For consumers, online shopping has become the new norm, but it is not without its problems. One of the significant challenges businesses encounter with their customers is that shoppers are often unable to grasp how a product could translate into real-world, practical benefits. Shoppers tend to balk at making a purchase or, worse, return the product post-purchase if they cannot imagine how the product integrates with their everyday lives.
In the US alone, 16.5% of online orders in 2022 were returned when buyers needed help understanding what they had purchased, according to research. That is where lifestyle product photography will save you, offering something more tangible for potential customers to see what the products would be once they receive them. Zooming in on stolen meats Instead of hiding items in white-screen studios, you can show them live to the viewer, making the process of tuna friends and finding what they are.
What Exactly Is Lifestyle Product Photography?
Lifestyle product photography displays your product in environments that mirror your target customer’s lifestyle. This type of photography focuses less on the product and more on making a connection by showcasing how the product integrates into everyday life.
Lifestyle photography is more than traditional product photos; it shows products on a white background. It contextualizes the product, featuring models using it or placing it in recognizable, everyday environments. It allows your audience to view the product through their lens, which will help them imagine how it looks in their own lives.
The Importance of Lifestyle Product Photography For Your Brand
Establishes Contextual Clarity
The biggest advantage of lifestyle photography is that it contextualizes your products. Customers can better value products when they are seen in real-life scenarios. It also allows for vision—When potential buyers see the product in use by others, especially around scenarios they can relate to, it becomes easier for them to picture it in their lives, too.
Strengthens Brand Identity
Lifestyle photography depicts not only how your product looks to the customer but also what your brand is all about. By using familiar settings, props, and models that align with your target market, you can help create a stronger sense of relatability between your audience and your brand. A visual story of who you are—The photos you provide speak volumes about the type of company you are and what your brand represents.
Creates An Emotional Bond
People connect with brands they feel emotionally connected to. You can capitalize on this emotional connection in lifestyle photography; your products have a story. This technique creates an emotional connection between your audience and your brand by showcasing people having a good time with (or using) your products in ways that may resonate with their norms or wants.
Boosts Engagement and Creates Trust
Plant products that customers can personally relate to will be more readily shared with their social networks. Visuals Lifestyle images tend to invite engagement, particularly on photo-friendly channels like Instagram and Pinterest. The more involved your customers are, the more others will hear about you and your brand, creating trust and expanding its reach.
Drives Sales
After all, lifestyle product photography should inspire someone to buy something. So, giving customers a necessary visual context to understand how the product works helps eliminate uncertainty and build trust. When shoppers are assured about their purchase, they have greater chances of committing to buying a product.
Flat Lay and Lifestyle Photography: The Classic Comparison
Flat lay and lifestyle photography flat lays are also different styles for two completely different purposes. Here’s a snapshot:
Flat Lay Photography:A birds-eye view emphasizing shape and texture. Great for product images, e-commerce, and minimalist visual identity.
Lifestyle Photography: Capture natural life settings with lifestyle photography, telling stories and evoking emotions. Perfect for advertising promotions and brand stories.
Key Differences:
- Flat lay is boxy and stiff; lifestyle is random and natural.
- Lifestyle showcases relatability; flat lay is all about detail.
When to Use:
- You can opt for a flat lay when you want clarity and the product in focus.
- Choose your lifestyle if you wish to have variety and emotion.
Why not do both for maximum effect?
- Flat lay is attention-grabbing.
- lifestyle creates a connection.
DIY Lifestyle Product Photography: How to Create Stunning Images at Home
As a lifestyle product photographer, hiring someone else can cost you an arm and a leg, but you can do it yourself with the right resources! Some essential steps to bear in mind while staging your DIY lifestyle product shoot are:
1. Planning Your Photoshoot
Shooting from the Plan: Planning for a Successful ShootNote: Before beginning to shoot, it is essential to plan the shoot in detail. They are trying to create a visual storytelling scene, so they should consider the narrative that is written between their images.
Research Your Target Audience: The better you know your target audience, the more focused your photos will be. Identify their hobbies, habits, and requirements to convey your item’s advantages more effectively.
Make a mood board: Collect images, color schemes, and photography styles that inspire you. This will be your visual reference during the shoot, so be consistent with your style.
Shortlist Ideas: Once you have researched and been inspired, shortlist the ideas that perfectly match your purpose and audience.
2. Choosing the Right Location
Your shoot site is significant; it will help define the type of photos you get. Select familiar, relatable locations. A home setting could be perfect if you sell a comfortable product, and an outdoor space could work well for activewear or travel gear.
Lighting: Natural light is the best for this type of photography! If shooting inside, find a spot near a window for soft, diffused light. For outdoor shots, avoid capturing the model until golden hours.
Background: Use a clean and non-distracting background that complements the product. Avoid locations that do not tell the story of your product because a busy background can overshadow the product itself.
3. Utilizing Models Or Practical Environments
Using Models:
Purpose: The models convey a lifestyle for your product, and the buyer can picture themselves using it.
Advantages: Evokes emotion, makes it dynamic, and showcases the product in action.
Cost-Saving Tips: Find something using yourself, friends, or family as a model. Make Sure Models Mirror Your Audience
Using Real-Life Settings:
Purpose: Display the product in a standard setting without models, demonstrating how it applies to day-to-day life.
Advantages: Less expensive, contextual product focus, works for home goods or tech.
Cost-Saving Tips: Use places you know well, such as the kitchen or office, use inexpensive props, and embrace natural light.
Choosing Between the Two:
Model: Ideal for products with an inherent coziness or closeness to the possessor; associated with a particular lifestyle or emotional connection.
Real Life Settings: Great for affordable shoots, highlighting the product used in real life.
4. Equipment You’ll Need
Even though professional equipment can be costly, you can still get going with high-quality photos through simple gear.
CAMERA: The best camera is a DSLR or mirrorless; modern smartphones also have great cameras that can take professional-grade photos.
Tripod: A tripod helps with image stability and prevents camera shake for sharper images.
Lighting: Natural light is the ideal option, but if you will use artificial light, opt for softbox lights or LED panels to ensure your product is well lit without casting harsh shadows.
Props: Props can accompany a product’s narrative; however, be careful not to overcrowd. Remember to focus on the product.
Background: Select a background that matches the aura you are aiming for. Whether it’s a plain wooden table or a spot illuminated with natural light, the background should complement your product.
23 Modern Lifestyle Product Photography Ideas
Here are 23 creative ideas for your next lifestyle product photoshoot that could give you some inspiration to grab practical lifestyle product shoots:
1. Show a Model Who Resembles Your Customers
The best way to do it is by using models who represent the audience. The model should reflect the demographic you want to market—be it age, sex, or lifestyle. For example, you might want a model who goes hiking when selling outdoor gear, so the shots are relatable.
Using the product in their own lives is more relatable to your audience and prompts them to purchase.
2. Focus on Body Parts
For example, when showing off jewelry, cosmetics, or clothing, it is not always necessary to show off the entire body of the model. Instead, look for hands, arms, feet, or faces.
A closeup image of a model putting skincare cream on her hand or wearing bracelets directs the viewer’s attention to the item. This gives you the chance to emphasize its features while keeping a sleek, minimalistic feel.
3. Shoot from Uncommon Angles
Take the shot from a different angle than you usually would. One method is to take different angles of your product, such as shooting it from the top, bottom, or side. It provides a unique perspective and allows the photographer to share how the photo is taken.
It also has the lucrative benefit of seeing things in a new light, even resembling something you have never seen; this can help immensely when faced with competition. This is especially effective for home decor, furniture, or fashion accessories.
4. Show Ingredients
For beauty, skincare, or food products, it can be helpful to show what is included in the image; that may help underpin your product quality.
If you are taking pictures of natural skincare products, you can use fresh aloe vera leaves, sprigs of lavender, or organic fruits and place them next to the product to showcase those natural ingredients. This suggests authenticity and sincerity to the users by suggesting that the product uses genuine, premium-quality constituents, thus building trust.
5. Use Props as Compliments
Props can elevate a product story, but they should ALWAYS compliment your product (not overwhelm it). For example, if you capture a perfume bottle, you can use flowers or candles in the background to provide romantic or even luxurious vibes.
Props must be selected carefully so that they do not get in the way of the viewer’s focus on your main product but instead help set the context and mood of the shoot.
6. Blur Backgrounds
A wider aperture (like f/1.8 or f/2.8) will also help make your product the center of attention and avoid distraction from the background.
This effect works great for certain types of product photography by focusing on the product itself, adding depth and visual interest — it is known as bokeh. This is especially beneficial when shooting jewelry, beauty products, or food, as you want minimal distractions in the background.
7. Create a Textured Backdrop
A photo with a textured background gives rich glory to the content. Wood, fabric, or stone can also help you create a sense of warmth and nature. A wooden, rustic table can set the stage for a homely and warm feel in a coffee product. You want to choose textures that add visual interest without drawing too much focus away from your product.
8. Use Color to Evoke Emotions
Color is an effective tool in photography and can affect how your audience responds to a product. Green, for example, evokes the image of calmness, which is also associated with environmental awareness—perfect for eco-goods.
Likewise, yellow is an energetic and hopeful color that works best for youthful products. Try out the various color patterns available to fit perfectly with your products and the feelings you want your audience to feel.
9. How to Display the Size of Your Products in Real-Life
More than examining a product in isolation is often required to allow customers to determine how large or small it is. One way to do this is by putting your product in a real-world context where its true size is apparent. If your product is a portable speaker, take a picture of it being placed on the table with a laptop or beside a coffee cup—display its place in day-to-day life.
10. Take Natural Light Photos to Capture Authentic Moments
Natural light provides authenticity, and nothing else can. Keep it natural using sunlight or ambient light for a more subtle and realistic appearance. The authentic colors and textures of the product are seen in natural light, which makes the products appear more attractive. While shooting inside, keep the product near a window to exploit natural light. When shooting outside, go for a golden hour (just after sunrise or before sunset) — a beautiful low, warm glow.
11. Use Fake Ice for Drink Photography
If you are shooting a drink, especially with a clear glass, real ice may dissolve and ruin the shot. Fake ice cubes are usually acrylic (or some resin) and will stay intact during a shoot so you can keep your product as the center of attention.
Add garnishes like slices of lemon, mint leaves, or straws to complement the drink and give your picture some pop.
12. Implement Color Psychology
Color psychology refers to the impact that colors have on perception and behaviors.
Apply this to your photography by selecting colors that represent the traits of your product. Blue signals trustworthiness and professionalism (ideal for tech products); red evokes passion and urgency (best for food and fitness products). Use color palettes that correspond to the emotional response you are trying to achieve from your audience.
13. Know Your Audience
Curate your photography according to the taste and lifestyle of the audience you are targeting. So, identify your target demographic and get the products photographed in appropriate settings—for example, if your target audience comprises young professionals, get a sleeker look. For example, if you target outdoor lovers, shoot outdoors in locations such as woods or beaches. The close audience’s lifestyle and the product picture you make, the more relatable and exciting a photo will be for him/ her/ them.
14. Create a Photo Collage
Create a collaged image with multiple angles or stages of use for the product. Example: a skincare product showing it in action, its texture up close, and the packaging. A collage of this kind can give customers a more in-depth view of the product and everything it features, thus making them more confident about buying.
15. Show the Product in Action
Showing how your product works in the real world is vital. For example, with a fitness product, take an image of the person using the item while working out. Tech Gadgets—Display someone using the product/tech at their home/workstation, for example, a user working at their computer or utilizing the gadget within an in-home scene. Building trust with your audience by showing how the product functions provides an avenue for them to understand the tangible value of what you are offering.
16. Make Photos Feel Authentic
Product photo authenticity is crucial. Your audience will only buy the product if the images seem staged or comfortable if you’re shooting an energy drink, photograpwho’sodel who’s exhausted, perspiring, and in serious need of rejuvenation. This gives the product more context and brings it to life, helping customers believe this is the answer they have been waiting for.
17. Stick to a Consistent Theme
A consistent visual theme in your product photos also makes your brand feel whole. Using the same color palette, type of model, or background would give you a consistent theme across all your photos and make it easy for a reader to identify your brand. This is especially true for establishing brand uniqueness and cultivating brand loyalty.
18. Use the Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a photography principle that divides an image into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines.
Placing your product closer to these lines creates a more harmonized, visually appealing image. It provides a natural flow for the eye and allows the composition to feel more balanced.
19. Add Shadow for Depth
Use shadows to add depth and dimension to your photos. Images without shadows could feel flat and lifeless.
Utilize shadows to define the curves and forms of your product. For example, when you click an image of a watch, the shadow can enhance its features and make it look more voluminous.
20. Capture Movement
Photos of products in action can energize the shots and engage your audience. This is especially effective with clothing, fitness gear, or sports equipment. Demonstrate the product rather than having a still/slow frame. For instance, photograph a model twirling in a long skirt or mid-stride in a pair of shoes to emphasize motion and life.
21. Take Multiple Shots
Rather than one shot, take several images from different angles and distances. This enables you to capture different angles and provides the option of imaging, and it ensures that you have a sufficient variety of images.
The more choices you have, the stronger the tools at your disposal for sifting through it all during the edit phase to choose what suits you best.
22. Edit Photos Professionally
Edit Your Photos—This is the final but essential step in the product photography process. Edit colors (if needed), lighting, and sharpness to ensure the images look professional. This assists in removing flaws, improving the particulars of a product, and making it all seem proportional. You can do some rudimentary editing on your own, or if you need to be assured of the greatest quality possible, hire a professional photo editor.
23. Experiment and Have Fun
Experiment with techniques and approaches that you have not tried before. There are many of us who are artists in photography and will find creative breakthroughs when we play with new angles, props, light setups, and themes. Do not forget to continue testing and mastering everything to know what is more effective for your brand and audience. The more fun you have with it, the more real and more interesting your photos will get.
Conclusion
Speak to your audience can help drive more engagement, trust, and sales. Lifestyle photography allows you to showcase your products in a true-to-value manner, giving consumers easy visualization when putting themselves into their lives with your product, whether you’re an upstart business owner or a seasoned brand.
