Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte: Concept over execution
Lancôme (@lancomeofficial)'s L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte campaign featuring NiNi (@captainmiao) , shot by Trunk Xu (@trunkxu). The story looks cohesive, but the first photo doesn't read very strong. The product looks dirty and the background too. The idea is good, the execution so-so. For this new matte lipstick launch, you'd expect sharper product photography. [Category: Cosmetics] [Surface: Fabric] [Lighting: Studio] [Style: Editorial] [Mood: Luxurious] [Palette: Warm Tones]
Sol de Janeiro: Soft light and scent-driven composition
Beautiful scent storytelling of Sol de Janeiro (@soldejaneiro) through balanced composition. The photos look cohesive. I like the soft light that keeps everything illuminated from within and how they kept retouching very realistic on the product. However, the flowers look fake. Not sure if it's AI or if they overretouched them a tiny bit. Also, the pistachios look clearly composited with no reflection or shadow on the cap. [Category: Fragrance] [Surface: Glass] [Lighting: Bright] [Style: Commercial] [Mood: Fresh] [Palette: Vibrant]
Prada Paradoxe: Clean color through transparent glass on green
Every time I look at this, I'm reminded how challenging it is to photograph transparent glass with pink liquid on a green background without making the perfume look muddy. This color combination is no piece of cake for Prada (@pradabeauty)'s Paradoxe, shot by Harley Weir (@harleyweir). I feel like the perfume was shot separately on a white background to keep the color honest, but it's hard to tell, which means they nailed the composite if that's what they did. [Category: Fragrance] [Surface: Glass] [Lighting: Soft] [Style: Editorial] [Mood: Sophisticated] [Palette: Pastels]
Miu Miu fragrance: Refined simplicity and precise execution
Lauren Bamford (@laurenbamford) is one of my favorite photographers. I really admire her eye for detail and flawless execution. Same as always, these photos for Miu Miu (@miumiu) are great. I saw the behind-the-scenes she shared on social media. The setup isn't complex, but it fits perfectly here. The idea and execution are spot on. [Category: Fragrance] [Surface: Glass] [Lighting: Soft] [Style: Minimalist] [Mood: Fresh] [Palette: Cool Tones]
Gucci Lunar New Year: Serpent motifs in Rosso Ancora red
Gucci (@guccibeauty)'s Lunar New Year shots left me speechless. I'm obsessed with the concept, colors, photography, and retouching. It speaks of luxury but makes it look so effortless. The serpent motif paired with Gucci Rosso Ancora against pink and blue creates this visual language that feels both traditional and completely fresh. Everything about the execution, from the lighting to the color grading, just works. [Category: Cosmetics] [Surface: Glass] [Lighting: Studio] [Style: Editorial] [Mood: Sophisticated] [Palette: Warm Tones]
About the Author
Elina is a Ukrainian-Canadian commercial photographer based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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