10 products your business should be showing with a model

In our experience, there aren’t many products that don’t benefit from having a human element, or a model. But we still hear customers say, “Models just don’t make sense for my products.”

So, we decided to go all-out and put together this list of 10 product-types that would benefit from shooting with a model. Do you think your sales won’t increase from hiring a model? Well, keep reading.

Some images in this blog are not owned by Elysian Studios. They were sourced for inspirational purposes only.

Jewelry

One of our favorite products to shoot, but also the product we rarely see shot on-model, is jewelry. Introducing a model is a great way to show how an item hangs, how to style it, or how you can incorporate it into your lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for a high-end, commercial studio look, or a more approachable lifestyle look, models are a great way to spice up your diamonds and gemstones.

Apparel

Definitely the most obvious product-type, shooting apparel on a model is essential. With 17% of global retail sales happening online, customers want to see exactly how the product will fit them. How tight is the shirt? How low does the cardigan hem go on the leg? How supportive is the bra? How do the tassels move and fall? How high-waisted are the pants?

But shooting apparel on-model is also the best way to introduce a lifestyle element to the products. Where could you wear it? What outfit could you make with it? What lifestyle can you aspire to have if you owned it? All of these are subliminal influencers to making your customers more comfortable converting on the purchase.

Beverages

When it comes to beverages, if you want to introduce a human element, typically you’re selling the lifestyle more than the product. You don’t need a model to show your customers how to drink something, you need a model to show your customers what they could have if they bought the drink.

Whether you’re capturing the glow in a child’s eyes as they take a sip of orange juice, or the warmth a woman gets as she takes the first sip of her coffee, or the refreshment a man experiences as he takes his first sip of beer on a beach, or the excitement a group feels when they “cheers” their wine glasses at a restaurant, use models to best sell the aspirational lifestyle that your beverages could bring.

Technology

Consumer technology is unique because when it’s just on its own, it doesn’t really do anything. The iPhone without a user is a $1000 glorified paperweight. But put that phone in someone’s hand, and they can see the world in a whole new light.

Adopt that same way of thinking to computers, headphones, smartwatches, smartphones, tablets, smart homes, and every other consumer technology product, and it starts to make sense why you see so many tech ads showing the people using the products more than the products themselves.

These companies are selling the world of possibilities unleashed if you buy their product. They’re selling the efficiencies and ease they bring to your day-to-day life. They’re selling the productivity boost your office will get if everyone uses their computers. They’re selling the peace and tranquility you get when you put on their noise-canceling headphones.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing and industrial products can be one of the trickier products to incorporate a model with. After all, do you really need a person to show an eye bolt, an industrial-grade pressurized window, or disinfecting equipment?

Yes! The very reason you were so quick to agree with the above statement is that products like this are perceived by the general public as stark and boring. But it’s up to businesses and brands like you to break that mold and show consumers that even industrial parts and PPE don’t have to be boring and unapproachable.

Represent the efficiencies of your packing materials by showing warehouse workers happily completing their jobs. Represent the friendliness and collaboration of your construction company with a photo of your workers going over plans with an architect and the client. Or represent the effectiveness of your PPE by showing a happy group of lab technicians working in a beautiful and sterile lab.

By making product types that are typically viewed as dull more approachable and understandable, your customers and clients will be much more likely to convert on a purchase.

Footwear

By far the most versatile product type for model photography is footwear. With how many different types of shoes there are out there, the opportunities for photography are ultimately limitless. (This is also my personal favorite product type to shoot from a photographer’s perspective!)

Show the durability of running shoes with a dramatic action shot of someone running on a track. Put together a slick, tailored outfit for a pair of men’s Oxfords to show off a classy, high-end lifestyle. Or build a funky editorialized studio set to play off the shapes or colors of a bold pair of expensive heels.

The goal here is to be captivating or to show an aspirational lifestyle. Everyone knows what shoes are and what they do, so functionality is not the purpose here. Instead, take the opportunity to get funky, be bold, or have fun with making scenes that represent your brand.

Food

Yummm, time for my personal favorite! Food photography differs from beverage photography because it typically has much more of a “wow” factor. You know what I mean: ooey-gooey fudge, juicy burgers, steaming pasta, moist cake, and vibrant, fresh veggies — all of the things that make your stomach growl, but more importantly makes you think, “I want that, now!”

But how does a person add to the photo? Customers want to know their food is fresh and homemade, and adding the personal touch of a person helps sell the “homemade” and “fresh-made” side of your food. They can represent the time and hard work that went into preparing it. They can represent the love and passion that goes into a recipe. Or, they can tell the story of how the food arrived on your plate, whether that story is about the painstaking process of finding freshly sourced ingredients, or whether it tells a compelling family story about how the recipe has evolved over the years.

Accessories

One of the most common product types to shoot with a model is accessories because they really can’t come alive without a human touch. What’s a hat without the head, a watch without the wrist, or a bag without a shoulder? The most important reason to use a model when photographing accessories is to show the product as it’s meant to be used.

But, as I’ve already talked about, this is also your chance to sell a lifestyle. Who is the type of person to wear that watch? What outfits could you style around that scarf? What occasion could you take that clutch or handbag to? Incorporating a model allows you to sell aspiration, or what your customer could have if they buy your product. This is the best way to show the niche and demographic of your brand and tell your customers exactly why they should purchase from you.

Athletics & Outdoor

The very nature of athletic and outdoor products is movement, adventure, and functionality, so why would you show them any other way than on a model? Customers want to see the intended use, the durability, and, of course, the aspirational lifestyle that the product could bring you.

Show how happy and healthy you could be if you buy the right workout gear. Show a pair of trail shoes taking an absolute beating out on the trail without sacrificing comfort. Show a mountain bike flying through the trees with speed and control that no other bike could deliver. Or show how happy and comfortable 2 people can be together when they watch the sunset from their new tent.

Pet

You didn’t think I’d forget about our favorite furry models, did you? Now is your chance to shamelessly tug on the heartstrings of your customers with cute and adorable animals.

The most obvious thought when it comes to using animals as models is to show pet products in use: dog bowls, harnesses, cat trees, beds, etc. Of course, this is a great strategy, as customers want to see how happy and comfortable their furball will be if they buy that product for them.

But another sneaky trick is to simply incorporate animals with photography of human products. The intention here could not be more simple: get people to buy your products by using the cute factor. I’ve photographed little kittens crawling all over rainboots, Golden Retrievers holding a designer clutch in their mouth, and even reptiles slithering across jewelry. It’s human nature to love and care for animals, so seeing them next to a product will increase a customer’s chance of purchasing.

So, what do you think?

Did I convince you that virtually every product type could benefit from photographing it with people? In my experience in this industry, the brands that use models see more sales than those that don’t.

So what are you waiting for? Start thinking about ways to shoot your products with models, and when you’re ready, send me an email. Our studio will be here waiting for you when you are!