MY 5 Brand Photography Trend Predictions for 2025
What to Expect and How to Prepare for a Stand-Out Brand Shoot
I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on the brand photography trends we’ll see in 2025. The world of brand photography is ever-evolving. To ensure my clients are always updated, I’ve been keeping an eye on emerging trends, and I’m excited to share what I believe is coming next year.
In 2025, brand photography is about creating images that don’t just look good but feel good. Images that resonate on a deeper level. Brands are moving away from the overly polished, artificial look and embracing more authentic, natural, and meaningful visuals. Let’s dive into five key trends that will likely define brand photography in 2025, and how they can help you capture attention, ignite growth, and build confidence in your brand.
1. Authenticity Above All Else
Why Authenticity is Key in 2025
Consumers are tired of the curated, perfect, and sometimes sterile images that used to dominate social media. People crave realness and honesty, they want to see the raw, unfiltered side of brands. This shift toward authenticity helps build trust and connects audiences with brands on a more personal level.
How to Incorporate Authenticity into Your Brand Shoot
For your next brand shoot, think about how we can capture the essence of who you are. This could mean:
Behind-the-Scenes Moments: Show the reality behind your business. Shots of you working, collaborating with your team, or even packing up orders can humanize your brand.
Candid Shots Over Posed Ones: Embrace a more relaxed approach with less posing and more natural interactions. If you’re running a small business, consider images that capture the spontaneous moments of your workday.
Celebrate Imperfections: Authenticity is about letting go of the need for everything to be perfect. Maybe it’s a shot of you laughing during a blooper or a casual moment with a cup of coffee in hand—images that reveal your personality and quirks.
Brands like Glossier and Patagonia have successfully embraced authenticity by showing their real selves in their imagery, from behind-the-scenes shots to unfiltered, everyday moments. The result? A loyal customer base that feels connected and understood.
2. Embracing Minimalism
The Minimalist Trend Explained
We’re witnessing a shift toward minimalism in brand photography, focusing on simplicity and using fewer elements to convey a stronger message. With our feeds often feeling overwhelming and cluttered, minimalist images have a calming effect and allow the viewer to focus on what’s really important.
How to Get Minimalist Brand Photos
Focus on Clean, Uncluttered Backgrounds: A plain wall, an open field, or a simple desk can create a powerful visual impact, allowing your subject to be the focal point without distractions.
Use Negative Space: Negative space (space around the subject) can make your images feel more spacious and balanced. It also helps to highlight your product or message more clearly.
Limit Your Color Palette: Minimalism works well with a restricted colour palette, which also helps to build a recognisable brand aesthetic. Sticking to neutral tones or just one or two bold colours can make your images stand out.
Brands like Apple have mastered the art of minimalism in their visuals. Their use of clean lines, neutral backgrounds, and simple compositions has made their products instantly recognisable. If you want your brand photography to communicate clarity and sophistication, minimalism is the way to go.
3. The Natural Look in Fashion Photograph
Moving Away from Perfection
In 2025, the natural look in fashion is all about celebrating individuality and steering clear of the airbrushed, overly retouched look. Whether showcasing diverse body types, natural skin textures, or minimalist makeup, this trend is a breath of fresh air in the beauty and fashion world. It’s about showing real people with real stories.
How to Achieve the Natural Look
Opt for Natural Light: Harsh studio lights can make images look flat and artificial. Natural light brings out true colours, soft shadows, and authentic skin tones. If we’re shooting outdoors, we’ll aim for that beautiful golden hour glow or soft, diffused daylight.
Keep Styling Simple: Go for minimalist clothing choices and muted tones that don’t overpower the subject. Styling that reflects your personality and dressing how you would in real life adds authenticity.
Emphasise Texture and Details: The natural look means embracing textures, whether the soft folds in clothing or the fine lines in a close-up portrait. These elements bring depth to your photos and make them feel more personal.
A perfect example of this trend can be seen in the campaigns by brands like Aerie; known for using unretouched images of diverse models. This approach allows customers to see themselves reflected in the brand, building confidence and relatability
4. Colour That Speaks to Your Brand
The Role of Colour in Brand Photography
In 2025, colour in brand photography isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a tool to evoke emotion, convey personality, and influence perception. Colour can be powerful in telling your brand’s story and connecting with your audience on an emotional level.
How to Use Color Effectively
Choose a Signature Color Palette: This year, bold and intentional colour palettes are in. Think about the colours to represent your brand’s personality—warm tones for a welcoming vibe, cool tones for calm and vibrant hues for energy.
Create Contrast: A pop of colour in an otherwise neutral image can draw the eye and highlight a specific element, like your product or logo. This creates a focal point and makes the image more dynamic.
Match Your Message to the Season: Consider using seasonal colour palettes that change throughout the year, for example, warm oranges and browns in autumn. Fresh greens and blues in spring can make your imagery feel more current and relevant.
Brands like Spotify and Lush are known for their bold use of colour. By consistently using specific colours across all platforms, they’ve built strong, recognisable identities that customers associate with certain feelings and experiences.
5. Storytelling Through Imagery
Why Storytelling is a Must in 2025
Consumers are no longer interested in just buying products; they want to connect with the stories behind them. In brand photography storytelling involves using visuals to convey a narrative, whether it’s about your brand’s journey, values, or the lifestyle your products enable. A compelling story can turn a simple photo into a memorable experience that resonates deeply with your audience.
How to Incorporate Storytelling into Your Brand Photography
Showcase Real-Life Scenarios: Instead of just taking static product shots, capture your products in action. Show how they’re used in everyday life, such as someone wearing your clothing on a busy street or a customer using your skincare product as part of their morning routine.
Build a Visual Journey: Create a series of images that flow together, telling a complete story from start to finish. For instance, a day in the life of your brand, from the workspace to the final product being packaged. This approach can give the viewers a behind-the-scenes look.
Highlight People and Places: Every brand’s story includes people, places, and the journey itself. Whether it’s your team, your suppliers, or your loyal customers, putting a human face to your brand creates a relatable and inspiring narrative.
Brands like Airbnb and Warby Parker are fantastic at storytelling. They use their imagery not just to sell a product or service, but to immerse viewers in an experience. For a small business, storytelling can differentiate your brand and create a lasting impression
In short
The trends we’re seeing for 2025 all come down to creating images that feel honest, relatable, and impactful. Authenticity, minimalism, the natural look, thoughtful use of colour, and storytelling are not just trends—they’re shifts in how brands choose to connect with their audiences. By embracing these trends, you can create brand photography that not only looks stunning but also resonates on a deeper level.
When you’re ready to plan your next brand shoot, let’s chat about how we can bring these trends to life for your business. At Meena Julien Photography, my goal is to capture attention, ignite growth, and build confidence in your brand through powerful visuals. With my experience and your unique story, we can create images that not only look great, but truly mean something.
Ready to stand out in 2025? Book a brand shoot with me today and let’s make your brand vision come alive!
References:
Forbes - Why Authenticity Matters in Brand Marketing
WGSN - 2025 Color Trend Forecast
Creative Boom - How Storytelling Enhances Brand Photography