The Project:
Color-shifting iridescent mask photographed across skin tones
I photographed Comme Deux's Discoskin iridescent mask as a personal project exploring how to capture color-shifting textures honestly. The Danish beauty brand makes skincare that breaks from minimal Scandinavian aesthetics with bold textures and vibrant finishes. This project focused on showing the mask's iridescent quality across different skin tones and creating images that communicate texture and finish truthfully.
The project centered on two creative challenges I wanted to solve. First, I built in-camera gradients using colored gels and lighting angles rather than post-production effects. I wanted the backdrop to harmonize with the product's color shift while keeping everything authentic. Second, I designed a still-life composition where stacked jars reveal the product texture. The closed jar sits on top while the open jar below shows the mask pouring out in a controlled way that looks tactile and premium.
The iridescent texture itself presented the biggest photographic puzzle. The mask has a greenish base with visible purple particles that shift depending on light angle and skin tone. I photographed it on a model with deep skin where the purple tones become more prominent and the green recedes. That color behavior needed to register clearly in the final images because it's how the product actually performs on darker complexions.
The Execution:
Specular lighting for shimmer and reflective finishes
As a Vancouver product photographer working on this Copenhagen-inspired project, I approached the skincare photography with specular lighting that reveals shimmer and reflective qualities without blowing out highlights or oversaturating the iridescence. I positioned light sources to catch the product's sheen while maintaining detail in both the particles and the cream base. For the still-life setup, I angled the jars to introduce dimension and captured the pour at a moment where viscosity reads clearly. The texture looks luxurious and intentional rather than messy or cheap.
The on-skin application required tight framing to show how the mask sits on the surface. I lit the model's face to capture the creamy, hydrated finish and to make the purple shift visible without exaggeration. The goal was to document what someone would actually see when they apply the product, not to create an idealized version. I kept retouching minimal to preserve skin texture and the mask's true appearance.
In-camera gradient backdrop using colored gels
The gradient backdrop emerged entirely in-camera through layered lighting. I used a green-to-blue transition that echoes the mask's color profile without competing with it. The gradient adds visual interest and ties the still-life and on-skin images into a cohesive set, but it doesn't distract from the product itself. The technique proved more time-intensive than adding color in post, but the result feels more authentic and crafted.
The Delivery:
Campaign images, product photos, and e-commerce variants
I delivered a photo collection designed for multiple uses. The on-skin application works as a primary campaign image. The stacked jar composition with the controlled pour serves as a main product photo that shows packaging and texture together. I also provided clean-background variants where the iridescence and color shift remain legible even at small sizes for e-commerce galleries. The gradient-backdrop versions support social content where bold color and texture stand out.
The Outcome:
Accurate documentation of optical properties and texture variation
This project demonstrated how to photograph products with unusual optical properties while maintaining accuracy. Iridescent textures require lighting precision to show their color shift without making them look filtered or inconsistent. Showing that shift on deeper skin tones adds another layer of complexity because the finish genuinely changes. The photography needed to document that variation rather than force a single idealized look.
The pour shot solved a common product photography challenge for gel and cream textures. Viscosity is hard to communicate in a still image, and texture can easily look unappealing if the styling isn't controlled. By stacking the jars and capturing the pour at a specific moment, I created an image that shows how the product moves and feels without crossing into messy or unappetizing territory.
Working from Vancouver, I bring this same approach to beauty product photography that handles complex textures and color-shifting finishes with technical precision. Reach out to discuss your next project.
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- other recent projects
Byoma hydrating serum photography showing dropper mechanics and micro-bubble texture clarity
Rhode skincare photography highlighting texture and gloss with directional lighting
OUAI detox shampoo photography with water splash and product detail
Kibon Beauty sheet mask photography for e-commerce and social media campaigns
Everlucid serum photography using practical gradient lighting techniques
Dfinite foundation swatch photography comparing lighter and deeper shade formulas side by side
