7 Reasons to Hire EU-Based Skincare Photographers

If you’re a skincare, beauty, or wellness brand looking for high-quality visuals that convert, here’s an approach many forward-thinking brands are exploring: working with EU-based product photography studios, particularly in smaller but creatively rich countries like Latvia.

Why? Because working with EU photographers offers more than just beautiful imagery, it’s a smart, scalable business decision. In this guide, we’ll unpack seven powerful reasons why partnering with a European team might be your brand’s next best move.

1. Get More for Less: High-End Visuals at Budget-Friendly Rates

Let’s start with what every brand considers: cost.

Hiring a product photography studio in NYC, London, or Sydney often comes with sky-high rates, inflated by local rent, agency fees, and large-scale operational costs. In contrast, working with a studio in Latvia, like WOWCONTLY, often gives you the same (or better) level of quality at a fraction of the price.

Here’s why:

Our Riga-based photography studio costs us just €550/month (~$600) to rent. That’s less than the price of a single half-day studio rental in cities like L.A. or Toronto.

* Our Latvia based commercial product photography studio.

Airbnb rentals in Riga, Latvia are very affordable, making it easy to rent multiple stylish locations for skincare, beauty, and wellness product photoshoots. This allows us to create a wide variety of visual content within the same budget, ideal for brands looking for diverse, high-quality imagery.

* Screenshot showing prices and apartment examples in Riga, Latvia.

We work with skilled freelance models, not through expensive agencies. That means you get diverse, professional talent, handpicked for your brand, for up to 70% less than what U.S. agencies typically charge.

Related: Beauty Product Photography with Models: Full Guide

In short: With the same budget, you’ll get more photos, more variety, and more impact.

2. One Price, Full Rights. No Extra Licensing Fees

Licensing costs are a hidden headache for many brands. You pay for a shoot, and then discover you’ll need to pay again to use your images in paid ads, billboards, or packaging.

Not in most of the EU.

At WOWCONTLY, and many other boutique European commercial product photography studios, you own the full rights to the photos once the project is delivered. You’re free to use them:

• In Facebook and Instagram ads

• On Amazon listings

• In magazines or printed brochures

• On your product packaging, shipping boxes, or retail displays

No surprises. No renewal costs. No legal fine print.

This flexibility allows your marketing team to move fast and experiment widely, without worrying about asset restrictions.

3. Endless Visual Possibilities with Affordable Location Diversity

Skincare and wellness brands often benefit from content shot in rich, real-life environments, like minimalist bathrooms, spa-inspired homes, or airy bedrooms. But in major markets, renting such places for commercial use can cost thousands per day.

In Latvia, we can book multiple Airbnbs or styled locations within the same budget, giving us the freedom to:

• Shoot in a Nordic-style kitchen in the morning

• Switch to a sunlit spa interior in the afternoon

• Create different “brand moments” that feel authentic, fresh, and emotionally engaging

Combined with Latvia’s clean, European aesthetic and seasonal variety, this opens up creative storytelling that’s difficult to achieve on a tight budget elsewhere.

Learn more: How to Plan a Skincare Product Photoshoot

4. Better Time Zone Overlap and Agile Communication

When working with EU-based skincare product photography teams, time zone differences can actually be a strategic advantage.

For example:

• If you’re based in California or New York, we’re already halfway through our workday while you’re waking up, meaning you can wake up to updates, previews, or file deliveries.

• This asynchronous workflow allows us to move projects forward quickly without interrupting your team’s daily routine.

At WOWCONTLY, we streamline this even further:

• Clear timelines and briefs via Google Docs

• Live test shots via Capture One real-time previews

• Slack or email updates based on your preferred style of communication

Our boutique size also means no layers of account managers or assistants. You’ll speak directly with the photographer and creative lead!

5. Smooth Cross-Border Collaboration (No Red Tape)

If you’re a business registered in the EU, working with a VAT-registered Latvian studio like WOWCONTLY makes invoicing and accounting seamless.

Even if you’re outside the EU, our process is built for remote-first clients:

• We send clear shipping instructions

• We notify you when your product arrives

• You get mood boards and styling concepts before we start shooting

• Every project is shot tethered, so you can review test photos in real time before final delivery

* Live photo preview during skincare product shoot for We Love The Planet using tethered Capture One setup. Clients track progress in real time via shared link.

Over 70% of our clients are based outside of Latvia, including Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, United Kingdom, and North America.

Need standard photos for your product listing? Explore our White Background Product Photography service or Amazon Photography for Skincare

6. Deep Specialization in Skincare and Wellness

Many generalist photographers may create beautiful visuals, but few understand the nuances of skincare, beauty, and wellness branding. These industries require:

• Specific lighting techniques to show product texture (e.g., serums, creams)

• Consistent color tones that communicate purity, softness, or strength

• Styling that communicates ritual, self-care, and results

At WOWCONTLY, this is our zone of genius. It’s not a side niche, it’s what we do daily.

We’ve worked with:

• Vegan and organic skincare brands

• Haircare and scalp wellness startups

• Wellness supplement brands

• Spa-inspired and sensory-driven labels

We know how to make your products feel tactile, luxurious, and trustworthy, without over-editing or cliché aesthetics.

Read more: What to Look for in a Skincare Product Photographer

7. Boutique Experience = Personal Attention & Strategic Value

When you hire a large agency, your project might pass through five different hands before it reaches the photographer. At WOWCONTLY, we take a different approach.

You work directly with:

• Alina: Our lead skincare product photographer and creative director, who brings a background in fashion and psychology to every shoot

• Aleksandr: A digital marketer with 13+ years of digital marketing experience, ensuring your visuals are conversion-minded

We’re not just about making things pretty. We think strategically:

• What photo will make the user pause mid-scroll?

• What backdrop will enhance the packaging contrast on a white Shopify layout?

• What visual metaphor will help convey the product’s core benefit?

We approach every project with your sales, brand perception, and customer experience in mind.

FAQ: Working with EU-Based Skincare Product Photographers

1. Will I have to pay customs or shipping fees?

In most cases, shipping products to Latvia is straightforward and cost-effective. For small to medium parcels, most brands use DHL, UPS, or FedEx. We also help with guidance on customs declarations so you avoid delays or unnecessary duties.

2. How do I make sure the final photos match my expectations?

We start every project with a concept phase, style references, mood boards, and example shots. We then send you test shots and lighting previews before final shooting begins. You’ll have full visibility throughout the process.

3. What if I need product videos too?

We also offer short-form product videos, e.g., 10–30 second looping clips perfect for Instagram, TikTok, or paid ads. Just let us know in advance so we can plan it during the shoot.

4. Can I get a mix of white background + lifestyle skincare shots in one project?

Absolutely. Many brands combine white background e-commerce shots with 2–3 lifestyle scenes or model-based photos. We’ll help you plan an efficient shoot that includes both.

5. How do I book a shoot?

Please fill in the following short form, or email us directly with a short description of your brand, the number of products, and the type of photos you need. We’ll respond with a custom proposal and timeline within 1 business day.

About WOWCONTLY

WOWCONTLY is a boutique product photography studio based in Riga, Latvia, serving skincare, wellness, and beauty brands across Europe and North America.

We blend commercial photography, emotional branding, and e-commerce strategy to create visuals that do more than look nice—they sell.

Founded by a husband-and-wife team—Alina Kareva, our creative and photography lead, and Aleksandr Karevs, a digital marketing expert—we work with a limited number of clients at a time to ensure high-touch service and impactful results.

Why brands love working with us:

• Deep experience in skincare photography with models

• Conversion-focused visuals based on real e-commerce insights

• In-house prop library, minimalist sets, and Nordic-style aesthetics

• Full commercial usage rights, no extra licensing fees

• Transparent pricing and fast turnaround times

Explore our portfolio or request a quote for skincare product photography project here.