From the sun-drenched summer season beverage photographs of Florentina Olareanu to the minimalist stylings of Priscilla Ong and eccentric creations of Juj Winn, the 500px group continues to raise the sector of product pictures with unconventional, outside-of-the-box considering.
Whether or not they’re spending hours fastidiously arranging “flying” objects within the studio or speeding outdoors to seize a blink-and-you-miss-it second of good pure mild, they go above and past to make magic for his or her purchasers. On this information, we’re sharing some behind-the-scenes secrets and techniques that can assist you give your product photographs that “wow” issue.
Fishing line
Fishing line is ideal for creating the phantasm of objects suspended in mid-air, because the Singapore-based nonetheless life photographer Priscilla Ong did when creating this Hooked on Sweet-themed shoot. She used a transparent line, tied to a c-stand above. This idea works properly with all kinds of merchandise, together with jewellery, tableware, and extra. Simply keep in mind to edit out the road in Photoshop.
Should you don’t have any fishing line available, different supplies may work: to make the macaroons “fly” within the photograph above, the artist Fouzia Khan used very tremendous string. Florentina Olareanu, alternatively, used floss to create the floating spoon beneath.
Picket skewers
Should you want objects coming in from the perimeters fairly than falling in from above, you should use picket skewers to position them precisely the place you need them (with out getting your hand in-frame). That’s how the photographer Galigrafiya created the hovering candies on this shot, positioning the sweets at simply the proper angle earlier than eradicating the wooden skewers in submit.
(On different events, Galigrafiya has opted for clear plexiglas sticks, which you’ll be able to make use of in an identical method. Select what works primarily based on the scale and form of your product.)
Sticky putty
If you’d like objects to remain in place, particularly at an angle, you should use a strong museum putty or sticky tack to maintain them from shifting or falling. Simply place it strategically so the digicam can’t see it.
Playful shadows
You should utilize all the pieces from paper cutouts to chop lace to solid shadows throughout your background and elevate a product shoot. For this one, the Ukrainian photographer Iryna Shevchuk really used openwork tulle for a romantic, delicate vibe.
The shadows of palm leaves and different forms of foliage are an particularly in style alternative for making a tropical ambiance, regardless of the place you’re. For the wine shot beneath, Florentina Olareanu relied on harsh pure mild to get that summertime really feel, which she describes as harking back to an Italian winery.
Cardboard containers
PA Creative Studio, a product pictures studio in India, has used containers of varied sizes and shapes all through their work to create depth and intrigue. Consider it or not, this setup wasn’t created with custom-made platforms from a prop store; it’s made from small cardboard containers and charts (paper and foam) in shades of pink, good for that luxurious aesthetic.
Textured tiles
This hack initially rose to prominence on TikTok. As an alternative of investing in tremendous costly furnishings or giant backdrops, think about grabbing some tile samples from House Depot or Lowe’s (select the proper measurement to suit the product). You’ll use one as your background and one other as your base, mimicking the look of a luxurious countertop.
Faux ice and glycerin combine
Be at liberty to embrace the classics: acrylic ice from a prop store will last more than actual ice, and a half-and-half water and glycerin spray will create the identical refreshing temper as pure condensation. Faux ice and drinks look particularly good when backlit. You don’t should restrict your use of this stuff to beverage photographs alone; think about refreshing skincare campaigns, for instance, or sunscreen for summertime.
Colourful ice cubes
Should you’re utilizing actual ice, think about introducing some shade by including recent flower petals, berries, and even herbs earlier than freezing. Think about the substances within the beverage you’re capturing if you happen to’re on the lookout for concepts.
DIY background
Ana Gómez, a photographer, meals stylist, and educator in Madrid, has painted some stunning backdrops in varied colours. She used canvas material, sponges with totally different textures, black and white paint, a shade chalk paint, putty to create extra texture, and spatulas. Work in layers to create the most effective results.
(Try our information to DIY backgrounds right here.)
Paper in “3D”
To create this 3D phantasm, Frameseeker, a photographer in Vietnam, cleverly used three totally different colours of paper, minimize into exact shapes. It’s a enjoyable and sensible strategy to shoot a minimalist flatlay that appears prefer it was made in a three-dimensional house.
Mirrors
A mirrored image can immediately add depth and curiosity to product shoots. Think about solely together with the mirror picture of the product, fairly than the product itself, for a contact of surrealism, as Juj Winn did on this artistic glowing water session.
Another choice is to position your product straight onto a mirror in order that it’s mirrored from beneath; in that case, you’ll embrace each the product and the reflection. You should buy mirror stands/platforms particularly for this function at prop shops; these are particularly in style when capturing for cosmetics manufacturers.
(In recent times, it’s additionally turn into stylish to convey a mirror outdoors and place your product on prime of it, positioning it in order that simply the clear blue sky above is within the background.)
Acrylic trays
Prop shops additionally carry clear acrylic trays for splash or water-themed product pictures, so that you don’t want entry to a pool or seashore to get the look. Merely take some pale blue seamless paper, place the tray on prime, add a shallow layer of water, and put your product on prime. It’ll create the phantasm that the product is floating in a lot deeper water.
Pc screens
Victoria Glinka, a photographer primarily based in Israel, drew her personal vibrantly hued digital backgrounds in Photoshop. From there, she opened the information in full-screen mode on her monitor (she says you can too use a TV) and positioned some clear glasses in entrance of that background. “Your monitor would be the background and the supply of sunshine on the identical time,” she explains. Prove all the opposite lights within the room, and take your shot. Easy however genius.
Colour gels
Pair a flash with a shade impact gel for a futuristic, neon vibe. To create this nonetheless life, Ibrahim Alsamnan gelled two flashes (blue on the left, pink on the proper) to amp up the drama.
Mild portray
To get the look, strive shifting a colourful mild wand round your product as you employ a protracted shutter velocity. This system works greatest with a black background and no exterior mild sources apart out of your important key mild and the sunshine portray wand itself. Experiment with actions and speeds to see what works together with your product.
From the superbly easy to the flowery and meticulous, we hope we’ve impressed you to strategy your subsequent consumer shoot with recent concepts and a renewed sense of creativity. Should you strive any of those hacks in your product pictures, be sure you tell us within the feedback!
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