13 Creative Lip Gloss Photoshoot Ideas

Photographing makeup – especially makeup that only shows up clearly in certain kinds of lighting, like lip gloss – can be challenging. Luckily, we’ve got 13 creative lip gloss photoshoot ideas to ensure that your photos come out looking stunning. That way, whatever lip gloss-centered makeup looks you create can be fully appreciated in the photos you take. Let’s get started!

1. Take photos at a photo studio to control lighting and backdrops

As we mentioned in the intro to his post, it can be challenging to photograph makeup like lip gloss well. That’s why finding a space where you have complete control over the lighting and backdrops and access to plenty of high-quality photography equipment is an excellent idea. It’s also why we’re listing it as our first lip gloss photoshoot idea.

If you don’t have access to a photo studio already, renting one through Peerspace is a great option. For example, if you’re located near Las Vegas, Nevada, using this fully-equipped professional photo studio will take your lip gloss photoshoot to the next level. To quote one reviewer who booked a photoshoot here, “Great studio and host. Was simple and very professional setup. I would definitely recommend.”

2. Make sure the lip gloss is applied correctly

Suppose you’re not hiring a professional makeup artist to apply the lip gloss for your photoshoot (and you may not need to, depending on what kind of photos you plan to take). In that case, it’s important that you or whoever is applying the makeup understand how to apply lip gloss correctly. To help you learn what to do and what to avoid, Style Craze has a super helpful guide to applying lip gloss in the form of a step-by-step tutorial, including pictures for clarity.

3. Take photos of the makeup application process

Before you start photographing the finished product, take photos of the makeup in the process of being applied. The process of applying lip gloss draws attention to the shape of the lips and can give some sensual vibes that you might like to incorporate into your photoshoot.

These creative makeup photoshoot ideas will bring your shoot to new heights. Check them out!

4. Use a neutral background

For most lip gloss photoshoots, if you want the lip gloss to be the focus of the photos, make sure the background of your photos is neutral – like white, off-white, or beige. Avoid patterns or anything busy or overly bright, as this will distract from the focus of the photos.

5. Choose a lip gloss that complements your model’s complexion/undertones

Some models have cooler undertones to their skin, while others have warmer skin undertones. Using warmer-toned makeup on people with cool-toned complexions can be unflattering. Cosmopolitan has a useful guide to finding the perfect lip gloss for your skin tone.

They quote Jamie Coombes, Dior Pro Makeup Artist, on this subject: “For fair complexions, stick to ‘pinky’ tones, olive complexions suit warmer ‘peachy’ tones and darker complexions suit ‘caramel’, ‘chocolate’ or ‘berry’ shades. If you have naturally highly-pigmented lips, try warmer tones of beige in peachy golds to neutralise the blue tone and balance out the lip colour.”

6. For the makeup look, focus on the lips

You don’t want to distract too much from the lip gloss. So avoid pairing glossy lips with heavy eye makeup or anything along those lines. Instead, keep the rest of the makeup relatively neutral so the lip color and gloss can really shine (no pun intended!).

7. The ultra-close-up shot

You may have seen shots like this all over Instagram and similar videos on TikTok. People like to see close-ups of how the lip gloss looks on a model, so you’ll definitely want to take some super-close photos. For some of the photos, you can include the lip gloss doe foot applicator so that it looks like the model is in the process of applying the lip gloss. The photo on the left from the Fenty Beauty holiday campaign in 2018 is a great example of what we’re talking about.

8. Lower half of the face

This lip gloss photoshoot idea is similar to #7, but it involves a slightly less zoomed-in view. In these photos, you show the lower half of the model’s face as well as the model in the process of applying the lip gloss. This stock photo is a good example of what we’re talking about.

9. Group photo in different shades of lip gloss

For lip gloss photoshoot ideas like this, photograph a group of 3-5 models all wearing different shades of lip gloss. A group shot gives a bit of variety to the resulting photos. You can also photograph their makeup and especially their lip color individually and up close, too, for even more variety.

10. If you’re photographing yourself, learn how to take a “lip selfie”

You might be reading this blog post because you’re hoping to photograph your own lips wearing lip gloss. In this article from Beauty for Real, beauty blogger Aubrey Boyle explains the process of taking a good “lip selfie” in lots of detail. She includes tips on how to create the perfect backdrop, find the right angle for your lip selfie, and edit the photos to make sure they’re absolutely perfect.

Learn more with our beauty photography tips!

11. Don’t be afraid of glittery glosses

Glitter in lip gloss is another way to add even more dimension and shine to your photos. Glitter doesn’t have to be childish or over-the-top – it’s just another tool in your aesthetic arsenal! If you’ve never bought a lip gloss containing glitter, here’s a list of 7 glosses of this type to get you started.

12. Retro makeup look with lip gloss

Is there a past decade that you absolutely love, especially when it comes to makeup and fashion? The new lip gloss trend is partially inspired by nostalgia for the 90s, so that might be a good place to start. A retro lip gloss photoshoot is a wonderful theme that’ll definitely bring out your creativity.

13. You can use photo editing to bring out the shine

If the lip gloss isn’t looking as glossy in photos as it did in real life, it’s possible to add more shine to your photos after the fact. Check out this YouTube tutorial for more info on how to maximize the glossiness of your lip gloss post-photoshoot using Photoshop.

Find unique photoshoot locations on Peerspace