Studio Bicyclette

Current life (and work, and design) mantra ☁️
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I don’t know when it started or the exact turning point, but I find myself repeating this over and over again. Out loud, in my head, over and over.
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It’s a desire for simplicity, but beyond that, intention and a certain level of beauty and craftsmanship and all that good stuff.
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I believe it was inimitable Don Draper that said, “Make it simple but significant”, and who am I to argue with the ad man himself?

There are a few unexpected items that show up at a lot of our photoshoots, whether for a client or a brand editorial, and generally our reasoning behind them has something to do with tapping into our senses, and the feeling we're trying to evoke.
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Case in point — hand cream.
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But not just any drugstore find, this is about being intentional and paying attention to how the specifics will help tell your story. Here's my reasoning:
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No. 1 — Packaging design. Beautiful packaging immediately communicates that you value design and can help hint at the style of the brand, so pay attention to the type, the overall layout, the material or finishes, and the colour palette. Soft and feminine? Bold and colourful? Refined and understated?
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No. 2 — The suggestion of how it will feel. Luxurious and ritualistic, it triggers that when we see it because we imagine the experience of using the product. This goes for any prop — think through how it will be used and what that communicates about the story. Same for scent, if it's listed.
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No. 3 — Imperfection and authenticity. When I'm styling a scene, I want it to feel REAL. And to me, imperfection is beautiful and focusing again on how something is actually used, creates that sense of authenticity. So the subtle dents in the tube suggest a human touch in this case, and the shadows speak to the time of day. I would also play with removing the cap and even showing a bit of the cream itself, so we get a bit of the texture too.