From colourful concepts to real brand campaigns: Meet creator Alisa Reese

Alisa Reese has always been one of those creators who's impossible to ignore. But the Alisa we see today, confidently producing lifestyle campaigns for major brands like Penaten and Philips, looks quite different from where she started. And that evolution is exactly what makes her story as a creator worth telling.

A product photographer based in Germany, Alisa first turned heads in the Creatively Squared community with bold, colourful product and drinks photography. Scroll-stopping levitation shots, dynamic compositions, a signature vibrancy that felt playful and polished at the same time. It was immediately clear she had a natural eye, which made it all the more surprising to learn she had only picked up a camera for the first time during the pandemic, with zero photography background and no intention of turning it into a career.

From those first experimental days, Alisa has never stopped pushing herself. Through collaborations with Creatively Squared, her work has expanded from studio product shots into lifestyle and UGC, bringing with it a whole new skillset and creative challenges she never saw coming: from baby products (and working with actual babies) to men's grooming campaigns. As Alisa says, perhaps destiny for a full-time mother of two.

What's stayed constant throughout is her creative passion and generosity in sharing her creativity with the community. She's one of those creators who makes everyone around her want to create more. Let's get to know her a little better.

Let’s chat with Alisa

Hey creators! My name is Alisa Reese. I originally studied economics in China, so photography was never part of my plan. Before becoming a photographer, I worked in the import industry.

Everything changed during the pandemic in 2020. Since everything was closed and life became slower, I suddenly had more time for myself and started getting interested in food photography. I’ve always loved cooking and wanted to share my passion for healthy plant-based food in a creative way. Then I started learning photography step by step. My husband gifted me my first camera for my birthday, and after that I simply couldn’t stop creating.

What started as a creative hobby slowly turned into my profession. Today I’m self-employed and also a full-time mom of two children. The first years of motherhood were definitely not easy to combine with building a photography business, but at the same time it was incredibly fulfilling.

I’m very grateful for the Creatively Squared community because during that time I could still participate in many challenges, receive amazing feedback, and constantly find inspiration from other creators around the world.

I mainly focus on drink and product photography, but I love experimenting with different styles and creative concepts. I especially enjoy creating images with movement and levitation elements because they make products feel more dynamic and alive. I also love working with food and healthy plant-based ingredients, since cooking has always been a big passion of mine.

In general, I enjoy combining storytelling, color, and atmosphere to create images that feel both modern and emotional. At the same time, I like exploring new ideas and challenges, so I would definitely say I’m open to many different types of content creation rather than limiting myself to just one style.

I would describe my aesthetic as colorful, modern, and creative. In the beginning, I experimented with many different styles, including darker and moodier photography with lots of shadows and dramatic light. But over time, I realized that I’m naturally drawn to color and vibrant imagery.

I love creating clean and modern compositions with fresh colors, interesting details, and a sense of energy. Even when my images are playful or dynamic, I still like them to feel visually polished and aesthetically balanced. Overall, I want my work to feel modern, eye-catching, and full of life.

Journey with Creatively Squared

I first discovered Creatively Squared on Instagram. At the beginning, it honestly felt a little out of reach for me because the photography I saw there was so professional and inspiring, while I was still at the very beginning of my journey as a photographer.

But then I realized that anyone could simply join the community, and once I registered, I discovered so much more than what I had seen on Instagram.

There was endless inspiration, helpful tips and tricks, creative challenges, and even opportunities to work on paid projects for big brands. It quickly became a place where I could learn, grow creatively, and feel connected to other creators around the world.

The paid projects I worked on through Creatively Squared were probably the most challenging — but also the most rewarding experiences for me. The very first campaign was for Penaten, and I had to do a photoshoot with a baby.

I had never done anything like that before, so I was incredibly nervous and excited at the same time. But I really wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone — and in the end, the results turned out so beautiful. Later, I received even more projects involving babies, including campaigns for Philips products — so maybe it’s my destiny now! Haha.

Every single shoot was exciting and fulfilling in its own way. It’s completely different from working alone in my studio, where I can carefully build a scene and move every little element exactly how I want it.

With babies, you never know how they will react or if they will cooperate. Everything is much more spontaneous and emotional. But when I finally saw those sweet and genuine moments captured in the images, I always felt incredibly happy and grateful for these opportunities. Those projects really pushed me creatively and helped me grow so much as a photographer.

Cute and adorable videos produced by Alisa for Penaten and Philips. Source: Creatively Squared

Tools of the trade

My camera is the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, which I use for all of my photography work. A tripod is also an essential part of my setup, especially for product photography and more detailed compositions.

For lighting, I use different types of lights depending on the project, including Godox flashes and continuous video lights. This gives me a lot of flexibility for both photography and video content.

When creating videos, I sometimes use the DJI RS 3 Mini gimbal for smoother movement and more cinematic shots.

For editing, I mainly use Lightroom and Photoshop for photography, and CapCut for video editing.

Alisa captured this lifestyle photo and UGC for her ad campaign with Philips. Source: Creatively Squared

I love working with interesting and creative props, but my absolute favorites are always fresh fruits and flowers. They instantly bring color, texture, and life into an image, and I enjoy how versatile they can be in different concepts and compositions.

Most of the time, I create my work in my home studio, where I have the freedom to build different scenes and experiment with lighting and compositions. But depending on the project, I also shoot in other spaces around my home. I’ve created content in my kitchen, garden, and even my bathroom before — sometimes the best locations are the ones you already have around you.

Alisa’s creative process

Planning is definitely a very important part of my creative process. I usually start with a clear vision, ideas for colors, props, lighting, and the overall mood I want to create. I think good preparation often leads to the strongest results.

When I have my shoot planned, I know exactly what I need to do, which also helps me feel more relaxed and focused. And when I’m relaxed, I can usually be even more creative during the shoot itself. At the same time, I always leave room for spontaneity. Sometimes the best images come from unexpected ideas or unplanned moments, and I love when creativity naturally evolves while I’m working.

I’m basically an all-in-one team! From planning and styling to shooting, editing, and sometimes even being my own hand model — I do almost everything myself.

For me, creativity works best when I feel good physically and mentally and have enough energy. My favorite time to create is usually in the morning. A short yoga session, a good breakfast, and a calm start to the day already help me get into the right mindset and creative flow. When I feel balanced and relaxed, ideas come much more naturally and I enjoy the whole process even more.

Finding Inspiration

I follow many talented creators on Instagram for inspiration. Some of my favorites are Weekend Creative Studio, Ryan Halls, Amanda Campeanu, Sigourney Whitesel, and Anna Becker — but there are honestly so many amazing creatives out there that inspire me in different ways.

I especially enjoy following creators who experiment with color, styling, lighting, and creative storytelling, because seeing different approaches always motivates me to try new ideas in my own work.

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Top creative tips

My biggest tip for creating great content is to stay inspired, keep experimenting, and practice as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to try new ideas or different techniques, because that’s often how you discover your own style and creativity. I truly believe that the more you create and practice, the more confident and natural the whole process becomes.

Lastly, what’s next for you?

There’s always so much I want to learn and improve, but with limited time I’ve realized how important it is to focus on my priorities. This year, the two main areas I really want to develop are product videography and integrating AI into my creative workflow. I think both are becoming increasingly important and offer so many exciting creative possibilities for the future.