Closing the portfolio gap: strategic self-commissioning for beauty brands
Portfolio gaps are not a problem. They’re an opportunity. As a San Francisco still life photographer, I wanted more beauty work in my portfolio, so I gave myself a brief: a lipstick series. Simple in scope, just lighting and product, but intentional in execution.
A self-commissioned brief
On the surface, the project was just five images. In reality, these images are doing a lot of heavy lifting.
What the series showcases
Product category: cosmetics and beauty still life
Styling techniques: hero product, grouped arrangements, scatters, stacks, sculptural moments
Lighting approaches: backlit glow, dramatic high contrast overhead, side light for long shadows
Rigging: overhead setups and just enough product styling magic to make impossible stacks hold
Deliverables: a multi-image campaign ready for web, social, e-commerce, print, and point of sale
The budget
Total cost? Eight dollars.
The takeaways
Make the work you want to be hired for
Portfolio gaps are not a problem. They are an opportunity.
Further reading
To see how visual style reinvention keeps imagery relevant, explore Visual nostalgia and the art of reinvention
For another look at building depth into a product category, read Closing the portfolio gap: apothecary edition
To apply frameworks for building a strong visual library, explore the Creative tools page
Next steps
If you’re looking to commission imagery that strengthens your brand library, view services or get in touch.