Our website uses cookies
Let's discuss your project
Just type your contacts
By clicking, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Let’s see if we’re a fit
Share a few details and we’ll get back to you with next steps, timelines, and options for helping to grow your brand.
By clicking, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Health and dietary supplement product photography guide: Potent Organics case study
How to create the concept of your brand photography? We mapped our journey with Potent Organics for ideating and executing visual content strategy and photography for this organic supplement brand.
Dietary supplements
Trust through visuals
The supplement industry is one of the most saturated markets. Shelves and Amazon listings are filled with countless brands in near-identical bottles, capsules, and labels. No doubt, it seems challenging for a new brand to stand out, especially on crowded platforms like Amazon and Shopify.
Supplements also bring another layer of complexity: trust. Unlike cosmetics, where results can be seen quickly, supplements require consistency over time. Clients often need at least one to three months before noticing an effect. That makes it harder to keep attention and build loyalty without strong brand cues.
For brands without a highly distinctive product form like dietary supplements, we suggest to put stakes on creating a recognizable image and a consistent identity through photography and content. Through visuals you can carry the trust, credibility, and appeal that the product itself cannot instantly demonstrate.
Supplements also bring another layer of complexity: trust. Unlike cosmetics, where results can be seen quickly, supplements require consistency over time. Clients often need at least one to three months before noticing an effect. That makes it harder to keep attention and build loyalty without strong brand cues.
For brands without a highly distinctive product form like dietary supplements, we suggest to put stakes on creating a recognizable image and a consistent identity through photography and content. Through visuals you can carry the trust, credibility, and appeal that the product itself cannot instantly demonstrate.
Our challenge with Potent Organics was to design photography that not only looked attractive but also communicated reliability and brand value.
We started by analyzing the market, defining the visual direction, and setting up scenes that would translate the brand’s essence into scroll-stopping photos. This case study takes you through that journey: the choices that worked, the lessons learned, and how you can apply them to create photography that converts best for your brand.
1
Analyzing competitors and defining do’s and don’ts
Step #1 for effective brand content
As always, we began with an audit. Competitor research is the foundation: How does the average brand present itself? Who stands out, and why? What practices are worth adopting, and where is the gap your brand can fill?
We looked at Potent Organics’ direct competitors and the main players in the niche: Now Foods, Thorne, Nature Made, Garden of Life, Nordic Naturals, and others.
Our research showed that most American supplement brands, especially those selling protein, lean heavily on athletic imagery. Their feeds are filled with perfectly shaped bodies, professional athletes, and gym scenes. Others take a more minimal route, showing only product renders on plain backgrounds. This approach communicates little about the brand and often feels generic.
One exception is Moon Juice, whose distinctive aesthetic inspired us to think differently. They immedaiately stood out among all the other brands and set the standard for creativity for the entire niche. Still, Potent Organics speaks to a more conservative audience, so the same extremely provocative and creative approach wouldn’t resonate.
We also studied Vital Proteins. While their focus is on athletes, their feed includes lifestyle content — smoothies, drinks, and foods featuring the product. These posts earned far more engagement and created a warmer, more natural brand presence.
Our research showed that most American supplement brands, especially those selling protein, lean heavily on athletic imagery. Their feeds are filled with perfectly shaped bodies, professional athletes, and gym scenes. Others take a more minimal route, showing only product renders on plain backgrounds. This approach communicates little about the brand and often feels generic.
One exception is Moon Juice, whose distinctive aesthetic inspired us to think differently. They immedaiately stood out among all the other brands and set the standard for creativity for the entire niche. Still, Potent Organics speaks to a more conservative audience, so the same extremely provocative and creative approach wouldn’t resonate.
We also studied Vital Proteins. While their focus is on athletes, their feed includes lifestyle content — smoothies, drinks, and foods featuring the product. These posts earned far more engagement and created a warmer, more natural brand presence.
We kept these two insights for Potent Organics visual strategy: be different, be creative and showcase food
2
Analyzing what your brand has and needs
Step #2 for effective brand content
Potent Organics targets men and women aged 35–60 who don’t train heavily but want to improve their diet with natural herbal solutions and vitamins to support their health.
When we started, their content didn’t reflect this profile. Most visuals leaned toward gym culture and missed the actual context of people interacting with the brand.
We shifted the focus to health-oriented individuals in everyday life. In the content, food became the centerpiece, representing a healthy, balanced diet, while supplements played the role of a natural complement.
Since food-related posts performed better, we built the strategy around them: vivid, appetizing meals styled with Potent Organics products. Across all photoshoots, we kept consistency through clean white space, bright backgrounds, and fresh fruits, vegetables, smoothie bowls and salads, creating a feed that felt both healthy and engaging.
We shifted the focus to health-oriented individuals in everyday life. In the content, food became the centerpiece, representing a healthy, balanced diet, while supplements played the role of a natural complement.
Since food-related posts performed better, we built the strategy around them: vivid, appetizing meals styled with Potent Organics products. Across all photoshoots, we kept consistency through clean white space, bright backgrounds, and fresh fruits, vegetables, smoothie bowls and salads, creating a feed that felt both healthy and engaging.
3
Planning out the shooting: scenario, props, and timeline
Step #3 for effective brand content
Why planning is important.
A clear plan saves time, reduces stress, and helps you make the most of your budget for studio, models, and photography. A simple table works best: list the frame number, add a visual reference (Pinterest is a great resource), and write a short description of the scene.
Frame 1
Morning routine: woman in front of a mirror, taking supplements
Mirror, bottle, bathroom set-up. Soft natural light
Apple, pillow, casual outfit. Cozy, natural vibe
Lifestyle moment: model relaxing with healthy snack + supplement bottle nearby
Frame 2
We pictured and mapped mini “shooting scenarios” (like “breakfast table,” “outdoor walk,” “holiday mood” and then organized a few different shoots to cover all the bases - different products, moods, and audiences.
Frame
Photo reference
Props
Description
4
Ideas for model photography
Step #4 for effective brand content
We organized several model shoots to show how supplements fit into everyday life.
The models were mostly young women, captured in casual, natural settings - morning routines, workouts, cozy evenings, or cooking at home. The goal was to make the content feel playful and cheerful, less like polished ads and more like real people living their daily lives with Potent Organics as part of the picture.
These sessions brought warmth and relatability to the feed. They helped potential customers see themselves in the lifestyle, not just in the product. Combined with the product-focused content, the model photos added energy, diversity, and a human touch that kept the brand’s social media engaging.
These sessions brought warmth and relatability to the feed. They helped potential customers see themselves in the lifestyle, not just in the product. Combined with the product-focused content, the model photos added energy, diversity, and a human touch that kept the brand’s social media engaging.
Key insight
Showing real people in simple, authentic moments made the supplements easier to connect with, especially for a conservative audience that values trust and everyday health habits over flashy athletic imagery.
5
Product-focused shootings
Step #5 for effective brand content
Not every shoot needed a model. Some of the most impactful content came from styling the products themselves in fresh and creative ways.
We worked with colorful backgrounds, playful textures, and experimental lighting to make each product line feel vibrant and full of energy. The variety of bottle colors (green, yellow, purple) gave us an opportunity to play with palettes and create a recognizable rhythm across the feed.
Morning light between 7 and 10 a.m. became our favorite tool. It created a natural glow, crisp shadows, and that “fresh start” feeling we wanted to associate with the brand. It also gave depth and made even simple product shots look more dynamic.
Morning light between 7 and 10 a.m. became our favorite tool. It created a natural glow, crisp shadows, and that “fresh start” feeling we wanted to associate with the brand. It also gave depth and made even simple product shots look more dynamic.
We even did a Christmas shoot — a gentle reminder to keep health in mind during the holidays.
These experiments gave the feed a dynamic, polished look while staying approachable and relevant for Potent Organics’ conservative audience.
- Natural pairings: Pairing supplements with fruits, herbs, and natural textures (like wood, leaves, or crystals) reinforced the brand’s health and wellness positioning.
- Color harmony: Aligning props and backgrounds with bottle colors created cohesive sets and made the Instagram grid flow more smoothly.
- Lifestyle without people: Even without models, product photos can tell a story if styled with meaningful objects — smoothies, water glasses, or seasonal touches (like Christmas details).
- Light play: Reflections and shadows added sophistication and helped differentiate Potent Organics from more generic supplement brands. Morning light between 7 and 10 a.m. turned out to be our favorite. It gave everything that clean, “fresh start” feeling we wanted to tie to the brand.
Key insights from these shootings
6
Creating a color-themed Instagram grid
Step #6 for effective brand content
To make the Instagram feed more cohesive, we designed 3x3 grids connected by a single color theme. Each grid mixed our own photos with UGC and carefully chosen stock visuals, so the content felt fresh yet consistent.
This approach also reflected the product line. Since different Potent Organics supplements came in bottles with distinct colors - pink, green, yellow, and more - each grid highlighted one palette. The result was a feed that felt visually curated, easy to scroll through, and directly tied to the product identity.
Key insight
Using color as the unifying element gave structure to the content, showcased variety across the product line, and kept the Instagram feed visually engaging.
7
Photos for website
Step #7 for effective brand content
One of the golden rules in branding is consistency across all channels. Product photography should be versatile.
When designed with consistency in mind, the same set of visuals can elevate both conversion-driven marketplaces and brand-building spaces like the website. That’s why we designed the photos so they could work equally well on social media, Amazon, and the brand’s own website.
While Amazon was the main sales channel, the website played a different but equally important role: it introduced the brand, explained the products in more detail, and gave customers a space to connect through blog content.
We created a visual simulation of how our photos could appear on the website. We placed them into product cards and blog covers, showing how a unified photo style makes the site feel polished and trustworthy. This exercise also helped the client imagine the long-term value of consistent imagery beyond just social media posts.
While Amazon was the main sales channel, the website played a different but equally important role: it introduced the brand, explained the products in more detail, and gave customers a space to connect through blog content.
We created a visual simulation of how our photos could appear on the website. We placed them into product cards and blog covers, showing how a unified photo style makes the site feel polished and trustworthy. This exercise also helped the client imagine the long-term value of consistent imagery beyond just social media posts.
Working with Potent Organics showed us how much strategy matters in supplement photography. In such a crowded market, strong visuals are not just decoration. They are the brand’s main language for building trust, standing out, and making the product feel part of everyday life.
By mixing lifestyle moments, color-themed grids, and creative product shots, we created content that felt vibrant, approachable, and consistent with the brand’s values. Good planning and thoughtful styling turn even the simplest capsules into stories people want to stop and engage with.
Final Takeaways
Photography and video production for Instagram
Binôme Lingerie
Brand creation and long-term brand management
mon bon
Most brands aren’t broken — just unfinished. These have already been polished with Brand Doula.
Case studies
We turn complex products into clear stories — with websites that convert, messaging that sticks, and positioning your users actually get.
Your product is smart but your brand story should stay simple
Get a website review
Want a pro eye on your website? We’ll review clarity, visuals, UX and message — and share what to improve.
By clicking, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Book a brand consult
We work with founders, creators and product teams. Tell us where you're at — and we’ll meet you there.
By clicking, you agree to our Privacy Policy