Candles are a popular product to sell online, but with so many candle makers in the market, it is essential to find ways to make your candles stand out from the rest.
One way to do this is by taking stunning candle product photography.
This blog post will give you 7 candle product photography ideas and tips for creating beautiful candle photos that will help boost your or your client’s online sales.
Candle Product Photography Ideas
#1. Candle + Neutral Background + Natural Textured Stone
For a clean and classic look, try placing your candles on a neutral background with a naturally textured stone.
This product photography setup is simple yet effective and can be easily done at home with items you likely already have.
Simply find a flat surface in your home that gets good light, such as a windowsill, and set up your candles on top of a beige sheet, white background, or piece of fabric.
Then, add a naturally textured stone for extra interest and texture in your photo.
Pro tip: You may enhance a basic composition by adding unique shadows to your photograph by placing a palm leaf or any other greenery leaf near the light source.
If you don’t have any leaves, you can create a GOBO (go-between object), which is a stencil that creates interesting shadows in your photo.
#2. Candle + Textile + Coffee Book or a Magazine + Greenery Props
If you want to add a bit more of a lifestyle feel to your product photos, try placing your candles on top of the textile with some coffee books or magazines.
To make this composition idea one step further, you can also add some greenery props, such as eucalyptus leaves or a small bouquet of fresh or dried flowers.
This is a great way to make your candles look inviting and cozy, perfect for when customers are looking for candles to burn during the colder months.
When using textiles in your product photos, make sure the fabric is clean and free of wrinkles.
You may also want to consider using multiple layers of fabric to add more interest and texture to your photo.
Pro tip: When using coffee books and magazines in your photo compositions, try to think of your target audience and what type of books and magazines they read.
This way your customers will be able to relate to the product, even more, thus increasing the likelihood of a sale.
Here are three stylish coffee books that you can frequently use in your product photography compositions:
- Live Beautiful
- Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style
- The Monocle Guide to Hotels, Inns and Hideaways
#3. Candle + Scent Ingredients
If you are selling candles with unique scents, it can be helpful to include the scent ingredients in your product photos.
This is a great way to show off the natural and/or organic ingredients you use in your candles, as well as give customers an idea of what the candle might smell like.
To do this, simply place your candle on a neutral background with the scent ingredients arranged around it.
You can lay them out in a pretty pattern or just place them haphazardly, depending on the look you are going for.
You can also include additional photo props such as geometric shapes in your photos to add a modern look to your photo.
When photographing candles with unique scents, be sure to include a close-up photo of the candle so that customers can see the different scent ingredients.
This is especially important if you are selling candles with multiple scents, as customers will want to be able to see which ingredients are in each candle.
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#4. Candle + Model Hands
If you want to add a bit of a human element to your candle product photography, try using model hands in your photos.
This is a great way to give customers an idea of the size and scale of the candle. Simply have a model hold the candle in their hands and position them how you want.
When using model hands in your product photography, be sure to use clean and well-manicured model hands.
You don’t want your customers to see dirty nails or chipped nail polish in your photos, which may discourage your potential customers from making a sale.
If you don’t have a model on hand, you can always use your own hands to take a similar candle product photo.
All you need to do is to use a tripod and set a timer on your product photography camera to take a shot.
Also, if you have a modern mirrorless camera, there is a good chance that it has an application through which you can control your camera and see how your frame is composed before taking the photo.
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#5. Candle + Unique Props
Another great way to add some flair to your candle product photography is by using fun and unique props.
For example, you can use an antique vase, geometric props, flowers, notebooks, various souvenirs, and other props to create really stunning candle photo compositions as in the example above by Dureen Truong.
Just be sure that the prop you choose doesn’t take away from the focus of the photo, which should still be on the candle.
If you want to get really creative with your candle product photography, you can even try creating a scene around the candle.
This could be anything from a picnic in the park to a romantic dinner for two. The key is to use props that help tell a story and add some context to the photo.
#6. Candle + Colorful Backdrop + Product Packaging
If you want your candle product photography to really pop, try using a colorful backdrop.
Simply set up your candle composition on a brightly colored background and take a photo.
You can even use multiple colors in your background to create a really striking photo.
Pro tip: You can use a color wheel to find the best matching color for your primary color backdrop.
Here is a simple-to-use color wheel from Canva that you can use to find a matching color.
In addition to using a colorful backdrop, you can also try incorporating the candle’s packaging into the candle photography composition.
This is a great way to show customers how your candles come packaged and can be a great selling point for your product. Simply take a photo of the candle with the packaging in the background or even in the foreground.
If you want to get really creative with your product photography, you can even try using the packaging as a prop in your photo.
For instance, you could use the box the candle comes in as a frame for the photo.
#7. Candle + Mirror Prop
If you want to add a little bit of mystery to your candle product photography, try using a mirror prop. Mirrors are great for adding depth and dimension to your photos.
To use a mirror in your candle product photography, simply set up the composition with the mirror in the background or even in the foreground.
You can even use multiple mirrors to create a really interesting effect.
If you want to get really creative with your mirror prop, you can even try using it to reflect the candle in the photo.
This is a great way to add some symmetry and balance to the composition. Simply position the mirror so that it reflects the candle in the photo and take a shot.
Another great way to use a mirror in your candle product photography is to use it as a reflector. This is a great way to add some light and dimension to your photos. To use a mirror as a reflector, simply position the mirror so that it reflects the light onto the candle. You can even use multiple mirrors to create a really interesting light effect.
Now that we went through the 7 ideas for your next candle product photoshoot, let’s go through the 7 tips that will help you create stunning candle photos for e-commerce and Etsy.
7 Tips to Improve Your Candle Product Photography
#1. Understand your target audience
Before you start your candle photoshoot, it is important to understand who your target audience is.
This will help you determine the style of photography that will appeal to them the most.
For instance, if you are selling candles to a younger demographic, you might want to use more colorful and edgy photos.
However, if you are selling candles to a more mature demographic, you might want to use more classic and elegant photos that will reflect the lifestyle of your target audience and increase the likelihood of a sale
#2. Use the color wheel
A color wheel is a great tool that will help you understand which colors go well together.
Simply find the color of your candles on the color wheel and then choose complementary colors for your props and background. This will help you create cohesive and visually appealing photos.
#3. Utilize different angles in your photography
Try to use different angles to add dimensionality to your photos and make them more visually appealing.
Try photographing your candles from above, at eye level, and from below to see which angle works best for the composition you’ve created.
#4. Use a tripod and a slower shutter speed
In order to capture beautiful candlelight try to use a slow shutter speed together.
When shooting with a slow shutter speed it is important to use a tripod to keep your photos sharp.
#5. Choose the right props
Props can be a great way to add interest to your photos and make your candles really stand out.
Make sure that the props you choose complement the style of your candles and match the aesthetic of your brand.
I highly recommend you to read my article about photography props: 17 Best Product Photography Props in 2022.
Recommended product photography props:
#6. Use negative space
One of the best ways to make your candles stand out in your photos is to use negative space.
Negative space is an area around your subject that is empty and free of distractions.
When used correctly, negative space can really help your subject pop and draw attention to it. Position your candles in the center of the frame and leave plenty of empty space around them.
This will help your viewers focus on the candle and really appreciate the details of your candles.
#7. Use a reflector
A reflector is a great way to add light and dimension to your photos.
Reflectors are usually white or silver and can be positioned so that they reflect light onto your subject.
This is a great way to add some extra light to your photos without using a flash.
#8. Avoid lighting your work with indoor, yellowish lights
When photographing candles try to use natural light by placing your candle near the window or shooting outdoors.
If you are planning to shoot your products outdoors with natural light, try to avoid direct sunlight which can cast very harsh shadows near your candle, which can distract viewers from the main subject in the frame.
Alternatively, use a flash with a yellow or orange gel to light your composition and add warmth to it.
#9. Don’t forget to take a photo of the packaging
Did you know that 72% of American consumers say that product packaging design influences their purchase decision (IPSOS)?
This means that your product packaging design is just as important as the product itself.
When photographing candles for sale, make sure to take a photo of the packaging as well.
This will give potential customers a complete idea of what they are buying and help increase sales.
Handpicked Candle Photo Ideas from Pinterest
If you are looking for more candle photo shoot ideas, feel free to check out this Pinterest board.
I have handpicked the best candle photo ideas to help you get inspiration for your next candle photo shoot.
To Sum Up
In this article, I’ve shared with you seven candle photography ideas and tips to help boost your sales.
I hope you found this information helpful and that you’ll be able to put it into practice the next time you photograph candles for yourself or for your product photography clients.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write me an email at: hi [at] ohmycamera.com.
