive and focuses on a very specific target audience. This helps AATHER to stand out from other candle manufacturers and helps them grow their customer base.
6. BOO OH
BOO OH is a lifestyle pet product brand uniquely designed to elevate ordinary moments. The company’s Instagram feed showcases a lot of beautiful product lifestyle photos of their dog leashes and other dog accessories. Their dog accessories feature a very unique design that is targeted toward a luxury segment and their product photos clearly demonstrate it and differentiate them from other companies in the dog accessories segment.
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