Product Photoshoot

September 28, 2023September 28, 2023

Mastering Minimalism: Utilizing Negative Space to Elevate Product Styling

Product styling is not about using a zillion props to make your products stand out. A stark opposite strategy, minimalism, could catch the eye of more people than you could imagine! Minimalism is all about decluttering and using the bare minimum to create simple yet effective compositions.

At The G Story, we have some of the best product stylists in Mumbai who have broken down how you can master the art of minimalism and produce a jaw-dropping display of product imagery!

How to use minimalism in product styling?

The more simple a minimalist product photograph looks, the more challenging it is to create. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of minimalist photography with the following product styling tips:

Less is more: Nothing encapsulates the essence of minimalism quite like this phrase. The fewer elements used, the more impactful the photograph will be. You can effectively direct the viewer’s attention towards the product by eliminating background clutter and distractions.

Negative space: Negative space is the surrounding empty area and how you use it to enhance the subject. If you keep the frame too tight and try to photograph the subject up close, it will leave little room for mood setting and storytelling. So, as per the rule, your composition should strike a balance between 80% negative space (background) and 20% positive space (product).

If you need color psychology in beauty product photography ideas, check out The G Story’s portfolio.

Background: Minimalist product styling aims to achieve simplicity in every aspect. So, when choosing backgrounds for your photoshoot, keep them as plain as possible. If it sounds too boring to you, the next few product styling tips concentrate on design elements you can use to make your minimalist photographs exciting and fun.
Colors: As a product stylist, you need to be a master of color schemes and their ability to evoke emotions and feelings. While the simplest way to give the product center stage is to use a plain white or black background, there are umpteen other ways to go about it, such as monochromatic and complementary color palettes.
Light and shadows: You can use lighting to create a play of lights and shadows and weave a meaningful visual narrative or craft metaphors. For instance, imagine a product styling project for sunscreen. You can cast a soft shadow of a coconut leaf on the product, symbolizing adequate sun protection.
Lines and shapes: How you place your products can create various guiding lines, influencing the viewer’s attention. Repetitive patterns lead to symmetrical compositions, giving an aesthetically pleasing look and feel, whereas curves and organic shapes can add elegance and fluidity to the image.
Composition: Composition is arranging and harmonizing all the photography elements. You must also pay attention to the camera angles you choose. Ultimately, whatever you do, your aim should be to make the product the star of the show and get the attention it deserves.

Is product styling a good career in India?

With small to large e-commerce businesses emerging every other day in India, the competition to secure a top position in the market is becoming increasingly intense. Every brand wants to connect with its target audiences, and a pivotal strategy in achieving that is creating a killer product showcase.

It is where product stylists come into play since they possess the knack to understand brands in-depth and curate a photography style guide unique to their needs. So, if you are considering a career in product styling, we suggest taking the leap!

Find the best product stylist in Mumbai

If you need a product stylist for cosmetics in Mumbai, you can conclude your search at The G Story! Besides working with Indian and global cosmetic brands, our team has successfully delved into other industries, such as skincare, food, home decor, and fashion! For more information, you can schedule a meeting with us today.

September 18, 2023September 28, 2023

Color Psychology in Beauty Product Photography

With online shopping taking the world by storm, users are subjected to hundreds of brand product photos daily across e-commerce websites, social media, or casual internet browsing. Whether your brand sells skincare, cosmetics, or fragrances, making your beauty product photography stand out in this online clutter is more complex than capturing aesthetic shots. From lighting to props to colors, a lot goes behind every great beauty product photo that influences nearly 75% of online shoppers‘ buying decisions.

But one aspect of photography that directly taps into consumer emotions and shapes their perception of a beauty product has to be color! Delve deep into color psychology and its importance in creative photography with the G Story.

What emotions can different colors generate during a beauty product photoshoot?

Every color can convey various meanings and emotions, depending on how it’s used and the context of the image. Here are some ideas:

Red: Red is a powerful and attention-grabbing color that exudes passion, boldness, confidence, sensuality, elegance, and luxury when used in cosmetic product photography. In other contexts, it can also evoke warmth and comfort.
Pink: Beauty product photography is incomplete without pink, often associated with femininity, softness, love, and nurture. It can convey a gentle and delicate image, making it suitable for products like personal care, make-up, and perfumes targeted at a female audience.
Purple: To bring out royalty, luxury, tranquility, and femininity, soft purple hues such as mauve and lavender are the right choice. On the other hand, electric purple hues in creative photography can give a bold and unconventional look and feel.
Blue: Blue reminds us of nature as it is the color of the ocean and sky. Calmness, peace, purity, trust, and refreshment are some of the feelings that customers may feel when blue is integrated into cosmetic product photography.
Green: Another color found abundantly in nature, green can bring vitality, freshness, serenity, health, growth, sustainability, and youthfulness. A typical example is green plants used as beauty products photography props when shooting for organic beauty brands.
Yellow and orange: To invoke feelings of optimism, happiness, hope, warmth, and youthfulness, the hues of yellows and oranges are the perfect choice! Soft, muted shades of yellow, like pastel yellows or pale gold, can convey a sense of elegance and luxury, ideal for high-end beauty products.
Brown: Brown is widely used in natural beauty products photoshoots to showcase organic, earthiness, and well-being. When used for fragrant products, it evokes warmth and comfort, while for high-end cosmetics, it conveys sophistication.
White: In skincare and cosmetic product photography, where qualities such as purity, class, luxury, and innocence need to be highlighted, white is the color you can rely on.
Black: Black represents power, authority, sophistication, elegance, luxury, and confidence and is timelessly used for high-end beauty products photoshoots.

What is the 3 color rule in photography?

Using models is one of the most popular beauty product photography ideas. The G Story has an insightful tip to share to take these photos to the next level. All you need to do is apply the 3-color portrait photography rule, where you work with three core colors: the model’s skin tone, attire, and background. Using this approach, you can choose a cohesive color scheme and harmonizing composition that ensures your beauty product remains the primary focus of the photograph.

Explore beauty product photography ideas.

While theory will equip you with knowledge, it’s not until you see it that you will truly understand what goes into beauty product photography. The G Story has worked with global as well as homegrown beauty brands! Our extensive creative photography portfolio can be one of your best sources of inspiration. Before you go, if you need to tell a story about your brand, we’re just a message, email, or call away!

August 16, 2023August 17, 2023

Lens on Adventure: Tales of Travel Photography

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As an enthusiastic photographer, you always seek something new to capture through your lens. And what’s a more opportune time to do that than when on a journey? You never know what will pique your interest—picturesque landscapes, delicious food at a cozy cafe, or children playing on the street.

So, if you wish to take your lens on an adventure, The G Story knows the tips and tricks to help you fill up an album full of stunning photos!

Types of photography you can do while traveling

1. Food photography

What’s Mumbai without vada pav, Tokyo without sushi and Paris without croissants? The point is food is the soul of any place. Local restaurants, street food stalls, and neighborhood markets make great spots for capturing food stories! Pro tip: a good food photograph should be able to tantalize your viewer’s taste buds!

2. Lifestyle photography

Holidaying with your family and friends is the best time to capture candid solo, couple, and group shots. Everyone looks and feels their best and is enthusiastic about being photographed. Whether it’s the serene beaches of Pondicherry or the colorful lanes of Fontainhas in Goa, every destination offers unique backdrops for a fun lifestyle photoshoot.

3. Fashion photography

Like creative lifestyle photography, fashion photography is a genre worth exploring when on the go, especially if you’re into traditional clothing and accessories associated with the geography or history of a particular region. You can rent or buy these garments and scout for the best locations, including popular tourist spots and hidden gems for your fashion shoot. Secondly, in a cosmopolitan city like Goa or Kochi, you can carry your own outfits, accessories, and props that align with the destination’s vibe.

4. Street photography

The local streets are the heartbeat of any city. It’s the best place to meet, interact, and document the local people immersed in their everyday life. The hardworking street vendors, children on their bicycles, beautiful women laughing—in every nook and cranny, you will find a new visual story waiting to be captured.

5. Landscape photography

If you are in a destination closer to nature, you will probably have an irresistible urge to capture the breathtaking views surrounding you. Sunrise, sunsets, starry nights, mountains, waterfalls, oceans, grasslands, flower fields—nature presents never-ending beauty for our inspiration. Being able to capture the sheer vastness, vivid hues, and unique textures in your panoramas is the ultimate test of your skills. Hint: they make great backgrounds for lifestyle photoshoots as well.

6. Architecture photography

This photography genre stretches across all human-made marvels, including skyscrapers, houses, bridges, churches, museums, monuments, palaces, and temples. It poses a unique challenge since you cannot shift your subject nor control the lighting or weather conditions. Focus on the play of lines, patterns, shapes, shadows, reflections, and other background elements surrounding the architecture.

Valuable tips and tricks for travel photography

Before you start packing your photography gear, The G Story has a concluding piece of advice:

Research: Whether you are planning to do lifestyle photography or food photography, it is always better to look up your travel destination and make notes of the spots you want to visit for photography.

Be flexible: While planning is good, you must also be ready to wander off to random places to capture the undiscovered spots.

Gear up right and light: Decide the type of photography you will do and pack your photography essentials accordingly.

Plan photo walks: Dedicate time to your photography endeavors, even if you are traveling in a group. And remember to take advantage of the magic hours!

Follow the rules: Photography is not appreciated everywhere, so remember to respect the locals, take consent, and back off when needed.

August 16, 2023August 17, 2023

From Vision to Execution: The Art Director’s Journey in Product Photography

Why do the end credits of a film start with the director’s name? Obviously, because their creative vision and leadership bring the movie to life. Remove them from the filmmaking process, and the film no longer exists! In the world of product photography, that credit goes to an art director. From the point of envisioning the product photoshoot to suggesting finishing touches during photo editing, they are responsible for all creative decisions, earning them the title of the ‘backbone of product photography.’

The G Story, a creative content agency reigning the product photography scene across the city of dreams, has profound insights into the art director’s journey. So, keep reading if you wish to know more!

Art director's role in a product photoshoot: A breakdown from vision to execution

An art director is a natural leader and a people person in a true sense who knows to drive the team toward creative success. They have a knack for recognizing everyone’s talents and making the most of them for the project. Originality, innovation, curiosity, and exploration are qualities unique to them that reflect in all stages of creative product photography.

Stage 1: Creative conceptualization

An art director first understands the brand strategy, creative brief, and target audience. They unite the team, including photographers, stylists, set designers, and post-production specialists, to brainstorm content creation ideas that best communicate the brand’s vision. The final creative concept, aka the “big idea” approved by the client, forms the guiding framework of the project.

The hustle begins soon after—setting deadlines, budgeting, assigning tasks, curating mood boards, selecting props and backgrounds, and everything else needed before going onto the set. The art director oversees every inch of the creative process and removes any roadblocks that dare to surface.

Stage 2: Creative direction

The end of the pre-production marks the beginning of the production stage—the most exciting part of creative product photography! Here’s when the art director helps the team transfer the envisioned concept from screen to set. Under their guidance, all the elements, including props, products, backgrounds, and other set elements, harmoniously converge into a visual masterpiece. Now all that is left is pressing the shutter button!

Stage 3: Professional shooting

During this phase, the art director works closely with the photographer, directing the play of lights, shadows, composition, framing, and camera angles. This collaborative effort aims to capture compelling shots that convey the intended mood, aesthetic, and narrative.

While art directors rule the set, they are never arrogant about it. They appreciate constructive feedback and encourage people from the creative content agency to weigh in during the product photoshoot. They follow no rulebook and remain highly flexible and adaptable to necessary changes and adjustments, even if they are last-minute!

Stage 4: Post-production editing

Once the wrap-up is announced, it’s time to go back in front of the screens to add finishing touches to the images. The art director’s involvement in post-production is crucial to ensure that the final content creation aligns with the “big idea” and creates the desired impact. They manage a team of digital editors who do their magic tricks to enhance the quality of the images.

Stage 5: Project completion

Art directors stick around until the very end. They present the work to the clients, gather feedback, address any requested changes, and deliver the finished project.

Plan your creative product photography shoot today.

Art directors can make or break your brand’s content creation. As a creative content agency, The G Story has some of the best art directors in town who have delivered outstanding photographs that have driven massive sales for various brands, including Colgate, Himalaya, Lakme, Nykaa, and more. So if you’re looking for a similar experience for your company, hop on to our boat and sail through the ocean of product photography!

June 16, 2023July 20, 2023

Propping Up Product Styling: Essential Props to Elevate Your Product Photography

Product photography is more complex than simply clicking photos of the products. It requires careful attention to detail and using props to create impactful visual compositions that help bring out the brand’s unique story and personality. Besides, these elements enhance product features, make the products memorable, and help them stand out in the crowded marketplace.

So, if you want to elevate your product photography, The G Story product photography stylists have a 101 guide on props that you can use for your next photoshoot!

What props should you use for your product photography photoshoot?

Flowers and foliage

Using fresh flowers of different types and colors as props can evoke delight, joy, love, elegance, and nostalgia. Roses can enhance feminine perfumes, while lilies pair well with high-end skincare products. On the other hand, foliage gives a natural, fresh, and serene look and feel, making it suitable for home decor, wellness products, and organic food products. For men’s products, dried botanicals work like a charm!

Lighting

Fairy lights or candles showcase comfort, well-being, and coziness, making them perfect for home decor, fashion accessories, festive items, and wellness products. You can even use a table lamp or standing light to spotlight a product.

Books and magazines

Books and magazines are ideal for luxury product photography, such as shoes, eyewear, cameras, or elegant furniture. Self-care brands can use cut-outs of motivational words or quotes in the background, while recipe books would be best for food products! Chunky books can be stacked together to create height for your products.

Food and ingredients

Food and ingredients are some of the most fun elements all product photography stylists love. You need not limit the use of these props when photographing food and beverages. Fresh fruits can highlight key ingredients in skin care products and perfumes, while spices and dry fruits are ideal for organic oils.

Fabrics

Fabrics help add various textures, colors, depth, and interest to the products. You can place the material underneath your product, use it as a curtain backdrop, or fold it uniquely to draw attention to your product. Experiment with different fabrics, such as cotton, wool, linen, velvet, silk, satin, chiffon, or faux fur, depending on the look and feel you wish to create. For instance, The G Story often uses silk in luxury product photography, such as high-end cosmetics or perfumes.

Ribbon

A curled-up ribbon can make all the difference when your composition feels too flat or empty. A fun element that comes in various colors and patterns, it can genuinely raise the vibe of the image.

Blocks and plinths

Placing your products on blocks of colorful foam, wood, clear acrylic, or stones can help draw attention toward them and add depth to the visual composition. Blocks and plinths are one of the most versatile props for any product.

Mirrors

Mirrors are widely used in product photography as they serve multiple purposes to enhance the overall visual composition. They can effectively create reflections, illusions, and symmetry, adding depth, dimension, and balance to the images. Mirrors also allow you to simultaneously showcase different angles of the product in a single shot.

Stationery and electronics

Stationery and electronics are other favorites of product photography stylists because of their diversity and accessibility. They are majorly used to provide context and demonstrate the functionality of the products. Apart from that, stationery adds fun and play to the composition, while electronics set a modern and tech-savvy vibe.

Let’s get proppin’

Now that you have discovered what props can enhance your luxury product photography, it is time to find them! Local shops, flea markets, online stores, or even your home—there are a zillion places to source props for your shoots. Check out The G Story’s product photography collection if you need more inspiration. From flowers to fabrics, we have experimented with various props to craft compelling and memorable compositions!
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of DIY (do it yourself), book a consultation with us—The G Story— and we can help you create your visual brand story! Contact us now.

Category: Product Photoshoot