title: "How to Plan and Execute a Styled Product Photo Shoot" date: 2024-08-28 slug: /how-to-plan-styled-product-photoshoot word_count: 2400 images: 6
How to Plan and Execute a Styled Product Photo Shoot
A product photographer's task is to make items shine for adverts and promotions. This means taking shots of the product either solo or within a styled scene.
Product photo shoots can be planned and executed in a number of ways, depending on your creative vision and the resources available. In this article, we outline how to plan and execute a styled product photo shoot, from start to finish.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Styled Photo Shoot?
- What Does a Styled Photo Shoot Mean for eCommerce?
- Types of Styled Product Photo Shoots
- How to Plan a Styled Photo Shoot
- Professional Photo Editing Services by Pixel by Hand
- FAQ
What Is a Styled Photo Shoot?
A styled product photo shoot is one in which the product is placed in a specific setting or context to create a certain look or feel. This could be anything from a carefully arranged still life to a more complex set-up with models and props.
For example, a photographer might style a product shoot to convey a feeling of luxury and opulence by using high-end props and a sumptuous colour palette. Or, they could go for a more naturalistic approach, placing the product in an everyday setting such as a kitchen or garden.
The possibilities are endless — it all depends on your imagination and the message you want to communicate through your photos.
The key thing to remember with a styled shoot is that everything in the frame should contribute to the overall look and feel you are trying to create. Every element, from the lighting to the background, should be carefully considered in advance.
What Does a Styled Photo Shoot Mean for eCommerce?
There are many reasons why you might want to style a product photo shoot rather than photographing the product in isolation. Styled product photos can be more visually interesting and engaging than simple product shots. They can also convey a lot of information about the product and its intended use, which is helpful for customers making purchasing decisions.
Styled photo shoots can also help your products stand out from the competition. In a world where everyone is selling online, making sure your products stand out from the crowd is more important now than ever. A well-executed styled photo shoot will help your products look their best and give potential customers a reason to choose your brand.
In addition, styled product photos can convey a certain brand identity or style that makes your products more recognisable and memorable. This is particularly important for small businesses and start-ups trying to establish themselves in a competitive market.
A styled photo shoot is an opportunity to tell a story about your product and give potential customers a sense of what it's like to use it. This is especially important for lifestyle brands, where the story behind the product is just as important as the product itself.
Finally, styled product photos are excellent for social media marketing and other digital marketing initiatives. They help your products stand out and make your brand more visible online.
In eCommerce, first impressions are everything. The photos you use on your website and social media will be the first thing potential customers see, so they must make a strong impression.
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Types of Styled Product Photo Shoots
There are many different ways to style a product photo shoot. The best approach for your online store will depend on a number of factors including the type of product you are selling, your budget, and the look and feel you are trying to achieve.
Some of the most popular types of styled product photo shoots are:
Still Life
This is the simplest and most cost-effective option for product photography. It involves arranging the products in a specific way and photographing them against a neutral background. This type of shoot is perfect for small businesses with limited budgets.
Still life styled shoots are great for showcasing products like jewellery, homewares, and fashion accessories. For example, a jewellery designer might style a still life photo shoot with their products arranged on a velvet cloth against a dark background, creating a luxurious and glamorous look that appeals to customers.
Alternatively, a homewares brand might arrange their products attractively on a wooden table, creating a warm and welcoming look that encourages customers to purchase.
Lifestyle
A lifestyle photo shoot involves placing the product in an everyday context, such as a kitchen or living room. This type of shoot is more expensive than a still life shoot, but it can effectively convey the message you want to communicate.
This type of shoot works best for products like appliances, home decor, and furniture. For example, a furniture company might style a lifestyle shoot with its products placed in a beautiful, stylish living room, giving potential customers an idea of how the furniture would look in their own homes.
Action
An action photo shoot is perfect for products designed to be used in a specific way, such as sports equipment or kitchen appliances. This type of shoot can be more expensive, but it is very effective in demonstrating the product in use.
This type of shoot works well for fitness equipment, kitchen appliances, and power tools. For example, if you're selling fitness equipment, you can create an action shoot where your products are used by models in a gym setting.
The same goes for brands offering kitchen appliances or power tools — having your products photographed in use provides customers with clear context on how they work.
Modelled
If you want your photos to have a more human element, consider using models in your styled photo shoot. This adds extra complexity, but it can be well worth the effort.
In a modelled photo shoot, the product is photographed being used by a model in a specific setting. Using models helps create more lifestyle-oriented photos that give potential customers a better sense of what it's like to use your product.
This is best used for products like clothing, cosmetics, and fragrances. For example, a fashion retailer can run a modelled photo shoot with its products worn by models in various settings, showing potential customers how the clothing can be styled.
Flat Lays
A flat lay is a type of styled product photo shoot that involves arranging the products in a specific way on a flat surface, such as a table or floor. This type of shoot is perfect for products that can be easily arranged, such as jewellery, homewares, and fashion accessories.
Flat lays are also a great option for small businesses with limited budgets, as they can be done without expensive props or backdrops. They work particularly well for jewellery and fashion accessories.
For example, jewellers can create a flat lay with their products arranged on a velvet cloth, highlighting the details in each piece. Items like necklaces and bracelets particularly benefit from this approach.
Fashion retailers can also use flat lays to showcase clothing items such as shirts, jumpers, trousers, and dresses. Styling a flat lay with products arranged on a table or floor, including different angles and views, mimics what customers would do at home when picking an outfit of the day.
How to Plan a Styled Photo Shoot
A styled product photo shoot can entail a lot of moving parts, so it's important to plan everything out ahead of time. Here are the key steps:
1. Define Your Goals
Before you start planning, take a step back and define your goals. What message do you want to communicate? What type of products are you selling? How do you want your customers to see your brand?
Answering these questions will help you determine the best way to style your shoot and what kind of props, backdrops, and models you'll need. It also helps to look at your competitors to see how they're styling their product photos — this can give you ideas on how to make your shoot unique.
2. Plan Your Budget
Once you know what you want to achieve, start planning your budget. This will help you determine how many products you can style, what kind of backdrops and props you can use, and whether you'll need to hire models.
If you're working with a limited budget, consider doing a smaller photo shoot with fewer products. You can also get creative with your props and backdrops by using things you already have around the house or borrowing items from friends and family.
3. Schedule Your Shoot
Once you've planned your budget and goals, schedule your photo shoot. This includes booking a photographer, renting a studio (if necessary), and securing any props and backdrops you'll need.
If you're using models, schedule time for them to come in and try on the clothing. Make sure to give yourself enough time to style the products and set up the scene before the photographer arrives.
4. Prepare Your Products
Before the day of the shoot, prepare your products. Make sure they're clean and free of any damage. If you're selling clothing, iron or steam the items so they look their best.
For cosmetics, make sure all products are new and sealed. Jewellery should be cleaned and polished before the shoot. You want your products to look their best in the photos, so take the time to prepare them beforehand.
5. Set Up the Scene
On the day of the shoot, set up the scene. Put together any props and backdrops you'll be using. Make sure the scene is well-lit and that all products are arranged in a way that's pleasing to the eye.
If you're using models, help them style their hair and makeup and choose the clothing items they should wear. Once everything is in place, it's time to start shooting.
6. Take Lots of Photos
Take a variety of photos during the shoot so you have plenty to choose from later. This includes close-ups of the products as well as wide shots of the scene. Be sure to capture photos from different angles and with different lighting.
You can also have models pose in different ways or interact with the products. The more photos you take, the better your chances of getting great shots you can use for your website and social media.
7. Edit the Photos
After the photo shoot, start editing the photos. This includes removing any blemishes, adjusting the lighting, and cropping the images. You can also add filters or other effects to make the photos look more professional.
Professional Photo Editing Services by Pixel by Hand
Editing your photos is an essential part of creating great product images. However, we understand that not everyone has the time or skills to do this themselves. This is where outsourcing your product image requirements to professionals like Pixel by Hand comes in.
With over 10 years' experience and 380+ eCommerce clients, our creative editors will quickly and expertly edit your photos to perfection. Our process starts with a consultation session where we learn about your specific product image requirements. We then assign a team of editors experienced in your industry and start working on your photos straight away.
We use the latest editing software and techniques to ensure that your photos look their best. And because we understand that every business is different, we offer customised editing packages to suit your needs.
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FAQ
How much does a styled product photo shoot cost? Costs vary widely depending on whether you hire a professional photographer, rent a studio, and use models. A simple DIY still life shoot can cost very little, whilst a full lifestyle shoot with models and a hired studio could run into thousands of pounds. Planning your budget carefully and prioritising the most impactful shots is key.
Do I need a professional photographer for a styled shoot? Not necessarily. Many eCommerce sellers achieve excellent results with a good camera (or even a smartphone), natural lighting, and careful styling. However, for complex shoots involving models or action shots, a professional photographer can make a significant difference.
How many photos should I take during a styled shoot? Always take more than you think you'll need. A good rule of thumb is to capture at least 20-30 shots per product from different angles, with different lighting, and in different compositions. This gives you plenty of options during editing.
Can I use styled photos on marketplaces like Amazon? Amazon's main product image must be on a white background, but styled and lifestyle images can be used in secondary image slots. Other platforms like Etsy and your own website are much more flexible. Having both white-background and styled images gives you the most versatility.
How important is post-production editing for styled shoots? Post-production is essential. Even the best-lit, most carefully styled photos benefit from colour correction, cropping, and minor retouching. Professional editing ensures consistency across your entire product range and helps your images meet marketplace requirements.