The Harnai Cosmetics Product Photography

This project was unusual from the start. The client never visited the studio — not once. I’m not even sure how they found me. All communication took place online, including during the shoot. Feedback was exchanged in real time through photos and videos sent remotely.

This method was highly inefficient. Waiting for responses took longer than the shooting itself. Without clear direction, many of the setups became fragmented, and adjusting small details in real time was nearly impossible. As a result, subtle refinements were often lost.

We repeated this process four or five times. Perhaps due to familiarity or improved workflows, the speed increased — but the overall quality seemed to plateau. Like many in the beauty industry, the process relied on familiar references and focused on fast delivery over originality. The creative direction became standardized.

Still, I didn’t want to compromise on the fundamentals. Even if the concept was common, I remained focused on clean lighting, solid composition, and meticulous retouching. Within the limited scope I could control, I did my best. And throughout, I remained committed to integrating the client’s feedback — even if it came with delays.

Budget limitations made it impossible to build elaborate sets or use diverse props. The visual range of the compositions was narrowed as a result. It was frustrating, but it pushed me to focus on doing the most with the least.

Remote projects like this will likely become more common. I’m currently developing a more efficient system — one that still allows for variety, even under constraint. With time, I’ll be able to share those results in future portfolio updates.