From the sun-drenched summer time beverage photographs of Florentina Olareanu to the minimalist stylings of Priscilla Ong and kooky creations of Juj Winn, the 500px neighborhood continues to raise the sector of product images with unconventional, outside-of-the-box pondering.
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 excellent pure gentle, they go above and past to make magic for his or her shoppers. On this information, we’re sharing some behind-the-scenes secrets and techniques that can assist you give your product pictures 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 effectively with all kinds of merchandise, together with jewellery, tableware, and extra. Simply keep in mind to edit out the road in Photoshop.
In case you don’t have any fishing line readily available, different supplies may work: to make the macaroons “fly” within the photograph above, the artist Fouzia Khan used very positive string. Florentina Olareanu, however, used floss to create the floating spoon under.
Wood skewers
In case you want objects coming in from the perimeters moderately than falling in from above, you need to 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 goodies at simply the best angle earlier than eradicating the wooden skewers in publish.
(On different events, Galigrafiya has opted for clear plexiglas sticks, which you’ll make use of in an analogous method. Select what works primarily based on the scale and form of your product.)
Sticky putty
If you need objects to remain in place, particularly at an angle, you need to use a robust 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 every part from paper cutouts to chop lace to forged 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 sorts of foliage are an particularly standard selection for making a tropical environment, irrespective of the place you’re. For the wine shot under, Florentina Olareanu relied on harsh pure gentle to get that summertime really feel, which she describes as harking back to an Italian winery.
Cardboard packing containers
PA Artistic Studio, a product images studio in India, has used packing containers of assorted styles and sizes 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 fabricated from small cardboard packing containers and charts (paper and foam) in shades of pink, excellent for that luxurious aesthetic.
Textured tiles
This hack initially rose to prominence on TikTok. As a substitute of investing in tremendous costly furnishings or giant backdrops, think about grabbing some tile samples from Residence Depot or Lowe’s (select the best dimension 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 happy 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
In case you’re utilizing actual ice, think about introducing some coloration by including contemporary flower petals, berries, and even herbs earlier than freezing. Take into account the substances within the beverage you’re capturing should you’re in search of concepts.
DIY background
Ana Gómez, a photographer, meals stylist, and educator in Madrid, has painted some stunning backdrops in numerous colours. She used canvas cloth, sponges with totally different textures, black and white paint, a coloration chalk paint, putty to create extra texture, and spatulas. Work in layers to create the perfect 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, reduce 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 area.
Mirrors
A mirrored image can immediately add depth and curiosity to product shoots. Take into account solely together with the mirror picture of the product, moderately 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 instantly onto a mirror in order that it’s mirrored from under; in that case, you’ll embrace each the product and the reflection. You should buy mirror stands/platforms particularly for this objective at prop shops; these are particularly standard when capturing for cosmetics manufacturers.
(Lately, it’s additionally change into fashionable to deliver a mirror outdoors and place your product on high 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 images, so that you don’t want entry to a pool or seaside to get the look. Merely take some pale blue seamless paper, place the tray on high, add a shallow layer of water, and put your product on high. It’ll create the phantasm that the product is floating in a lot deeper water.
Pc displays
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 similar time,” she explains. End up all the opposite lights within the room, and take your shot. Easy however genius.
Colour gels
Pair a flash with a coloration impact gel for a futuristic, neon vibe. To create this nonetheless life, Ibrahim Alsamnan gelled two flashes (blue on the left, pink on the best) to amp up the drama.
Mild portray
To get the look, attempt shifting a colourful gentle wand round your product as you employ an extended shutter velocity. This system works finest with a black background and no exterior gentle sources apart out of your major key gentle and the sunshine portray wand itself. Experiment with actions and speeds to see what works along with your product.
From the superbly easy to the frilly and meticulous, we hope we’ve impressed you to strategy your subsequent shopper shoot with contemporary concepts and a renewed sense of creativity. In case you attempt any of those hacks in your product images, you’ll want to tell us within the feedback!
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