Model or No Model? When to Include People in Your Skincare Product Photos

When you’re planning a photoshoot for your skincare or beauty brand, one big question always comes up:

Should we include people in the photos, or keep it clean and product-focused?

The answer isn’t always straightforward. Depending on your goals, brand identity, and where the images will be used, the right approach may vary. Some situations call for full model-based lifestyle shots. Others work better with minimal, still-life compositions. And sometimes, a combination of both is the secret sauce.

In this article, we’ll help you understand the pros and cons of each approach, and offer a clear framework to decide what type of imagery is best for your skincare, beauty, or wellness brand.

1. Why This Decision Matters More Than You Think

Your product photos are your brand’s silent salespeople. They:

• Set the tone of your brand

• Build emotional connection

• Influence buying decisions, especially for first-time customers

A study by Justuno found that 93% of consumers consider visual appearance to be a key factor in a purchasing decision. So whether you go with a full model or not, the visual style you choose needs to align with your audience, product type, and sales channel.

Related read: How Product Photography Can Help You Charge More for Skincare Products

2. When to Use Model-Based Photography (Full Face or Hands)

Including people in your skincare photos adds context and relatability. It humanizes your brand and gives customers a sense of how the product fits into their lifestyle.

You should consider using models when:

• You’re launching a new product and want to build instant emotional connection

• You’re running ads on Meta, Pinterest, or TikTok (where human-centered content performs better)

• Your products require application or usage education (like multi-step skincare routines)

• You want to connect with specific customer profiles (e.g. age group, skin tone, or skin concern)

Model shots are especially effective for:

• Face masks, creams, and serums (showing where/how to apply)

• Supplements or ingestibles (showing lifestyle use)

• Brand-building campaigns on your homepage or social platforms

Statistics: According to Meta’s internal data, ads featuring people perform up to 38% better in engagement compared to product-only visuals.

If you’re not ready for a full-face model shoot, consider a minimalist option: hand model photography for skincare and beauty brands. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to introduce human presence without a full production.

3. When Clean Still Life Photos Work Better

Sometimes, less is more, especially in e-commerce.

If your goal is clarity, consistency, and a premium feel, still life photography might be all you need. This is especially true on platforms like Amazon or for product pages where white background shots are expected and often perform better in terms of conversion.

Stick to clean, model-free visuals when:

• You need to clearly show product packaging, size, or color

• You’re creating a high-volume catalog for an online shop

• Your product has strong visual identity and doesn’t need lifestyle context

• You’re building a minimalist, clinical, or spa-inspired brand tone

At WOWCONTLY, we often create white background product photos for Amazon and e-commerce, where clarity and speed are key. In many cases, we combine still life with a few human interaction shots for the best of both worlds.

4. When to Mix Both: The Hybrid Approach

In reality, the best-performing skincare product galleries often include a mix of still life and model shots. Here’s how you might structure your content for a launch:

• White background image for clarity (required for Amazon or online catalogs)

• Styled flat lay for aesthetics and brand storytelling

• Hand model photo to add warmth and show usage

• Full model lifestyle shot for emotional resonance and social campaigns

This hybrid approach ensures your product is both understood and desired. It helps you speak to logic and emotion—two key drivers behind every purchase.

Related Article: Why Choose a Product Photography Studio Over a Freelancer

5. What’s Right for Your Skincare Brand? A Simple Checklist

To decide which type of skincare product photography to prioritize, ask yourself:

Need help deciding if you need professional product photos with models for your skincare brand? We’re happy to consult and build a custom plan based on your business goals.

FAQ: Using Models in Skincare and Beauty Product Photography

Q: Are lifestyle model photos always better than clean product shots?

Not always. Each serves a purpose. Lifestyle model photos add emotional depth and help with storytelling, while clean still-life or white background photos are more focused on clarity and e-commerce optimization. Most brands benefit from using both types of images across their marketing channels.

Q: How much does model photography cost compared to still life?

Full model photography is more expensive due to casting, makeup, styling, and sometimes location costs. However, a middle ground, like hand model photography, starts from $65/photo at WOWCONTLY and includes props, styling, and model coordination. Still life starts from just $22/photo.

Q: Do I need different photos for Amazon vs. Instagram?

Yes. For Amazon, clear white background photos are usually required. But for Instagram, lifestyle and human-centered shots perform much better. We often create tailored photo sets for both platforms in one shoot.

Q: What if I don’t have the budget for full model photography?

No problem. Start with styled still life and hand model photography, which offers a clean, editorial look without a huge investment. You can always add full model content later as your brand grows.

Q: Should I show diverse models in my skincare visuals?

Absolutely. Representation is essential, especially in skincare. At WOWCONTLY, we can help source hand or face models across skin tones, genders, and age groups to align with your brand’s values and audience.

About WOWCONTLY: A Boutique Studio That Gets Your Brand

We’re WOWCONTLY, a boutique and specialized product photography studio based in Latvia, EU, working with skincare, beauty, and wellness brands around the world.

Run by a two-person team, photographer and stylist Alina Kareva, and Aleksandr Karevs, a photographer with 13+ years of digital marketing and e-commerce experience, we bring together visual storytelling and strategy. We’ve launched e-commerce stores ourselves, so we understand both the creative and commercial sides of beauty branding.

Our services include:

• White background photos

• Styled flat lays

• Hand model photography

• Photos with professional models

• Amazon-ready product visuals

And unlike larger studios or agencies, we keep our process simple, personal, and transparent, no extra license fees, no bloated budgets, just content that works.

Want help deciding whether to go with a model or not? Let’s talk