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28th February 2020

Manipulating colour in product photography

Trying to work out which colour combinations to include in your product photography?

It’s something we have to consider with every shoot we do.

Manipulating colour in product photography

Effective use of colour, saturation and hue in photography helps to draw attention to your subject, therefore creating a powerful visual effect that has the desired impact.

The four main tips we’ve included here will help you to understand how to use colour in product photography in particular, for a high-quality, attention-grabbing shot.

Add a pop of colour

A “pop of colour” is a bright splash of colour that stands out against a background of other colours in the scene. Such use of colour can have a powerful effect as it draws the eye in towards something as a focal point.

With the shots I did for Gamko, I used the blue lights of the fridges themselves, as well as the crisp light coming in through the windows, to bring about a striking, chilly sensation.

After all, the products being sold are refrigeration units - they’re cold! The blue is also clear and sharp, like frost.

A good tip when taking photos is to keep an eye out for neutral coloured scenes that would benefit from a pop of colour in this way - but make sure the colour is relevant (like blue for refrigeration).

Appreciate dominant and receding colours

In photography, striking colours tend to be dominant e.g. bright blues, bold yellows and deep reds. They’re considered to be dominant because our eyes tend to see them before the cooler colours. These cooler colours are known as receding colours, for example beige, lilac and light grey.

The warm colours are dominant in that they grab your attention first, whilst the receding colours fade into the background more.

In the Gamko images, things like floors, stools etc. aren’t central to the product or the young, trendy lifestyle message so the receding colours make sense.

Use colour to make a photo abstract

Abstract images tend to only have only a few visual components. Texture, shape and colour are the most effective elements to include in your images. They can be used to build a colourful, abstract image that’s visually very appealing.

When creating a strong abstract image, go for blocks of colour to create strong shapes. Also, aim to include a good amount of empty space (as I did with the Gamko shoot).

The quality of the light and the colours you choose are the main components required in creating a striking abstract photo.

Lastly, use clean lines for a particularly striking impact. This is nicely illustrated again in the Gamko photos in the slick lines of the bar and generally minimalistic feel of the whole thing.

Go for interesting backgrounds

Interesting, detailed backgrounds packed with colour and effects offer a fantastic backdrop for your photos. If you can find an interesting building or wall then it’s worth considering it as a background for your image.

The stairs in one of the Gamko shots were perfect, especially with a couple of people sitting beneath them at the bar. This is partly because the human subjects offer a sense of scale, but also because it creates an element of human interest for the viewer to engage with.

Final thought

Product photography is about so much more than simply clicking away at a product. It’s about selling a lifestyle, an atmosphere, a feeling. It’s about invoking memories and going for the natural, candid look (something I feel very strongly about).

Colour plays a huge part in memory and emotion, both key elements in all my work. Why not take a look at my portfolio for more?

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