These blankets are made for the little adventurers. The ones who fill their pockets with rocks, drag sticks halfway across a field, and then dump the whole haul out in the middle of a picnic blanket like it's treasure. That's exactly the energy I wanted to capture when @littleunicornofficial brought me on to photograph their outdoor blanket line.

As a product photographer near Salt Lake City, UT, I work in both flat lay and lifestyle imagery with an artsy, documentary-style approach. This was the kind of project I love: a genuinely well-designed product that makes it easier — and prettier — to actually be outside with your kids. Not staged, not stiff. Just real moments of exploring, building, and connecting to the outdoors, with a product that holds up to how families actually use it.

About Little Unicorn's Outdoor Blankets

Little Unicorn built this blanket for families who are always heading somewhere — the beach, a soccer game, a backyard stargazing night. It's compact, water-resistant, and padded, so it can go from wet grass to sand to concrete without missing a beat. An over-the-shoulder strap makes it easy to carry, and it folds down small enough to live in the car or a diaper bag. When the weather turns, it works just as well spread out on the living room floor. Spills wipe up easily, and when it needs a deeper clean, it's machine washable. It comes in three sizes, so there's a fit whether you're headed out solo with one kid or packing up the whole family for a day trip.

Why Brands Choose Me for Product Photography Services

What sets my work apart is simple: I don't want your photos to look like everyone else's. So much product photography today follows the same formula — same lighting, same angles, same styling — and it all starts to blend together. My goal with every shoot is to create images that are unmistakably yours, images that make a customer feel something about the product instead of just seeing it.

For this shoot, that meant combining tight flat lay compositions — the kind that show off texture, pattern, and the little details a brand wants a customer to notice — with candid, lifestyle moments of kids actually using the product the way they would in real life. Rocks getting sorted. Sticks becoming forts. Bare feet on padded fabric. That mix is where my documentary background comes in: I'm not directing every frame, I'm watching for the moment that already feels true and getting it in focus.

For a brand like Little Unicorn, that balance matters. Flat lays sell the product on a website product page. Lifestyle imagery sells the feeling — the reason a parent wants this specific blanket instead of any blanket. Having both from a single shoot gives a brand flexibility across their site, email marketing, and social content without having to book multiple photographers or multiple shoot days.

What I Look For When Shooting Outdoor and Family Lifestyle Products

Texture and durability, shown, not just stated. If a blanket claims it can handle wet grass and sand, I want a frame that shows it doing exactly that.
Unscripted movement. Kids don't pose. The best shots usually happen in the seconds around the "planned" shot.
A color and styling story that fits the brand. Little Unicorn's aesthetic is playful but not chaotic, so I kept props and setting simple and let the product and the kids carry the frame.
A point of view. Anyone can photograph a product in good light. I'm after images that feel like your brand and connect a customer to the product on an emotional level, not just a visual one.

Professional Product Photography for Small Businesses

I work with both established brands and small businesses that are ready to move past cell phone photos and DIY setups. Whether you need studio flat lays for your online shop, lifestyle content for social media, or a full library from a single session, I build a plan around what will actually move the needle for your brand — not a generic package.

FAQ

Are you a product photographer near me? Do you shoot outside of Salt Lake City? I'm based near Salt Lake City, UT, and shoot locally as well as on location for brands that want a specific setting. If you're searching for a "product photographer near me" in the Salt Lake area, I'd love to connect — and I'm also available to travel and you can also ship your products to me!

Do you only shoot studio flat lays, or do you also do on-location lifestyle shoots? Both, and often in the same session. I typically build a shot list that covers detail/flat lay shots for e-commerce use alongside lifestyle shots for social and marketing, so a brand walks away with a full library from one shoot.

Can you work with kids and families on set? Yes — this is a big part of my documentary approach. I spend time letting kids get comfortable and explore the product naturally rather than directing every movement, which is what gives the images that authentic, unscripted feel.

What do you need from a brand before a shoot like this? A general sense of the brand's visual identity, the specific products or use cases to prioritize, and any locations or props already in mind. From there, I'll put together a shot list and styling plan so the day runs efficiently.

If you're searching for the best product photographer for your next product launch or brand refresh, I'd love to talk about your project. Get in touch here to see my portfolio and check availability.

Explore more of my product and brand photography services or see more from this Little Unicorn shoot in my portfolio.

Love the products in this outdoor shoot and want your own picnic blankets to take on your hikes, camping, and outdoor adventures with your kiddos?

Shop Little Unicorn Products Here