Want to showcase your makeup product photography appealingly?
Ensure clean and distraction-free makeup product photography to increase sales and brand identity.
Proper lighting setup, background, props, and composition can be a great help for your stunning product images.
This article aims to show you everything about the photography of makeup products.
What Is Makeup Product Photography?
Makeup product photography involves capturing images that represent the features and benefits of makeup products.
The makeup product is in itself a thing, with textures, colors, and quality.
These shots may be processed into aesthetically pleasing images appropriate for marketing campaigns or advertisements.
Research shows that 75% of customers make the purchasing decision based on product photos.
How to Do Makeup Product Photography?
There are several ways to capture the best photography of a makeup product. But there are no standards on how you should capture your makeup products.
Below are some necessary tips for you:
Collect Necessary Equipment
You will need several pieces of necessary equipment to get the desired shot. A proper camera, lens, tripod, and props can create an aesthetic look for your makeup product.
Collect your makeup photo equipment to showcase its real beauty to the customers.
Camera
The perfect shoot for a makeup product photograph would be a DSLR or mirrorless camera. You might want to work with a mirrorless or digital camera to get the best picture quality.
The best camera for perfect makeup product photos is the Canon 5D Mark 4.
Well, if the DSLR does not fit your budget, you can substitute it for a smartphone camera. It should work just as well with makeup product photography.
Best Lens for Makeup Product Photography
Canon EF 60mm f/2.8 would be the best to go for when considering lenses for makeup products.
It’s perfect for makeup palettes and product packaging shots. Because, as we all know, a macro can capture minute details of any product.
On the other hand, you could shoot with a 50mm or an 85mm macro lens to capture the macro shot of the products.
You might shoot makeup products on a model or swatches on the skin of a model.
A 50mm lens captures the details of the background surroundings, whereas an 85mm lens will focus on the face of a model.
Tripod
You can use a ring light tripod for your makeup product. Another great way to keep the camera steady is by using a carbon fiber tripod.
Best Props of Makeup Product Photography
Props play a great role in completing your product story. You can add props to your product photography setup, as it helps engage your customers.
When you shoot makeup products, try out these props to get an aesthetic image:
- Flowers
- Fruit
- Water
- Artificial eyelashes
- Candles
- Metal
- Towel
- Glass stand
Prepare the Photography Lighting Setup
If you want to get awesome pictures of product photography, you need to set up some proper lighting. It acts like a magic wand for making amazing product photos.
So, good lighting will be able to tell the customers the right feeling of your products in terms of color, texture, and makeup features.
It will persuade customers to buy makeup products differently due to the mood that is caused by the light.
Best Lighting for Makeup Product Photography
Product photography lighting setup plays a vital role in great product photos and creating brand identity.
If you are going to give your product the look of being natural, use natural light as a source.
It puts on real textures and colors in your makeup. Sometimes, it is just not enough, though. Then try artificial lighting balanced with natural light.
Ring lights work perfectly for photography of makeup. You can choose a softbox as one of the options for reducing the harsh effect of light on your image.
A diffuser is used to soften the light rays coming from the light sources.
Reflector
Reflectors are great for reflecting light directly to your products. It fills out dark areas and reduces unwanted shadows from the image.
You can buy reflectors from ecomerce strore. But if you have budget issues, you can go for white foam board.
While white reflectors can fill up the dark areas, black reflectors can be used to sharpen the shadows and add a dramatic effect to the product photos.
Different Backdrops for Makeup Product Photography
Background focuses on complementing your product and brand aesthetics.
Incorporating different backgrounds into the photography setup adds curiosity and engagement for the customers.
The best option is to choose a white or neutral background for your product. You can try adding stone, wood, and fabric to focus on the texture of the makeup item.
Also, using natural ingredients as a backdrop can help your customers focus.
Do not overcrowd the backgrounds it may distract your audience from the main object.
Prepare the Surface
You can prepare the surface by following these steps:
- Usually, for product photography, a simple white or light-colored background is preferred, so that the subject can easily stand out and make the picture decent and clean, looking professional enough.
- The surface must be smooth, wrinkle-free, and without bumps or any other imperfections. If wrinkles are present, you can iron or steam them using a fabric steamer or an iron.
- The background color will tie in with the subject to create some pleasing combinations. For example, a white background can be clean and minimalist; a black background can become a little dramatic and moody.
- Lights should be soft and diffused to capture no harsh shadows. You can also make the softbox or diffuser yourself.
Prepare Your Makeup Products
First and foremost, let your makeup products be clean and free from fingerprints or smudges for photographing.
This would make them look their best in photos. Place the products nicely and avoid distracting things in the background.
Capture Your Desired Photo
Photography is all about capturing the perfect moment. Here are some tips to help you achieve your desired shot:
Try shooting from different angles to find the most encouraging perspective of the products.
Eye Level: Shoot at eye level with your subject to provide a more natural and engaging perspective.
Low Angle: Shoot from below the subject for a vibrant and forceful shot.
High Angle: The high angle will show the scale and your perspective, shooting down on your subject.
Dutch Angle: Used to tilt the camera and induce a sense of unease or drama.
Key Tips for Makeup Product Photography in 2026
There are tons of product photography ideas to create stunning images of makeup product photography. Below are some key tips for you to get your desired image.
Stick to a Theme
If you stick to a particular theme, it will help you in making the most visually appealing image. You have to decide what you want to shoot for first.
That requires color coordination, which will keep you focused.
Now, the second thing is that ops depend on your product. Just select those props that go well with the product. Next, pick up the background that may focus on your product.
Be Consistent with Each Photography
Keep your brand’s photography style consistent with your branding strategy. This could mean using similar backgrounds or lighting setups to create brand recognition.
Your potential customers will spot your style and know it’s yours.
Maintain the Rule of Thirds
Making your product photos look good can set the specific mood you want to create for your customers. One easy way to do this is the rule of thirds.
This method splits your picture into a 3×3 grid. It helps you create a well-balanced image by placing key parts of your product in specific spots.
Using space in your photos can make them easier to understand. It also adds a touch of class to makeup shots.
Use Extension Tubes for Macro Shots
An extension tube offers a budget-friendly option to avoid spending big bucks on overpriced macro lenses. You do not own a macro lens.
No need to stress! The picture quality stays the same. You’ll need to focus manually when using extension tubes.
Getting some practice with an extension tube will help you nail the shot you’re after.
