In a category targeted hard by counterfeiters, buyers look for evidence rather than styling.
The shot that sells
The product with its carton, upright, on a plain surface in soft daylight, shade name visible.
The shot that prevents the dispute
The batch code and the date, readable, and the seal intact — or, if opened, an honest frame showing how much is left.
The list
- Product and carton, together
- Seal, close
- Batch code, legible
- Expiry or best-before, legible
- Open-jar symbol, the small jar with a number and an M
- Shade name and size, readable
- How much is left, where the container allows
- Any dent, crack or damage to the packaging
Light
Soft daylight. Glossy cartons and glass bottles reflect — shoot off-axis and watch for your own silhouette in the bottle.
Printed codes are often small, embossed and low-contrast. Light them from the side rather than the front; raking light is what makes embossed text readable.
What not to photograph into existence
Do not edit colour to make a shade look different, and never photograph a decanted product. Common mistakes.
What goes wrong
Shooting in a bathroom under a warm bulb, cropping the carton out, and showing only the front of a product whose dates are on the back.
Questions people ask
How do I show how much is left?
Against the light where the container allows, or by weight, and say it is an estimate.
Should I photograph the applicator?
If it is included, yes, and say whether it has been used.
Is a tester photographed differently?
Label it clearly in the frame and in the title.