roomset photography - beds

[jeanjeanie]

Hi
I am primarily a portrait photographer but have been asked to do shots for bed manufacturer for new brochure. Can anyone help me with the lighting set up please. Never done anything like this before. The shots will mainly be in the showroom with little available light. There are 3 roomsets in the showroom.
Ta in advance.

 

[EdinburghGary]

Keep it simple with a Giant Shoot Through Brolly?

G.

 

[Yv]

Keep it even simpler, stick the camera on a tripod and use whatever is already lighting the sets, as long as its flattering? :shrug:

 

[jeanjeanie]

Thanks for the posts. I have a large umbrella and 2 large softboxes. You think the umbrella would be better than the softbox?

 

[awp]

You have to keep it natural - use what's there. Difficult to advise without seeing the place.

 

[itsdavedotnet]

big silk above the set and bounce a flash into it, and then big brolly for a bit of fill? depends on the room really...

strobist has done a few bits of room / interior photography.

 

[Garry Edwards]

I think you should think carefully before taking on a job that requires such different skillls and equipment.

I do a lot of bed and furniture photography, and although the lighting arrangement will be different every time to suit the style and mood, basically I use
1. A 6' x 6' softbox
2. A slightly smaller softbox or silk, both of these provide soft area lighting
3. 1 or 2 medium softbox (4' x 3') positioned almost directly overhead
4. Normally 2 or 3 honeycombed lights to pick up low level detail
5. A focussing spotlight to create texture on the fabric
6. Various other honeycombed lights to control shadows on the background

I'm guessing that your potential client doesn't want to spend the going rate, but if you take on the job and don't deliver work to the standard their competitors have, you'll be the one who gets the bad reputation - they won't tell people that it's their fault for taking on a non-specialist...