As a beauty photographer based in Los Angeles, I’ve spent years developing an eye for capturing products in ways that feel not only luxurious but also emotionally resonant. Whether it’s a skincare mist caught mid-spritz or the perfect gloss trail on a sleek lipstick tube, beauty product photography is about celebrating the product as both utility and object of desire.

Here are a few of my favorite product beauty shots — and the creative thought process behind how I bring them to life.

1. The Hero Shot That Pops Off the Screen
Every beauty product shoot needs a hero image — the one that leads a campaign, grabs attention on social, and ends up in the brand deck. For these shots, I focus heavily on light sculpting. Using layered soft light setups, I highlight key features like packaging details, metallic embossing, and color payoff.

In my Los Angeles studio, we often use mirror trays, gels, or colored reflections to bring emotion into the scene while still staying true to the product’s function. My goal with every beauty product photography session is to elevate the item to its most iconic form.

2. Textures in Motion
There’s something mesmerizing about texture — the creamy swatch of foundation, the whipped density of a moisturizer, or the shimmer in an eyeshadow pan. These moments define cosmetic photography.

To bring these textures to life, I’ll use macro lenses and slow-motion rigs. In some cases, I combine stills and short bursts of motion video. These shots are ideal for social media content and often become anchors for digital campaigns.

As a commercial photography professional in Los Angeles, I’ve seen the rising demand for hybrid content, and showcasing textures is one of the strongest ways to make skincare product photography feel intimate and tactile.

3. On-Skin Moments
One of the most powerful evolutions in beauty photography is the demand for realism. My favorite shots are when products meet skin. Whether it’s a dropper releasing serum on a cheek or a hand mid-application, these scenarios allow for storytelling that connects directly with consumers.

In these beauty product shoots, I cast models with real skin texture, inclusive tones, and expressive features. These images often blur the line between lifestyle and product, and they’re the reason I collaborate so closely with stylists and makeup artists on set. It takes a unified team to make an on-skin product moment feel both aspirational and honest.

4. Reflective and Elevated Still Life
Still life product photography may sound traditional, but it’s one of the most creatively freeing parts of my work. As a product photographer in Los Angeles, I get to play with gravity-defying set builds, reflective surfaces, and dynamic light to create stills that feel cinematic.

For instance, I recently shot a fragrance product by suspending the bottle above a wave of fabric and using a mirrored base to multiply light flares. In cosmetic photography, this kind of drama adds storytelling value and elevates brand perception. These shots often end up in print ads, out-of-home billboards, or the splash page of a website.

5. Campaigns That Blend Still and Motion
More and more, brands want multi-use assets. A single shoot now needs to cover photography and video, so I’ve built my sets with that in mind. My Los Angeles studio is fully equipped to deliver both, and this is where my favorite work happens — combining short-form motion with classic beauty product photography.

Whether it’s a foundation bottle spinning on a turntable or a mascara wand captured mid-stroke, these hybrid campaigns are immersive. It’s why I’ve also invested in motion tools like robotic arms and high-speed video to give my clients more flexibility.

Final Thoughts

Being a beauty photographer in Los Angeles means staying at the cutting edge of creativity and execution. It’s not just about snapping pretty pictures — it’s about building worlds where products come alive.

From clean still life shots to bold cosmetics photography, and from skincare product photography to elevated editorial campaigns, each project is an opportunity to showcase craft and vision. As both a product photographer and visual storyteller, my job is to amplify the brand’s identity through light, texture, color, and connection.

That’s why these are my favorite beauty product shots — they aren’t just pretty, they work hard to resonate