Adding Lifestyle Elements to your Photoshoot | Interior & Brand Photography Toronto
Adding Life to Still Images
While photography is a static medium, it doesn’t mean images can’t have a little life in them. Whether you are selling a service or a product or something that’s a bit of a mix like interior design, the end consumer is a human being!
Appealing to your ideal customer or client just involves understanding their lifestyle and adding in elements to the imagery that matches what they are looking for. Most businesses consider what’s called a ‘client avatar’ or an ‘ideal customer profile’. This generally involves some understanding about their lifestyle, interests, budget and demographics. With this knowledge in hand, you can tailor the way you add life to your images in a meaningful way.
Three easy ways to add life to images is through styling, people and pets!
Adding life through styling elements.
Choose styling elements that are in line or appeal to your ideal client’s current or desired lifestyle. This can be perceived through the types of items used, quality of the products, and the types of brands. For example when styling an entryway, you may choose between ‘jean jackets and tote bags’ for a busy family or ‘stilettos and a high-end hand bag’ to appeal to a different audience. Keep the styling elements a bit aspirational but still achievable.
Style in a way that it feels like someone just stepped away. Whether it’s some fresh produce on a kitchen counter for recipe prep or an open laptop on a desk, it gives the sense that this space is lived in.
Add a furry friend!
Who doesn’t love seeing pets in photography? They instantly evoke a little fondness as most people have or have had one in their life at some point. The feeling that this is a space where a pet is free to roam instantly brings in a humanity that their owner is just around the corner.
Add people to your shots.
Adding in a person offers a sense of scale, can be used to demonstrate functional elements and of course makes a space feel livable. There are many ways you can add people in a scene:
- Include people posed in spaces either looking at the camera or away as if in thought in the space.
- Include people interacting with spaces to show the livability or functional elements in the space.
- Add a blurred person to give a hint of a life.
Choose expressions and actions that make sense with the style of space. Similar to the styling elements, don’t forget to consider overall aesthetic and style of clothing. Use models or current clients that match your desired client in terms of demographics.
If you are looking to create dynamic images for your brand or small business, reach out! I’d love to connect with you to see how best to capture photography that connects and engages your potential client.
