Burberry Her fragrance: Natural reflections and minimal retouching
It's wild how luxury brands are shifting to connect with Gen Z. I'm loving this stripped-down approach to product photography from Burberry Beauty (@burberrybeauty). These shots for Burberry's Her fragrance feel incredibly real because they skip the typical luxury polish and heavy retouching. But here's the thing: they still look completely commercial. The photographer kept those natural green reflections on the white cap, which is such a smart move. It's that balance between approachable and polished that makes these work.
Tom Ford Beauty lipsticks: Matte metal without reflections
The first thing you see from Tom Ford Beauty (@tomfordbeauty) by Mert & Marcus (@mertalas & @macpiggott) are the sticks with their unusual color, but what I want you to notice is the light on the metal. Well, there is none (except the highlight). How cool and refreshing is that. I'm putting this technique in my back pocket for lipstick photography. Still, all the edges are clearly visible, which makes this image carry commercial purpose, not purely editorial. [Category: Cosmetics] [Surface: Skin] [Lighting: Soft] [Style: Artistic] [Mood: Sophisticated] [Palette: Cool Tones]
Cécred haircare: Sculptural packaging with precision top lighting
Great main image from Cécred (@cecred) shot by RenderFolk (@renderfolk), and I'm a big fan of the packaging. Those top lights fit the product and composition perfectly. A couple things I'd tweak: turn the bottle slightly to the right so the label sits perfectly straight, and remove that darker gray background line at the bottle's base. It's a dead giveaway of the composite. [Category: Skincare] [Surface: Stone] [Lighting: Soft] [Style: Minimalist] [Mood: Sophisticated] [Palette: Neutral]
Dolce&Gabbana Velvet Collection: Focus stacking meets liquid dynamics
Well this looks cool from Dolce&Gabbana Beauty (@dolcegabbana_beauty) by Studio Daniel Lindh (@studiodaniellindh)! Even though shooting this many products is seriously challenging, I have huge respect for the photographer and retoucher and the whole team who worked to produce this shot. Starting with perfect light on each bottle, every gradient, every texture and color, to the focus stacking and combining it all with water drops. The Velvet Collection images really showcase how complex luxury perfume photography can be. I wish I knew how long it took to get this shot!
Charlotte Tilbury: Elevated backgrounds and refined metallics
Working with trends from Charlotte Tilbury (@charlottetilburyskincare), it's important to keep everything else up to standard. To a regular viewer these photos look perfect, but as a product photographer I would change a few things. The serum packaging doesn't match the rest of the products, as if it's not important. And I would improve the metal gradients on the setting spray, especially in the darker spots. Other than that, marvelous work! Big fan of the backgrounds. [Category: Skincare] [Surface: Glass] [Lighting: Soft] [Style: Commercial] [Mood: Luxurious] [Palette: Warm Tones]
About the Author
Elina is a Ukrainian-Canadian commercial photographer based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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