by katebe | Feb 2, 2026 | Professional Photogr..., Case Studies, e-commerce photographer, Ecommerce Photographer, Frida, Kate Benson Photography

Lifestyle, Branding, Still Life & Ecommerce Photographer | Kate Benson

Frida baby vapor rub

As a leading product photographer, Kate Benson’s engagement with Frida marked a significant milestone: the launch of their first comparative product placement campaign for a eucalyptus-based vapor rub.
The initial phase of the product photoshoot focused on building a comprehensive image library, beginning with the required clean, white-background e-commerce shots.
The product photoshoot quickly evolved beyond standard captures to include extensive creative development for social and online platforms, successfully executing the targeted ‘Smear Campaign.’
Kate’s work as a dedicated product photographer supported Frida’s strategic goal to establish a strong visual presence for their innovative new product. Her freelance work with Frida brands as a client started 10 years ago in Miami when they created their first products and reached out to her to take their product photography.

Clean on brand e-commerce Product Photography

The initial phase centered on adhering to Frida Baby’s established e-commerce brand standard, characterized by a pure white background and subtle product reflection—a stylistic direction the brand later evolved from. Kate’s e-commerce product photography deliverables commenced with comprehensive, full-product captures, then strategically progressed to detailed macro-shots to highlight critical design elements, specifically the dispenser holes and the texture of the rub itself.

Fitness lifestyle photographer product lifestyle with model photography action swing motion

Fitness lifestyle photographer product lifestyle with model photography stretch

Fitness lifestyle photographer product lifestyle with model photography equipment

Fitness lifestyle photographer product lifestyle with model photography in use

Elevated e-commerce photography

As a professional product photographer, Kate strategically advanced the initial e-commerce photography mandate. The subsequent product photoshoot phase introduced the deliberate use of Frida’s core brand color in the backdrops to enhance visual identity. She executed focused, elevated captures, utilizing a hand model to demonstrate the precise application and dispensing action of the product. A key deliverable was the creation of a ‘swipe image’—a textured visual asset—to clearly communicate the product’s tactile quality.

Product family product photographer portfolio

colors of yoga mats product photographer portfolio

Frida product photographer kate benson photography

Creative still life in studio product photography

As the product photographer, Kate meticulously sourced botanical elements for evocative studio still life visuals. These narrative-driven images achieve greater resonance than conventional white-background photography. The still life style, a hallmark of the product photographer’s work, was often integrated into Frida’s branding shoots. This creative strategy successfully leveraged ingredient transparency into compelling visual content.

Lifestyle product photography

As a dedicated product lifestyle photographer, Kate constructed a bespoke set for environmental images. This allowed for seamless collaboration with the hand model on authentic, in-use captures. A client-requested changing table vignette was meticulously styled as a key scene. The shoot strategically incorporated other Frida Baby products to enhance the lifestyle context. This produced compelling product lifestyle photographs with an immersive, in-home experience.

The Smear Campaign

The targeted ‘Smear Campaign’ messaging was meticulously aligned with the product’s core value proposition. Visual assets were deliberately minimalist, incorporating significant negative space to optimize for downstream integration of compelling copy and call-to-action elements.

product photographer Kate benson for Frida baby photographer

More final product photography use by Frida

The final imagery was leveraged across primary digital platforms. Assets were strategically deployed on their corporate e-commerce site and Amazon. High-volume wholesale partners, including Target and Walmart, utilized the photography. The visual content was integrated into comprehensive social media campaigns. The final image library facilitated expanded market reach and brand presence.

Sound like what you need?

Frida is one of many brands who chose to work with Kate for multi channel product photography needs. When a strong brand vision and consistency across the board is vital, using one well rounded photographer like Kate saves clients time and stress. That’s why so many folks end up relying on Kate month and month and year after year to handle whatever photography need comes up. Whether it’s product e-commerce photography, product lifestlye photography or studio still life product photography, Kate has you covered.

Work with Kate

Working together doesn’t feel anything like work. Friendships are forged, jokes are told, songs are sung and by the end of the day you’ve forgotten you were there to make the unforgettable images you now have.

Let's Talk

Charleston Product Photographer | Amazing Amazon Photography

by kate benson | Jul 27, 2016 | Professional Photogr..., Advice, Charleston advertising..., Charleston commercial ..., Charleston e-commerce ..., Charleston Ecom photog..., Charleston Ecommerce p..., Charleston Photographer, Charleston Product Pho..., Charleston Still Life ..., Charleston website pho..., Charlotte product phot..., e-commerce photographer, Ecommerce Photographer, Product, Product Photographer C..., Still life photographe..., Still Life Photographer

It may not be common knowledge but I have a second business and website that I’ve been building called Product Photo Lab (PPL for short). The website is still in the works, but there is some basic content up there. Finding openings in my schedule to fix and revise the work in progress that is PPL is really tough. Recently though, despite the website not being as ready as I would like it to be, I’ve been getting contacted and doing some work through it. This isn’t my usual work, as you already may have guessed by the title of this blog post, but I’m really excited that the website is starting to generate some calls, and therefore enthusiastically making time to do the work.

One of the unexpected places that I’ve been contacted to produce images for is Amazon listings. These shoots are usually pretty quick but the clients are looking for something a bit more refined to help their products stand out and hopefully get that coveted number 1 ranking on Amazon.

I’ve learned quite a few of tips on how images sell on Amazon in this process. Products in environments and in use will generally outsell those that are just plain white shots. Additionally, Amazon does require the first shot to be on an all pure white background (which has some specifics to it as well, most of my readers already know what “pure white” is but if you don’t, it’s is a rating of 255 in all color channels). So this has presented interesting challenges (which I love). One client, had a glass water bottle that he sold as a set of 6 and single. Here was what the bottle started with:

Photographing a clear empty bottle isn’t very flattering. So I filled it with water letting the light gradient throughout the inside (trick one).

Then we put very carefully selected liquids into the bottles so the colors wouldn’t get dark and murky (trick two).

Lastly, I asked how he felt about fresh plants in the bottles, which he seemed willing to entertain, and viola!

I was able to product a collection of photographs for him where the shots met Amazon’s specifics but the shots had enough color and vibrancy to pop off the page when compared to other bottles! Happily, he is already on page 1 for his requested search terms and selling like crazy! After discussing what the client needed, I composited 6 of these shots together to create his opening image on Amazon. Here is a look at what he sent me for art direction (also what the competition happens to be showing).

This is what his listing looks like this today:

As I mentioned before, I’ve worked with quite a few Amazon clients lately. Here are a few more shots just to give you an idea what being a product photographer in Charleston is keeping busy with!

This client wanted in environment and shots with a model using the product:

Product Photographer Charlotte and Charleston | From Dallas with Love | Crown & Buckle with Motto

by kate benson | Jul 22, 2016 | Advertising, Charleston Fashion Pho..., Charleston Product Pho..., Charleston website pho..., Charlotte product phot..., e-commerce photographer, Ecommerce Photographer, Product

Flash Back Friday today bringing you the final product photography for Crown & Buckle’s new Black Label line. I shot this earlier this year on studio location in Dallas TX. Thomas, proud owner and visionaire behind Crown & Buckle teamed up with superstar branding agency Motto to bring me in on this shoot. Sunny and Ashleigh from Motto had a strong vision for the sleek and sophisticated images that needed to be incorporated into the launching of Black Label. Crown & Buckle makes beautiful watch straps and we wanted to make sure that the photography for this line illustrated the quality of these products.

I’ve had the pleasure of working remotely with Motto before but this was the first time we were able to all get together on set. It’s great that I can work with clients from almost anywhere in the country without having to be there in person, but this shoot Motto wanted to be on set for and they really brought their vision with them. It was a great day!

Since the product C&B sells is straps (not watch faces) we had the intriguing challenge of making sure the straps were the star of the shots. As a product photographer, I always hope to get to do this kind of work because it is equally challenging and rewarding to do.

That day, as well as within a short time after (back in Charleston), I photographed images on brand for their website and social media pages. This is the final product:

For more Charleston product photographer work, visit my site katebenson.com!

Fashion and Product Photographer | Charleston, SC | New Business Cards

by kate benson | Jul 20, 2016 | Charleston Fashion Pho..., e-commerce photographer, Ecommerce Photographer, Fashion, Product, Still Life Photographer

As you can imagine, as is true every time a lull in my photo blog comes, I’ve been quite a busy bee lately (So you can be busy as a South Carolina Product Photographer)! A small preview of the time transpired since my last post in May is this: I bought a house (yay!!), moved, shot thousands of pieces of clothing and more than a few pretty cool products, travel to Miami a few times, met and photographed lots of beautiful models (in both Miami and Charleston) and somehow, finished a book. A single book. Since May. Because life is a spin of working and mom-ing with a bit of sleep and food here and there right now. So as I sit in my new office with boxes still very packed around me, I sit to type another overdue blog post. The boxes will have to wait.
A quick preview of some of my new photography comes to light in my new business cards. Last week on an impromptu road trip around South and North Carolinas to meet with some of the people based here that I’ve started working with (or would love to have the chance to work with), I was rather embarrassed as I handed out my very old, desperate for an update, business cards (I sit shaking my head as I write this). Let’s just say, they did not match my work at this point. So off to Moo.com I went and with the help of some restrictions (yes, I HAD to have gold foil on mine and no, there was no room in the budget for custom placement, so the templates were inevitable) I created a few pretty new cards to introduce my brand.

The cards will have 4 different images on the front, 2 fashion, one lifestyle and one product. Being a versatile product photographer and enjoying the crossing of thresholds that let me still play and explore creativity, I wanted cards that could be specific to the needs of each client. So without further adieu, here are 3 of my 4 designs (one will be shown and given out after the images release).

Besos!

First, a shot from a recent shoot in Charleston for Beija Flor Jeans:

Next, a favorite of mine from a photoshoot for Boca Terry:

Third, a sophisticated still life for Crown & Buckle:

Lastly and not nearly as exciting, my contact info:

As always, head on over to my website for more based in Miami and Charleston product photographer work!

Fashion Photographer | Kate Benson | Cosabella Summer 2016

by kate benson | May 5, 2016 | Advertising, Charleston Fashion Pho..., e-commerce photographer, Ecommerce Photographer, Product

It is hard to stay on top of when and where my work is printed. My genre is complex since I shoot products and have no bias as to on what or how. I just think deeply and explore products visually with my camera. So despite being a product photographer, I often lean towards more of a fashion photographer. It is logical, many of the products I shoot are fashion products and often brands who start working with me one way, trust and ask me to shoot their products other ways. Cosabella is a great example of where working together small lead to much bigger shoots. This was shot last fall and has just released.

You can imagine it is hard for me to track down my work when the time between shooting and printing is so long. Cosabella is really awesome about it though and they often sneak me a catalogue way before it is seen by anyone else. It is a small but very appreciated gift to get to see the shots finalized months before they go live. This season has some of my favorite lingerie to date, btw. I’ll take one of each of the above, thanks.

Also on their homepage was another shot from that day, the Align Shoot. Cosabella has some fantastic (and super stylish) activewear.

What I wasn’t expecting to find was a shot we took last month for maternity! This sweet and beautiful model was sandwiched between two shots from over half a year ago!

Cosabella is just about the only place that makes really cute maternity. I wish I had known when I was pregnant! Somewhere, I scanned some more shots from the new Summer 2016 catalog and will share here when I find them! For now, enjoy!

Miami E-Commerce Photographer Kate Benson | Donald J Pliner

by kate benson | May 11, 2015 | Ecommerce Photographer, Product

Donald J Pliner, one of my steady e-commerce clients, recently sent out an e-blast with my photos promoting their men’s driving loafers and women’s summer favorites.

And they also updated their website with a compilation of my shots as their intro for their men’s and women’s best sellers as well as their summer “must-haves.”

More work by Miami E-Commerce Photographer Kate Benson.