Product photography - kits

[=ReBeL=]

Thanks Garry. Could you tell me roughly how wide is the product shooting table? I can't find it on the website... I could only locate the £270 heavy duty version. If you don't know, not a problem, I'll wait until Lencarta website is fully operational. I ask because some of the products I will be shooting are quite wide (bags, clothes, etc.).

 

[zeitghost]

Thanks Garry. Could you tell me roughly how wide is the product shooting table? I can't find it on the website... I could only locate the £270 heavy duty version. If you don't know, not a problem, I'll wait until Lencarta website is fully operational. I ask because some of the products I will be shooting are quite wide (bags, clothes, etc.).

I've got the smaller table and it is around 60cm wide if that helps - i can fit bags and all sorts of other stuff on there

 

[=ReBeL=]

I've got the smaller table and it is around 60cm wide if that helps - i can fit bags and all sorts of other stuff on there

Thank you Yvonne Sounds good then

 

[HoppyUK]

Now that the Lencarta website is up again (sort of) I can hotlink this photo

It shows a product shooting table with an overhead softbox supported by a boom arm.

There's no such animal as an 'ideal' lighting arrangement for anything, but that type of arrangement is basic for most product shots.
Want the sort of soft, shadowless lighting that light tents produce? Get the softbox really close and surround the subject with reflectors.

Want a bit of backlighting? Increase the tilt of the softbox.

Want a semi-reflection of the subject without messing around in PS? Get the camera a bit lower.

And so on

That's a rubbish product photo on the link Garry! Must have been an enormous light tent.

Only joking LOL

 

[Garry Edwards]

Thanks Garry. Could you tell me roughly how wide is the product shooting table? I can't find it on the website... I could only locate the £270 heavy duty version. If you don't know, not a problem, I'll wait until Lencarta website is fully operational. I ask because some of the products I will be shooting are quite wide (bags, clothes, etc.).

The Lencarta small still life table is there but the photo isn't showing. It's 60cm wide

 

[htid]

The Lencarta small still life table is there but the photo isn't showing. It's 60cm wide

Hi Gary,

I made a thread towards the end of last year asking about kit for product photography (toys like yo-yos, balls, frisbees). This thread has been helpful but I'm still not quite sure what we would need. I was going to screenprint my shopping cart from Lencarta to see if I had everything we'd need, but it wasn't working properly so I'll try and list here:

2 x flash heads (would the smartflash be OK or is the elitepro 300 worth the extra money even though the products are quite small?) Do I need stands seperately or are they inclusive? Do I need a reflector (I don't know what one is actually!)
1 x Home Quick Setup Still Life Table
1 x Home Studio Boom Arm Kit (would I need to be lighting the products from above and have need for a boom arm?)
1 x some sort of softbox? Which one?

Keep in mind the only things we currently have are camera, lens and tripod, so anything else that we would need?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Garry Edwards]

Hi Gary,
2 x flash heads (would the smartflash be OK or is the elitepro 300 worth the extra money even though the products are quite small?)

Yes, the SmartFlash are all you need for this

Do I need stands seperately or are they inclusive?

If you're buying the SmartFlash separately (not in a kit) then yes, you need to buy the stands separately too. I advise the Lencarta backlight stand, you don't want too much height with that shooting table

Do I need a reflector (I don't know what one is actually!)

Yes you do, it reflects light into dark areas when required and is extremely useful. The smallest one, the 80cm 5-in-1 reflector will be fine, it would be useful to have the reflector holder boom arm too and a lightweight stand to fit it to.

1 x Home Studio Boom Arm Kit (would I need to be lighting the products from above and have need for a boom arm?)

Yes

1 x some sort of softbox? Which one?

The 60 x 60cm Chiaro softbox will be fine for your products. If you had very shiny products you'd need a bigger one.

You also need a white reflective umbrella, a 10 degree honeycomb (for showing texture mainly) and a standard reflector - and a radio trigger set.

 

[htid]

I hadn't actually noticed the kits, I think the 2 light kit would work out cheaper so I'll look at that.

Can I ask what the "standard reflector" is for? It says for use when not using a softbox, but if I'm buying the softbox, surely I will be using it and won't need the reflector?

 

[Garry Edwards]

I hadn't actually noticed the kits, I think the 2 light kit would work out cheaper so I'll look at that.

Can I ask what the "standard reflector" is for? It says for use when not using a softbox, but if I'm buying the softbox, surely I will be using it and won't need the reflector?

The standard reflector directs the light forward at an angle of about 55 degrees.
When a softbox is fitted it is used instead of the standard reflector. When no softbox is fitted a reflector is needed to direct the light, and is also needed when using a honeycomb.

You won't be fitting a softbox to both lights so need a reflector for one of them.

 

[htid]

The standard reflector directs the light forward at an angle of about 55 degrees.
When a softbox is fitted it is used instead of the standard reflector. When no softbox is fitted a reflector is needed to direct the light, and is also needed when using a honeycomb.

You won't be fitting a softbox to both lights so need a reflector for one of them.

Good point. I think this looks like the way to go then for now:

- SmartFlash Twin Head mains powered Starter Kit with softbox
- Home Quick Setup Still Life Table
- Home studio Boom Arm Kit
- WaveSync AC Remote Flash Trigger
- 80cm (32") Pop Up 5-in-1 Reflector