How to Create and Photograph Cosmetic Swatches
In this live show, Karl took a slightly different angle on cosmetics photography as he demonstrated how to photograph creative makeup swirls and sweeps — something you often see in magazines and online adverts.
Working with his assistant Georgie, the pair demonstrated the start-to-finish process of creating and photographing cosmetic swatches using just a one-light setup.
Georgie covered exactly how to create eye-catching designs, what tools to use, and creative techniques to get the best results while Karl focussed on the technical elements of the shot such as lens choice, camera settings, and lighting.
Throughout this show, you’ll learn how to photograph close-up shots without using a macro lens, what backgrounds to use for cosmetic photography, how to control reflections, and how to create and control gradient lighting.
Topics covered in this show include:
- How to photograph cosmetic swatches
- How to create cosmetic swirls and sweeps
- Tools & techniques for creative results
- One-light setups for product photography
- Using reflectors to control light
- How to create gradient lighting
- How to control reflections in glossy products
If you have any questions about this show, please post in the comment section below.
Comments
Great work, I have a question about applying equal, long, and close-to-each-other lines of makeup without them merging, even though I only applied the tape on the right and left sides. I understood how to apply one line of makeup and then pull it down, but I did not understand how to apply tape between each line so as not to create a mess.
Hello, sir, how can I take a picture of a spot of foundation as a background for the product, I mean the foundation container, or place a sample of foundation next to the foundation container? Is that possible? Or are the pictures I’m seeing merged and taken from a high angle, then rotated in Photoshop, and then placed behind the product? Thank you.
What is the glossy acrylic panel size recommendation you show Karl? I estimate 50×50 cm from the screen, but you hold it in front of the 35×60 cm softbox, for example, do you recommend a minimum of 60×60 cm for the glossy panel?
Hi, I generally aim for about 1m x 1m for most things as this works well but for very small things like this then 50x50cm is plenty.
When you buy plexiglas sheets how do you know if they are neutral in color??
Hi, yes they are but the main reason is just in this sort of shoot or often jewellery shoots they are more manageable than diff paper because they are stiff and can be leaned at an angle. All white Opal plexiglass should be neutral.
Hi Karl, which type of Perspex do you use for the diffuser is the opal version ?
Hi, yes the opal version. I usually have it in 5mm thick.
Hi Karl. This is such a fantastic learning resource! Just wondering where you source the acrylic from, especially the gloss as a diffuser. Many thanks, Sophie
Hi Sophie, thank you. I think we mentioned in this video that most of our acrylics and plastics come from companies that make signs for people for companies building etc. They usually stock a large range. Otherwise you can go directly to the plastic suppliers such as Barkston Plastics that we also use in the UK if buying in bulk. If you are in the USA then I’m sure you will have lots of similar suppliers.
I just signed up so if this is somewhere I have not yet discovered, I apologize. Are supplies used in the video listed some place on the site?
Hi Linda, welcome! When you say supplies do you mean the equipment used? We have equipment lists on most class pages further down on the right of each page.