Reverse Engineering a Commercial Shoot:
Aurbody CBD brand launch
The Client
Aurbody, a CBD company launching with a small but mighty CBD product range. Their goal was to position CBD as a calming, everyday support without the usual hemp-heavy or overly ‘wellness’ aesthetic.
The Brief
Create fresh, contemporary product photography for launch, highlighting the flavours, packaging colours, and feel of each item. They needed a mix of still life images, packaging shots, and styled moments with a model. The vibe? Cool, clear, and quietly confident.
The Challenge
There were a few delays, mostly due to packaging and label production, that shifted our timeline more than once. But creatively, the biggest challenge was hitting the right tone: trustworthy but not clinical, stylish but not too polished. We wanted the images to reflect the growing interest in CBD among younger people who were open to new solutions for anxiety and nervous system support.
The Results
We created a palette that made the light blue and red packaging pop on screen. I brought in a red-haired model to echo the brand’s colours and create visual cohesion across lifestyle and product shots. Props reflected the flavours, and we made sure to show key usability details, like the pipette in action.
One of the shots with a model holding the pipette went semi-viral on Pinterest, which got my foot in the door with other CBD brands. I can clearly see the building blocks of my current style in this shoot: bold colour stories, expressive simplicity, and a wink of character in every frame.
What I learned
Taking on projects outside your usual niche can sharpen your creative voice as you have to really engage your creativity and think outside of your usual track. This was a launch shoot, but also a mini turning point in my own direction.
The client loved the images, and at the time they helped the brand secure some great PR coverage at launch.
Marianne
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