Struggling to get those creative juices flowing when it comes to design concepts for your brand? As a product and branding photographer, my biggest recommendation would be to take it one piece at a time. A masterpiece often comes together gradually and organically.

Here are a few secret tips on how to build eye-catching design concepts for your brand:

Start with the Product Label.

You don’t want your photos to look disjointed or mismatched, so we’ll start with what’s already there. If you have product labels, we can use those style elements as the basis for our photo set. For instance, the labels will help us select a complementary color palette and possible props that would seamlessly coordinate with your product label.

Do a Personality Test.

After establishing the color palette and having a few props in mind, we’ll need to flesh out the design. In essence, the product photos should reflect the personality of your brand. For example, if the product is fun and funky, we might use geometrical shapes, sharp edges, and bold images with bright colors.

On the other hand, for an organic, earthy brand, we’ll stick to neutral tones and “softer” props with round or raw edges. We might also incorporate natural materials such as florals, dirt, greenery, wood, or raw ingredients.

If your brand prides itself on being clean and simple, it wouldn’t make sense to create an intricate design. Instead, we’ll use clean lines, a simple design, and few colors for a modern, fresh look.

Use Ingredient Profiles.

You already have a leg up on design ideas if you have a food or beauty product. The ingredient profile will provide some inspiration. I’m a fan of featuring whole versions of your ingredients in the shoot. If you have a floral-scented product, I’ll get some of that specific flower to incorporate into the imagery. Or, if your beauty product includes plant extracts or essential oils (like lavender), we could use that color or flower in the photos.

Similarly, food products consist of natural ingredients, so let’s use those in the shoot! Vanilla, fruit, almond flowers, and coconuts are examples of raw food ingredients we can use. I always enjoy coming up with creative ways to incorporate them! Call me a weird, but doesn’t this honey just look so beautiful dripping over the sides of these snack bars? It makes them look even more delicious!

Use Symbolic Elements.

So, maybe you don’t have a product label, but I bet your brand does have some symbolic imagery or a fun logo design. Together, we can brainstorm symbolic ways to represent your brand or product. Feel free to check out some of my recent projects for inspiration, and reach out to start planning your shoot!

Still Stuck on Your Design Concept?

Prioritize what is MOST important to your brand – are you people-focused or earth-friendly? Do you use clean or vegan products? Do you have higher standards than other brands? Do you offer superior quality? Then, we’ll work to embody that in your design. Connect with me for design guidance.

Lindsay is a Los Angeles-based food, product, and commercial photographer. She specializes in Still Product & Food Photography, Lifestyle & Portrait Photography, Stop Motion, and Food Styling. Connect with her HERE for product marketing!