Show us your Product Photography Setup

[ianbarber]

I have decided that I want to dedicate a small corner of my room for doing some small product shots.

Be interested to se other folks setups for ideas.

 

[mastertrinity]

I'm also interested in this due to the fact that I want to get more into product shots. I'm hopefully going to purchase a pop up photo box off eBay for my shots.

 

[BarryDawsib]

How odd,,, was only yesterday talking another photographer through the basic setup to take such photos, using stuff he would already have laying around!

 

[ianbarber]

How odd,,, was only yesterday talking another photographer through the basic setup to take such photos, using stuff he would already have laying around!

Hi Barry

Looks like your not far from me

 

[The23rdman]

I've not got a shot of it, but what I do is create a mini cyc curve and treat it like a studio shot on the kitchen table. White foam board base and back wall with A3 paper for curve, then place a large sheet of glass over the bottom for reflection.

I thne use a BIG light source one side and high at 45 ish * and another /or reflector t'other side. If needed I'll put a bit of light on the background too.

Low res for web:

 

[BarryDawsib]

I've not got a shot of it, but what I do is create a mini cyc curve and treat it like a studio shot on the kitchen table. White foam board base and back wall with A3 paper for curve, then place a large sheet of glass over the bottom for reflection.

I thne use a BIG light source one side and high at 45 ish * and another /or reflector t'other side. If needed I'll put a bit of light on the background too.

Low res for web:

Great minds

I use a bit of glass out of an 18x12 frame that I use as a sample signiture mount

I have also found, if I dont want any reflection just full out white, get the cover off one of the softboxes and drape that ofer the glass with a light underneath.

Jobs a good un!

 

[BarryDawsib]

Hi Barry

Looks like your not far from me

Sorry fella, keep working nights (insert sleeping at keyboard smiley here)

If you are in donny I am just up the A1 when you get in to West Yorkshire.

Need a chat, give me a nod,,, or smoke signals like some people in a certain quarry

 

[Garry Edwards]

There is no such thing as a standard, best or even suitable setup for still life shots - unless of course you're happy with the results from light tents.

Every product has a different shape, different texture, different level of reflectivity, serves a different purpose, has benefits that are unique to it and is targetted at a different type of customer, in other words every product is unique.

And unique subjects need unique lighting

 

[The23rdman]

Agreed, Gary. Light- Science and Magic has loads on this subject.

 

[BarryDawsib]

There is no such thing as a standard, best or even suitable setup for still life shots - unless of course you're happy with the results from light tents.

Generally the light tent setup is standard for most things none extravigent i.e. for a web site.

But fair point for anything else which needs a bit more,,,, sparkle, to catch a clients eyes.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Generally the light tent setup is standard for most things none extravigent i.e. for a web site.

But fair point for anything else which needs a bit more,,,, sparkle, to catch a clients eyes.

Light tents are generally used by non-photographers who just want clear pictures to illustrate their products and who don't understand that it's the pictures that sell the products - especially when the potential customer doesn't get an opportunity to actually see and handle the product, i.e. when they have to buy from a website.

But most successful businesses do understand the difference between photos that illustrate the product and photos that sell them.

I'm not knocking light tents, but I've never seen a light tent shot that couldn't be done much better with proper lighting