Tips for a Lifestyle Product Photo Shoot

Knowing what you want from your lifestyle product photo shoot, why you are doing it and what you want to achieve from it is the first step to take. Goal setting is the key to any successful project and mustn’t be overlooked. But I get it, as creatives it is often something that doesn't come naturally to us.

Have a think about how these images can elevate your brand, where they can take your business, what you’re missing in your visuals and what you really need to achieve for your long term vision. What can this shoot do for your brand and how can you really make the most out of it. A photo shoot is a big investment for your business, so by starting off this way you are being intentional with the process and getting the very most out of your emotional and financial investment.

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I think this is an essential component for any business anyway to be honest, as to know your brand inside out will make every element of what you do in it less overwhelming. But when planning your lifestyle product photo shoot, if you don’t already know everything about your brand, then now is the time to do the work.

When working with my clients, to get to know their brand inside out I always find out as much as I can about why they do what they do and what has taken them to where they are today. Think about these things as well as your brand's values, your visual identity and what components of it you have in place, who your dream customer are, what your long term vision is, and how you want your brand to look and feel moving forward, if different from what it is currently.

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Storytelling is a beautiful component of every creative brand, and absolutely key in your lifestyle product photo shoot. This will allow you to have images that are truly impactful and relative to your own brand, being unique in their own right and meeting the needs of your dream customers.

Have a think about the inspiration behind the pieces, all of the components of them, the reason you create them, how you create them and in what setting, and how they are used after being purchased. Using all of this information will allow you to create those lifestyle shots which are very much needed for today’s style of content. Thinking about all of these elements will bring in the lifestyle element to your shoot and can be used further to tell stories in your marketing when you share the images.

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Having a good think about what type of images you need for your lifestyle product photo shoot will allow you to make the most of the shoot itself. Going in to the shoot as prepared as possible with a clear plan will allow the day to run smoothly, for you to create various scenes and for you to get all you need from the investment you’re making.

The type of images you need will depend on your goals, but think about the size of the images in relation to where they will be placed on your website and what style of images you need across your website, ie. product shots, a new hero banner, etc. Then also think about your marketing - do you have a brochure you need shots for and how can you create a large batch of images and/or video for social media. What images work well for social media and what type of images do you need to tell your stories?

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I've briefly already mentioned planning, but once you know your vision for the shoot, all you can about your brand, what the stories of your products are and what type of images you will need, you can start properly planning your shoot and really getting to grips with what is going to happen on the day.

For this stage, firstly get some inspiration visually from the likes of Pinterest, magazines, collected items etc. and put together a moodboard - or more than one if you can - to represent this inspiration and your vision for the shoot. Ensure that the images work together and that they are right for your brand. Once your moodboards are complete, I like to put them into a design brief that tells the brand's story, the purpose of the shoot, my vision and then details out my ideas for the day. Have a go at doing this together with a shot list and call sheet if you like.

This lifestyle product photo shoot - as I've mentioned - is an investment for your business long term. You want incredible images that are going to stand the test of time, that are going to allow your brand and its' products to shine and that are going to give you a huge bank of content to use time and time again.

The good news is that you are on the right path already with all of the work you have done and now it is time to think about the team you are going to work with. From photographer to videographer and from stylist to hair and makeup artist, there are a wealth of professional out there to choose from depending on your needs and budget. But always ensure you are working with the best you can and that they are aligned with your brand visual identity and values.

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When it comes to the day of the lifestyle product photo shoot itself, you are likely to be nervous. But if you have completed all the necessary planning and really know what you want to get out of the day, then rest assured you will have a wonderfully fulfilling shoot. Try and enjoy the day, make the most out of the creativity and be collaborative with who you work with.

It is best if you stick to a loose schedule, that you would have made beforehand with the call sheet, and you know what shots you need to get. Always allow for extra time, as in my experience things always take longer than you think. Allow time for the various scenes and the set-ups, and if you're as prepared in advance as possible, like having all your props and products ready and knowing loosely the styling that you or your stylist will be creating, you will get through the shots quicker.

Ok, so you've had your lifestyle product photo shoot and it's gone amazingly well, as you've followed all of these tips. That's wonderful, but it doesn't just end there. You will hopefully now have a large bank of images that you can use across your website and marketing, but these images (and maybe video) need to be used wisely.

I don't advise just sharing all the images straight away on social media. If you have a product launch, use the relevant images slowly to create awareness, and then gradually use the images and/or video over time. Tell the stories behind the images and captivate your audience. And depending on the goal of the shoot and what you needed the images for, why not wait and update your website to relaunch it with the chose images, creating a buzz and a desire. The images and/or video should last for years to come.