Sculpting with Light: Beauty & Fragrance Photography
I translate the mood of a scent and the finish of a cosmetic into high-impact visuals. We use precise lighting to bring your brand story to life.
When I shot this YSL perfume, I knew I had to convey everything about the scent through photography. The moody, dark setting with a hint of blue light gives it a mysterious and masculine feel.
For the Givenchy L'Interdit perfume, the goal was to create a sense of classic, dark elegance. The styling is minimal, letting the golden liquid and the bottle's strong shape speak for themselves.
A classic hero shot of the Versace Yellow Diamond perfume. The lighting is designed to make the diamond-cut cap sparkle, and the reflection adds a touch of polished elegance.
New work with a new type of glass for Roberto Cavalli. We used natural light and fresh green leaves to create a feeling of paradise, perfectly matching the perfume's name, "Paradiso."
Some perfume paperweight action. This was an idea from a day of experimenting in the studio, placing the Emporio Armani bottle on a rock to create a strong, elemental feel.
Neons and water create a whole other vibe. For this Antonio Banderas perfume, I pushed the colors to their max, creating a vibrant, energetic shot that feels like a secret unlocked.
Night desert. This shot for Ajmal Perfumes uses a dark, velvety background and focused lighting to make the intricate, star-shaped gold bottle look like a jewel in the dark.
A sweet campaign for Isak Fragrances. This shot places the "Into the Woods" perfume in a clean, bright bathroom setting, creating a feeling of fresh, everyday luxury.
A close-up, in-use shot of an Isak Legacy perfume oil. Showing the product being applied to the skin makes the fragrance feel more personal and intimate.
Another lifestyle shot for Isak Fragrances, placing the bottle on a desk. This composition tells a story of a sophisticated person who values fine details in their daily life.
About Sculpting with Light: Beauty & Fragrance
Photographing perfume bottles is rarely about just placing them on a table. It is about light sculpting. I spend hours positioning every single light source to make sure that glass gleams and the liquid inside glows, specifically to control those tricky, infinite reflections. My goal is to capture the bottle in a way where the viewer sees the soul of the fragrance, not the studio equipment reflected in the glass.
The challenge with beauty and fragrance is that every brand has a specific 'voice.' A YSL bottle might demand a moody, masculine treatment with hard shadows, while a botanical hair oil needs soft, natural light to feel fresh.
My Process
We start with the concept. I do not just shoot; I plan. If we need a liquid splash or a specific refraction, we build it. My team includes stylists who know how to handle delicate textures—whether it is the velvet box of a lipstick or the subtle condensation on a perfume bottle.
Technical Precision
We shoot primarily on the Hasselblad X2D. This is not just about resolution; it is about dynamic range. When you are dealing with metallic caps, dark glass, and gold liquids, you need gear that catches the nuance in the highlights. We use focus stacking to ensure that the branding, the cap, and the liquid are all tack-sharp, creating a clean image ready for billboards or digital campaigns.
Collaboration
A great shot is rarely a solo act. Whether we are in my Pune studio or on location, I bring in art directors and prop stylists to ensure the composition matches your brand guidelines. You are not just hiring a photographer; you are getting a production partner who obsesses over the details.
Ashish Gurbani
I’m Ashish. I treat every fragrance bottle and cosmetic compact like a sculpture, obsessed with finding the exact angle where light makes it pop. My team and I handle everything from the conceptual mood board to the final, high-res commercial output.
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Find specific styles and project types across my portfolio.
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