How to Take Appealing Photos of Designer Eyewear

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Working with products can be a good opportunity to tell a story that aligns with a brand’s visual identity. According to Digital Day founder Candice Geordadis, visuals play a crucial role in piquing interest and building a connection with your audience. Knowing how to set up the perfect elements and use the right photography styles is essential to ensuring that your images are appealing. In the case of designer eyewear clients, playing with high-end brands' unique and premium qualities is a good way to showcase their identity. 

Getting the perfect shot can be challenging when it comes to eyewear. You may have to deal with reflections or glare that can ruin your photos and adjust your setup according to the diverse shapes and styles of frames. But once you master the basics, shooting designer shades will be a piece of cake. Here’s your guide to taking appealing photos of designer eyewear:

Pay attention to the brand’s visual identity

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The vibe of your photo should be aligned with the designer brand’s visual narrative to achieve cohesiveness. Take Kate Spade glasses, which typically feature colorful designs and prints. For instance, the Crishell and Paityn/G specs carry a leopard print design that you can use as inspiration for the rest of your setup. Use solid color backgrounds to contrast the frame designs, or opt for accent materials like cloth or fur that can suit the style of the eyewear you’re shooting. Colors, patterns, and textures that align with the funky or playful designs of the products can be a great way to add interesting visual elements without overpowering the eyewear itself.

Do a flat lay 

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Flat lay photography can be a great option for capturing clear and unobstructed shots of the products and focusing on unique features such as logos and embellishments. In our previous article on capturing, we mentioned the importance of positioning your camera directly above the flat lay area and creating a visual flow that leads to the main subject. You can also use the rule of thirds as a reference point when placing designer frames. Try to think of your frame as a 3x3 grid, and then position the specs and other props along the lines of the grid for a visually striking photo.

Play with reflections 

Credit: Donatella Versace on Instagram

Product photography for e-commerce sites will highlight the details and form of designer eyewear while shooting for advertising campaigns focuses on telling a visual story. If you plan to venture into the latter, you can play with some features of the eyewear, like the reflection on the lenses, to add a splash of creativity while showcasing the product's design. Although photographers usually avoid these aspects when shooting, reflections and glare can be used to create a narrative, as showcased by Versace’s Biggie campaign. In the campaign, singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter and NBA player Alexandre Sarr wore Versace Biggie sunglasses. The shoot highlighted the iconic Medusa logo and striking reflections on the lenses, like a woman wearing a bikini for Carpenter and colorful, planet-like shapes for Sarr.

Ensure proper lighting

Credit: Gucci on Instagram

Proper lighting is crucial in highlighting designer eyewear’s premium craftsmanship. You can experiment with various lighting setups to help you find the perfect vibe for your shoot. Natural lighting can lend a dreamy or rugged feel to your shots, while studio lighting can help your photos appear sharper. Take the Fall 2024 Gucci eyewear campaign, which maximizes lighting from different directions and a neutral background to showcase the details of the brand’s eyewear collection. If you have a limited budget, you can opt to stick with natural lighting; just ensure the proper placement of the specs to avoid unnecessary glare.

Taking appealing photos of designer eyewear is essential in capturing these high-end specs' branding and features. By following the tips above and continuously practicing your skills, you can learn to shoot visually striking, high-quality images of designer eyewear in no time.