This month I’m sharing my take on trends I’m seeing on the rise, and one I’m almost sick of seeing.
The Trend: Texture triggers.
My Take: Texture is here to stay, and it’s not trending per se, but more triggering (in a good way).
When shot well (by me hehe), buyers can feel your product before they touch it, and with the way the digital landscape is evolving, that’s your golden ticket: breaking through the mindless-scroll haze with a sneaky little sensory trigger. In your next shot list, consider adding a few more drips, fizzes, whips, splashes etc. All the messy fun!
The Trend: Minimalism > Maximalism.
My Take: The maximalist trend is starting to fade.
People are getting bored of searching for what product is actually being promoted in the messy spreads, and your artfully-cluttered/GRWM-inspired bathroom sink probably just reminds people of the bathrooms they probably should be cleaning instead of doomscrolling.
If you’re a long-term client, you know minimalism is my jam. Not only is it delightfully clean and so damn versatile, its also retail ready, and if that’s your goal for 2025, then listen up.
Retailers prioritise content that performs.
That means, if your product flat-lays don’t match the in-house style, you risk being demoted on the shelf, or worse, rejected altogether.
When I shoot, I reverse-engineer (it’s the teacher deeply ingrained in me), and if you have in-store campaigns coming up, or just bold dreams of getting that prime-posi on the shelves of your local, it’s important to consider where your assets might live so I/we can design them accordingly.
If you’re wanting to land in Mecca — their imagery is a little more on the moody side, think darker tones, luxe textures, and that stylised minimalism that consumers love (and choose to comfort-buy again and again)
If Sephora is your goal — you’re going to want clean, loud, and honestly, probably a blast of colour to stand out on their shelves.
If local is your jam, eg. Priceline or Chemist Warehouse — you’re going to want cleaner, more direct/campaign-led imagery because in these stores, your target market is everyone (especially those killing time wandering the aisles waiting for a script to be filled).
— Not necessarily hard and fast rules here, but definitely something to consider in your next shoot.
The Trend: Coffee trays
My Take: Throwing this one in for no other reason than it’s just bugged me today. They are done now.
They’ve had their moment.
I loved them 4 months ago, and now I’ve noticed a very subtle eyeroll starting to creep in when I see them (for the 11th time) in a single morning.
While we’re on the topic of trays, unless it’s truly, deeply and inexplicably aligned with your brand or campaign theme — silverware, you’re on dangerously thin ice too.
