If you have noticed anything by now when we talk about blogging and beauty blogging tips, is that there is no “must” or “should” 🙂 However, there are some “rules” or practises that are so established that everyone tends to follow suit. One of this is in product photography of new items.
How often have you come across a product review of a colour cosmetic that features a used product? Not often, I’d warrant. Most of the time (and I’m just as guilty of this) the product will be photographed in its brand new pristine state before a blogger uses it. There is something so beautiful and pristine about a brand new piece of makeup and it looks gorgeous in photographs.
And yet, how often have you, as a blogger, had to push aside using your makeup simply because “I haven’t photographed it new yet!” Again, I’m perfectly guilty of this. But you know what? I plan to change all that very soon because I’m not going to slavishly follow this practice anymore and I’ll share with you why.
If you own a beauty blog, I’m sure you are guilty of this too right? And I know readers will appreciate seeing products brand new too 🙂
Yet, I think this whole product photography thing can get a little out of hand. As much as many of us want to show you a nice beautiful brand new item, the fact is that we do not always have a brand new perfect item to show. What do you do then? Spend all your money buying the newest and the latest? This is, I feel quite unhealthy and breeds a culture of excess. Many of us have existing products that we love too but feel embarrassed to show, because they aren’t “new” anymore.
On top of that, after we buy, we can’t dig into our purchases. Add on work and life commitments, poor weather etc and some products can languish in storage for weeks or months before we can photograph and use it. I trust I’m not alone in this conundrum!
So here’s what I think. I don’t think that product photos on a blog necessarily needs to show a perfect, brand new item. Naturally, if you have the time to do so, please do. I will gawk at it quite happily 🙂 However, I too believe in having a bit of reality check.
If we don’t have the time, and we really want to use our new purchase, why not just dig right in? It is quite possible to just use a corner of a colour without disturbing the rest of the design too much if that matters. When the time comes to take your photograph, clean up your palette or product and show it. I personally feel that a used product, so long as its clean and well photographed, serves the same purpose as that of a brand new one. Sometimes, it serves an even better purpose, because readers can actually tell what it looks like once its used, and they too can tell if you really love a product!
The only time I can see a brand new product photo serving a purpose, is if there is an intricate design that will disappear once the product is used. Usually, this happens when there is overspray and in these situations, a before/after photo is very helpful. In most other circumstances, I think a well taken photograph, whether of a new or used product will serve your product review just as well. Just as a blog should reflect a blogger’s views, it too should reflect the reality and the reality is that we do use our products, not just line them up for display.
And this, Ladies, means you may be seeing photos of used products cropping up on my blog after this. I don’t always have a lot of time these days to indulge in product photography or even on my blog, and I really want to use what I have. So, if this bugs you, well I could always refer you to another blog. There are loads out there that are full of beautiful photographs of pristine new items 🙂
What do you reckon, bloggers? Do you feel the need to photograph only or mainly brand new products? As readers, do you expect that a brand new product be shown instead of a used one?
As a blogger, yes I do feel the need to photograph a product new and I feel that by not doing so, I’m somehow not living up to some ideal. Yet, due to my constraints, I don’t plan to slavishly do this anymore. As a reader, I enjoy seeing beautiful pristine brand new items especially when they are well photographed. But I also delight in seeing a well used item because it means the blogger loved it and used it enough. So long as the product looks clean, I don’t mind so long as it is clear. I after all, also place a large score on the writing that complements a photo. Anyone with me? 🙂
Paris B
Simple Blogging Tips are some simple tips I have for fellow bloggers, based on my own experiences. I’m no ‘guru’ but I hope they will help you. You may read up on previous Simple Blogging Tips here or please feel free to ask your question in the comment box or in email.
Totally agree.
I actually prefer to see a used product dice I know u are really using it.
Thanks for the feedback! I like knowing that a product gets some love too 🙂
Being a blogger and a full time home-maker are two different things I need to keep a balance between. So sometimes things I think of never happen example like you said clicking pics of new item. So what I do is when I review or write about any particular product, I click pics of it at that very time. I really don’t think my readers will care about the age of the product as long as the shade / name is clear on the pack 🙂
Very informative post Paris !!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Arpita 🙂 I think if we take a good shot with clear photos, never mind that the product is a little used, most people won’t mind. After all, we have our own time to juggle too! 😀
Well I think that a slightly used product is better to photograph because of the overspray so I’m in favor of photograph used products, and I do it also with skincare
Oh I love photographing skincare because it doesn’t matter if its used or not! LOL All I need is the bottle/tub/tube 😀
I’m guilty of this as well. And I agree it can get out of hand! Things sometimes get stored up for MONTHS before I dig into them and I’m restricted by my own silly “must-photograph-first-before-using” rule until then. By then, a limited edition item could already be long gone!
While I do appreciate pictures of brand new items, I don’t mind seeing pictures of lightly used items as long as they look decent and clean. I’ve seen pictures of used products with messy, gunky residue everywhere and truth be told it is quite unsightly! >.<
I felt the same way too Jenn and then I want to use something new and can’t because “I haven’t photographed it yet” and its so frustrating! 😛 I am with you – lightly used and cleaned up has a character of its own. Maybe not something that’s half used or grubby (although that is definitely something we should not be having in our stashes – grubby cosmetics!)
Guilty, guilty and guilty. I work full time, i have 2 kids and i have other activities irl. I blog too. So yay to this article. I’ve taken used product shots before and i might just do it again! I can then use the products even though i haven’t had time to photograph them yet. We can start a revolution here! Lol!
Haha a revolution, yes! 😉 I think its fine to be perfectly honest. Its just societal and peer pressure that makes us think it should all be brand new – my thoughts anyway 🙂
Oops. Yes, brand new products ALL THE WAY for me. The moment I get sumfin new, I take pics, let it languish in my phone or camera, and then when the moment comes to post it, I already have pics.
Good on ya 🙂 I don’t usually take photos right off the bat which is why I’m facing this dilemma haha… Takes too much effort sometimes to ensure a photo is taken immediately when time, lighting, circumstances may not allow 🙁
Guilty too. I find myself often said ‘can’t use, haven’t photograph it yet’. Same as you recently I just couldn’t bother too much and start using before photographing it.
Good to know I’m not alone on this 🙂
Yeah, time to make a change! 😉
Leave it to you to always bring up the stuff we bloggers think about but no one talks about, Paris! This is a great post and I think its wonderful that you brought this topic up. I definitely take photos of new, pristine products 99% of the time–but I still have shown pics of used products on my blog. I just make sure it at least LOOKS clean and presentable before taking ANY pictures. For example, I like to wipe down the surfaces of the compact and use a q-tip to clean the edges around the pans of product (especially important for powder products like eyeshadow and blush since a layer of powder usually surrounds the pans). I also like to wipe down the mirrors. For something like an eyeliner, I would just make sure to neatly re-sharpen. For lipstick, I would wipe down the surface so that it would appear smoother. That’s about it! I think taking the extra few minutes to make sure everything is tidy makes a HUGE difference, and I really appreciate when people do that. When I see photos of used makeup that are clumpy and crusty and I can see greasy fingerprints all over the compact, I’ll admit, I get turned off and it makes the whole product so much less appealing to me. But maybe I’m just being anal 😛
What can I say, Becca? I love rocking the boat! 😉 I love your pictures Becca, and I can’t recall a single one that I’ve seen that shows a used product! That’s some excellent cover up work you’ve been doing 😀 I plan to do the same. I don’t of course, plan to use a product till its half gone then take a picture, but I think a lightly used one will not go amiss – that way I enjoy my purchases, and I don’t feel too guilty 😉 I may be a little more diligent for PR samples but otherwise, its going to be fair game 😉
I never expect bloggers to present new and unused items. I know how hard that is to do when you’re short on time! I used to try to horde new items until I could photograph them. Now that I’ve gone on hiatus from blogging, I just dig into new items as soon as I get them! It’s so much more satisfying! 🙂
Ahhh Renee you’re on hiatus! But I plan to do the same. Dig in and enjoy what I have and if the blogging bug bites, take my photos then 🙂 Especially for my own purchases. Sometimes it takes too long before I get to enjoy them and I forget 😛
I have soo many products I’ve not used just because I’ve not had the chance to photograph them!! So THANK YOU for posting this Miss B!!
This is for all of us busy ladies! Go for it Yani!
I go with a mix, I find! New (always) for product reviews, but used for things like monthly roundups — it’s not like we can keep a backup just for shooting 😛 I think that my makeup habit loses out (sometimes it’s weeks before I can use something, because I can’t find the time to photograph it first), but I feel like the photos & overall resulting blog aesthetic definitely benefit from it!
I have to agree with you re: aesthetics and I love how your blog looks especially with all the pristine new goodies! 🙂 I can’t keep up anymore unfortunately 🙁 So even reviews may have to feature a lightly used product as much as I’d prefer not to 🙁
Nah, I think MWS still looks great, even with used products! I rarely notice it in your photographs, tbh — it has to do more with cleanliness and the way things are shot than with having pristine products, I think. Powder, dust, and fingerprints are a big no-no, but a CLEAN, gently used product can be shot for a blog without harming the aesthetic!
There’s nothing quite like a brand-new glossy finish or overspray, though 😉
Thanks Rae! You’re right – an untouched surface has a beauty all of its own. Ahhh… what a complicated balance we need to achieve 😉
Let me give you my opinion as a reader: I value your reviews. I have a weakness for pretty packaging. I look at the photos. And to be honest, I’ve spent A LOT simply based on your reviews and not the photos LOL
I can still see the new, untouched product when I go and make my purchase so its no big deal.
Haha Thank you so much for your feedback, ProudMummy! Like you, I love looking at pretty photos and pretty prints but ultimately, its the words that get me every time. At least there’s no danger of “used” or “worn” words eh? Those are always new 😉
same here!!!! I can’t use a product without photographing it first!!! I honestly do not mind taking photos of used products as long as I already have a “stock” photo of them in pristine condition! hehehehe
I’m like you Nikki! But I can’t even find the time (or energy) to take that stock photo anymore 🙁 Guess I’m just not as organised/a superwoman as I thought LOL 😀
I sometimes dig into products before I photograph them, but I’ll usually write something in the post saying that I have used it. I don’t really stress too much about them being brand new in my shots sometimes I just can’t resist playing with something I’ve just bought!
I need to be like you Megan 😀 I want to play with my new goodies too 😀
Sadly, I only decide to review something after I’ve tested it, and by the time I got round to reviews, I realize that I’ve not taken the photos of the product, thus, they’re no longer “brand new”.
So now, I try to get the product shots IMMEDIATELY after I get them so I can use them without guilt later heh heh heh.
Hey, Hanny we all would review it only after testing 😀 What I meant is that I have no time/energy/inclination to take my photos of the new stuff anymore before going ahead and digging right in. I guess being really fussy about where/how/when I take photos plays a big part too. But its good practice to take the photo as quickly as you can and then enjoy it at leisure 😉
Go for it, Paris! 😀 I don’t mind seeing used products at all, like your empties posts. I really enjoy the process of taking photographs of pristine, unused products because they just look so pretty! 🙂 but I’ll bet people are more concerned with how it looks outside of PR photos and how it is used (hence swatches!) anyway. Looking forwards to your future posts!
Thanks Peach! 😀 I do enjoy taking photos of brand new stuff too. Its very satisfying 😛 But I hope to be able to replicate that in a lightly used product – maybe get more artistic? haha… we’ll see 😉
I totally agree. I like seeing both, honestly, and it’s more interesting a lot of times to see the used product. In any case, the best thing you can do with your makeup is use it! so I’m all for that.
I like it when there is a nice pattern and then the next photo shows it all gone, especially with overspray LOL I just like seeing something being used I guess 😀
As a blog reader I don’t mind photos of used products as long as the product is neat and cleaned up. For me, the product photo is not as important as swatches and descriptions of colors, texture, performance, etc. I especially gravitate to blogs that show the product applied on the face.
I like to see how people use their products too, Kay! This is especially so for colour makeup because sometimes, an item worn can look quite different from a swatch on the back of the hand 🙂
haha. I normally photograph the product right on that day I bought it, but I am still too busy to use it. My problem is more, if I have no time to photograph, I also have no time to use. When I am free, I am really free, then I do everything at one go.
But I don’t mind photos of used product, save for those, like Burberry blush which you really just can’t use it till the Burberry iconic checks are all gone, then show it to readers, because then it doesn’t serves the purpose anymore. haha. At least, as a reader, I feel that I want to see the special prints, so I will do the same for others too.
For example, if it’s a M.A.C, which tends to be perfectly plain, then the blogger can ahead and use it, as ultimately, readers want to see the swatches.
If you don’t say it’s not a crime to photograph used products, I would always feel so guilty, because I, for one, have used many, many photos of used products. LOL, some of them, the tube/bottle all squashed up and used down, and then I only leave that little bit to photograph for review.
I even feel guilty about the LMdB Blush because I used it so much, the rubber cover (that is like NARS) is so covered in gold specks, I can’t get it off no matter how I clean. =( It does looks so used and dirty and untidy, but truth is, I already tried to clean it. So that makes me feel sad. But on the flip side, when I say I’ve used it so much and love it, the photograph shows I am telling the truth. =D
Good on you Jyoan 🙂 I think quite a few people do this too – photograph on the day itself, or as quickly as they can. I used to too, but then real life got in the way haha… 🙂 I don’t plan to show half used grungy makeup of course. But maybe something that’s been lightly used because I just couldn’t bear to wait 😉 Like you, if you really love something, and you have a used product to show for it, I think it says a lot more than just words eh? 😉
As a reader, I only expect to see a brand new product if it has a cool design on the powder or some spray finish on top that goes away after a few uses. As long as the compact isn’t dirty and half-used I’m okay with it. Color is more important. I think it’s much better presentation though to show new products (especially creams!)
I will agree with you Janessa – a new items photographs better and looks much better on a blog. As a blogger, I’d love for it to be that way all the time 🙂 But I guess a lightly used product, or one that’s only used at a corner and with some crafty photography might get it looking just as good