In-House vs Outsourced Skincare & Beauty Product Photography

When it comes to skincare, beauty, and wellness products, photography isn’t just a visual asset, it’s a conversion tool. Stunning visuals help you establish trust, communicate quality, and stand out in competitive markets like Amazon, Instagram, and DTC websites.

But when it’s time to create those visuals, many brand founders and marketers ask:

Should we build an in-house setup or outsource product photography to a professional studio?

The answer depends on your brand’s stage, budget, team size, and expectations for quality and scalability. In this guide, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each option, and highlight special considerations for beauty, wellness, and skincare brands that need precise, emotionally engaging visuals.

1. Pros and Cons of In-House Skincare & Beauty Product Photography

Pros

• Faster turnaround (if you have internal capacity)

• Full control over styling, lighting, and creative choices

• Cost-effective for high-volume, repetitive SKUs

• Easier to experiment with social content or UGC-style imagery

Cons

• Requires upfront investment in equipment, lighting, props, and space

• Limited creative range without professional styling or set design

• Risk of inconsistent quality across product launches

• Time-consuming—especially for small teams or solo founders

For skincare brands, in-house photography can work for simple white background photos or UGC-style content. But showcasing texture (e.g., serums, balms), luxury packaging, or minimal branding often requires advanced lighting and composition skills.

If you’re curious about lighting and styling techniques that boost sales, check out our article on how professional product photography helps you charge more.

2. Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Skincare & Beauty Product Photography

Pros

• Access to professional equipment, lighting, and editing

• Creative support: art direction, prop sourcing, model casting

• Consistent quality and cohesive visual identity

• Saves time for your internal team

• No need to invest in gear or studio space

Cons

• Lead times depend on the studio’s availability

• Potential communication issues if not managed properly

• May seem expensive upfront, but saves time and delivers better ROI long-term

For most DTC beauty and skincare brands, outsourcing allows you to scale content production without compromising brand consistency. It’s especially important when you need both white background images for Amazon or your online store and styled lifestyle shots for social media and paid ads.

3. Key Differences for Skincare, Beauty & Wellness Brands

Unlike apparel or accessories, skincare and wellness products come with unique challenges:

• Packaging reflects perceived value (matte vs. glossy, glass vs. plastic)

• Texture matters – gels, serums, creams, and oils must be captured accurately

• Minimalism needs precision – shooting a plain bottle on white sounds simple, but requires careful lighting to avoid looking flat or generic

• Model photography – showing real people using skincare or wellness products builds trust and relatability

This is where experienced studios with a focus on beauty product photography make a real difference.

At WOWCONTLY, we’ve helped brands communicate value through:

• Soft lighting that enhances luxurious packaging

• Carefully styled minimal setups for clean beauty aesthetics

• Model-based photoshoots tailored to your ideal customer profile

Read more about our approach to model-based beauty photography and how it can elevate brand trust.

4. When In-House Skincare Product Photography Might Work Best

• You’re just launching and need a few simple images to test a concept

• You sell high volumes of low-cost products that don’t require luxury styling

• Your team includes someone with photography skills and time to handle the setup

• You want quick social content (e.g., Reels, behind-the-scenes shots)

In-house works well when speed and experimentation are more important than polish.

That said, even many brands that start in-house later transition to outsourced skincare and beauty product photography once they realize the difference in quality and time savings.

5. When Outsourcing Skincare and Beauty Product Photography Is the Smart Move

• You’re launching a premium skincare or beauty product line

• Your internal team doesn’t have time to manage photography

• You’re preparing for a retail launch, PR outreach, or new website

• You want both white background and lifestyle/model shots in one shoot

• You need images optimized for Amazon, Shopify, and Instagram ads

Professional photography becomes especially important when entering marketplaces like Amazon, where competition is fierce and visuals need to meet exact standards.

FAQ: In-House vs. Outsourced Skincare and Beauty Product Photography

Q: Is outsourcing skincare product photography really worth the cost?

Yes, especially for premium brands. High-quality product images build trust, reduce returns, and support higher pricing. Outsourcing saves time, ensures consistency, and gives you access to expert lighting, styling, and editing that would be expensive or time-consuming to do in-house.

Q: How much does professional beauty product photography cost?

At WOWCONTLY, our pricing is transparent and competitive:

• White background photos: $22/photo

• Styled photos without models: $55/photo (includes props and creative direction)

• Model-based photos: from $115/photo (includes casting, styling, and location coordination)

These rates include full commercial usage rights, styling, and editing, with no hidden license fees.

Q: Can I send products internationally for skincare and beauty product photography?

Yes. Most of our clients are based in the Western Europe, U.K., and U.S. We provide clear shipping instructions, and packages typically arrive at our Riga, Latvia studio within 2–5 business days via DHL, FedEx, or UPS.

Q: What if I need both Amazon-ready photos and lifestyle beauty product shots?

We often combine white background images and lifestyle/model shots in a single shoot. This gives you a complete set of visuals for your Amazon listings, DTC store, and social media, while maintaining consistency and saving you time.

Q: How does outsourcing compare to hiring a freelance photographer?

Freelancers can be a good option for one-time shoots, but they often lack the equipment, styling, and strategic thinking required for skincare or beauty product photography. A small studio (like WOWCONTLY) offers better reliability, creative direction, and brand-aligned results.

Commercial skincare product photography session at WOWCONTLY studio with model and lighting gear

Q: How do I know if I’m ready to outsource?

If you’re spending too much time trying to shoot photos in-house, struggling with consistency, or feeling like your visuals aren’t reflecting your brand’s quality, it’s time to outsource. Professional product photography is one of the highest-ROI investments for beauty and skincare brands.

About WOWCONTLY: Boutique Product Photography Studio for Skincare & Beauty Brands

WOWCONTLY is a boutique product photography studio based in Riga, Latvia, specializing in skincare, beauty, and wellness product photography for brands around the world.

We’re a small, dedicated team of two:

• Alina Kareva - Lead skincare and beauty product photographer and stylist, with a background in fashion and visual aesthetics

• Aleksandr Karevs - Professional beauty product photographer and digital marketing expert with over 13 years of experience in e-commerce, having launched and sold multiple Shopify and Etsy stores

Together, we combine clean, minimalist visuals with strategic insights, creating product photos that don’t just look beautiful but also drive conversions.

What makes us different:

• Full commercial usage rights included

• Affordable pricing without agency overhead

• Personal, hands-on service from start to finish

• Deep specialization in skincare and wellness photography

• Fast, reliable delivery to clients across the U.S., EU, and beyond

Whether you need white background shots for Amazon, styled flat lays for your DTC store, or model-based lifestyle images for Instagram ads, we’ve got you covered.

Ready to outsource your next shoot? Get in touch with us and let’s talk about your brand.