Make a splash: Creative ways to incorporate water into your product photography

Adding fun and creative elements to your photography compositions is an easy way to help your images stand out. An easy and accessible element you can experiment with is water. If you’re looking to take your product photography to the next level, try diving into these innovative water-inspired techniques and watch your images come to life in a whole new way.

Water Droplets

Sprinkle water droplets onto the product's surface or surroundings to create a refreshing look. This technique works particularly well for products associated with cleanliness, freshness or hydration such as skincare products, fruits or beverages.

Pro tip: Use glycerin as a substitute for water. Due to its consistency, glycerin is much easier to place and manipulate compared to water, ultimately giving you more control during your shoot. Here are other ways you can use glycerin in your product photography.

Water Reflections

Position your product or subject near a body of water—such as a pool, lake, or even a DIY studio setup—to capture captivating reflections. Don't have these resources nearby? Try adding water to a container and experiment with the reflections. This technique adds depth and visual interest to your composition, especially when photographing glossy or reflective surfaces like glassware, jewelry, or electronics.

Creator Illham used water to add reflections and enhance the drama of the scene. Source: @illhamt

Water Splashes

Introduce controlled splashes of water around or onto the product to add energy and dynamism to the image. This technique effectively conveys action, excitement or motion making it suitable for products associated with activity, sports or outdoor adventure. Make sure to bump up your shutter speed for this technique in order to freeze the water’s movement in a crisp and effective manner.

Water Submersion

Fully or partially immerse the product in water to create unique underwater shots. This technique is particularly striking for products that are waterproof, designed for aquatic use or extremely hydrating such as swimwear, waterproof gadgets, skincare products, or beverages. If you don't have a waterproof camera or case, try filling in a glass fish tank with water, dropping in your products and taking the images from the outside.

Bubbly tip: Add bubbles to your underwater scene by using a canned air duster or simply blowing through a tube.

Here’s everything you need to know about photographing products underwater

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Water Mist or Fog

Utilize water mist or fog machines to create a soft and frosty atmosphere around the product. This technique adds a sense of mystery and allure to the image, making it ideal for beverage products.

You can also use this technique to add a dreamy or romantic mood, particularly for products such as fragrances, luxury items, or intimate apparel.

Water Ripples or Waves

Generate gentle ripples or waves in a shallow pool of water to add texture and movement to the composition. You can also recreate this effect in a studio by placing water inside a shallow container or water tray and obtaining the desired ripples with a hair dryer or blowing on the water surface with a straw. This technique can enhance the visual appeal of products that would be used around the pool and during sunny weather.

Water trays are an excellent addition to this type of setup. Here's an exciting opportunity: members of the Creatively Squared community receive a special perk—a discount on Everyday Co's water trays! Join our community today to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

Next time you take product images, remember to incorporate water cues throughout your content. Whether it's splashing droplets or dreamy reflections, each technique adds a special touch that'll make your photos stand out.