Dealing with lens reflections
Lens reflections are the defining challenge in sunglasses photography. Your approach depends on lens type:
| Lens type | Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Clear/light tint | Minor reflections | Polariser filter on lens; 45° lighting |
| Dark tint | Camera appears as bright white dot | Shoot from slight angle; use black card around camera |
| Mirrored | Entire room appears coloured | Shoot in a plain white or black environment |
| Polarised | Reflections shift with angle | Rotate lens or change camera angle |
The safest universal setup: two softboxes at 45° from each side, both aimed at the lenses from slightly above. This creates even illumination that doesn't show as a bright point.
Must-have angles
- Front face-on — shows lens colour, shape, and frame face
- Three-quarter view — most dynamic; shows depth and temple connection
- Side profile — shows temple length and arm shape
- Temple detail — shows logo, hinge quality, and arm material
- Folded — shows portability; good for secondary images
Display options
How you display sunglasses determines how professional the final image looks:
- Foam or plastic head form — most professional, shows natural wearing position
- Sunglass stand — simple and clean for studio white-background shots
- Flat lay on surface — fastest but frames may look misshapen without support
- Worn by a model — highest conversion, shows fit and proportion on a face
Lifestyle photography
Sunglasses are one of the easiest categories for lifestyle photography because the settings are obvious and aspirational:
- Beach / ocean
- Urban street
- Ski slope / mountain
- Poolside
- Festival or outdoor event
If you can only afford one model shoot, do it outdoors on a sunny day — the natural squinting and backlit environment looks completely authentic.
For digital lifestyle backgrounds, WaffleIQ can place a studio shot of your sunglasses into beach, urban, or outdoor scenes.
Editing sunglasses
- Clean up any smudges on lenses with the Healing Brush
- Boost clarity to enhance frame textures (carbon fibre, tortoiseshell, matte plastic)
- Check that the frame colour reads accurately — compare to the physical product in daylight
- For white background main images, ensure the shadow is either removed or retained as a clean, even drop shadow
WaffleIQ
Generate studio-quality product photos in 60 seconds
No photographer. No studio. Just results.