Perfume Bottle Photography

Chanel No. 5 is one of the most well-known perfumes in the world – an icon in its own right. In this perfume product photography class, Karl aims to create a series of images that are as elegant and beautiful as the fragrance itself.

With meticulous attention to detail and precise control, he demonstrates how to light this bottle perfectly in order to accentuate its key features. He also reveals a number of essential techniques that can be used to elevate the shot.

This class is a must-watch for anyone interested in product photography. Why? Because it provides a solid base of knowledge, recapping the basic principles before building to more advanced techniques that can be applied to a range of different products.

In this class:

  • Product photography: How to photograph a perfume bottle
  • Product photography tips
  • How to photograph with multiple studio lights
  • Lighting setups for product photography
  • Using reflectors and flags
  • Minimising reflections in glass objects
  • Creating a composite image

To see how Karl retouches this shot, check out Perfume Bottle Photography | Post-Production for this final image.

Perfume Photography, Chanel Perfume Shot

© Karl Taylor

Comments

  1. Hi Karl:
    The reflector cut with the projection of its shape has broken my mind!!! I’d never thought with this great solution!!

  3. When capturing the logo on the bottle. I don’t have a broncolor or picolite. Any recommendations for a godox light ?

    1. Hi, Godox do a similar projection attachment but you could also try a very tight small snoot which you can make yourself from card or aluminum foil

  4. chrystalstarrphoto

    Regarding the white cutout of the shadow behind the bottle….how is it that the paper isn’t showing up in the photo? I’m having trouble wrapping my head around that one.

    1. Hi, the white paper fits exactly the shadow that was created from putting a light on the camera lens (should be in the video) and the shadow when cast from the camera lens position is not actually visible to the camera.

  5. Hi Karl,
    I’ve seen you using your iPhone to get the shape of the reflector. Also in another video you’re using a laser or you also told in another one that one of the members built something to attache to the lense to create the harsh shadow needed. I’ve experimented with some light source called LumeCube I’ve got hands on an placed it on the ocular shining through camera and the lense which worked perfect and in addition shows also your field of view perfectly.
    What are you’re thoughts on shining light through camera in reverse?

    With nice greetings
    Andreas

    1. Hi Andreas, yes of course if it works shining through the camera is find but for me I don’t want to take the digital back off and lock the shutter open unnecessarily.

  6. Hi Karl,

    Thanks for sharing this amazing tips in the video; I got a question and I hope you help me as usual:)

    How can I photograph a perfume bottle or any transperant bottle including liquid using a black acrylic sheet and soliy black background just to get the bottle with a beautiful reflection on the black acrylic sheet with black background direct out if the camera without using photoshop or light room to get more black ?

    You did amazing videos for white on white and black on black but there is no videos yet for white on black glossy acrylic base and black background.

    I don’t have a polarization filter So, could you please help me ?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Hi, the black in the black acrylic comes mostly from the reflection of the vertical background wall behind your subject when you are shooting from a low angle (just like the technique shown in this but this one is with white – https://visualeducation.com/class/pack-shots-product-photography/ – But because you want a rich black it is super important that your vertical black is a really good black so use a black velvet cloth as this absorbs lots of light and make sure it’s not too close to your set.

  9. Hello! I have a question about the substance used to clean acrylic to not leave streaks. I tried to find Methylated Spirits but I cannot find anywhere I am based in the USA maybe it goes by a different name in the US.

    2. You may try to clean with the liquid used for cleaning optical glasses. It doesn’t leave any streak and is very easy to find.

  10. Gary Stasiuk

    Question about the white reflector: It looks like you placed it under the bottle. Was it important to add the light into the bottom or could you have cut the shape to go around the bottle and therefore slid into place directly beside it?

    1. Hi Gary, each bottle depending on its shape, cut angles etc is going to bounce light around differently. I’ve done this with under and not under in the past, my choice would be based on my test of looking through camera with the sheet roughly in place to see first.

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