Key points
Here are 3 key points about product photography:
• Ensure proper lighting and eliminate shadows.
• Use clean, simple backgrounds that don’t distract.
• Capture the product details clearly from multiple angles.
Contents
Product photography is taking photos of products to sell or promote them. It’s a big part of advertising and ecommerce. Good product photos show off a product’s features and get people excited to buy it.
Definition and Importance
Product photography is about taking photos of items to sell. It’s really important for businesses to have great photos of their products. If the pictures look bad, people probably won’t be interested in buying.
Basic Principles of Product Photography
Some basic rules for good product photos are:
- Use good lighting
- No shadows or glare on the product
- Show the whole product
- Get different angles
- Make it stand out
- Use plain backgrounds
- Be clear and sharp
- Keep the camera steady and in focus
- Edit carefully
- Adjust brightness, color, etc
Overview of Lighting in Product Photography
Lighting is super important in product photography. You need bright, even lighting without shadows. Front lighting and backlighting are common. Reflectors and diffusers make softer lighting. Studio strobes give full control. Outdoor natural light can work too.
Understanding Light and Shadow
Lighting is key for good photos. The direction light comes from controls the mood. Front lighting makes things look flat.
Side lighting adds depth while backlighting outlines shapes. How diffused or harsh lighting changes the shot too.
Diffuse, soft light reduces shadows and glare. Harsh, direct light makes strong shadows and high contrast.
Types of Light Sources
There are natural and artificial light sources. The sun is the most common natural light, but its angle and the weather can change its effect.
Reflectors are great for filling in shadows when using sunlight. Artificial lights, like strobes and LEDs can be moved and adjusted to get the look you want. Continuous lights stay on the whole time, while strobes flash briefly – each giving a unique look to your photos.
Hard vs. Soft Light
Hard light has a small, intense source, creating dark, crisp shadows. The sun on a clear day is very hard. Soft light comes from a larger source and fills in shadows.
An overcast sky or reflector makes soft lighting. Hard light accentuates texture and shapes while soft light provides even illumination and is more flattering.
Control of Shadows
Shadows contribute to the overall look of an image. Side lighting creates strong dramatic shadows, while backlighting can make striking silhouettes. The use of diffusers softens the light, which makes shadows less harsh.
Reflectors help fill in shadows. You can also use flags and scrims to block light and create shadows, or gobos to project interesting patterns. The careful lighting placement shape the mood and determines the style of your shadows.
Lighting Equipment and Setup
Having the right lighting equipment is essential for product photography. Here are some of the key things you’ll need:
Essential Lighting Tools
To start, you’ll want some basic lighting like continuous lights or strobes/flashes. Continuous lights let you see the light as you shoot. Strobes provide a quick burst of light for freezing motion. You’ll also need light stands, umbrellas or softboxes, and light modifiers like gels or diffusers.
Using Reflectors and Diffusers
Reflectors bounce existing light onto your subject for softer, more even lighting. Diffusers soften harsh light sources. They’re easy to use and affordable. Position them opposite of your key light to fill in shadows.
Building a Basic Lighting Setup
A simple setup might use a key light, fill light, and background light. The key brightly lights the subject. The fill eliminates shadows. The background light separates the subject from the background. Use diffusers or reflectors to soften the light. And don’t be afraid to experiment!
Techniques for Product Photography
When shooting products, start with simple, clean backgrounds so the product pops. Solid colors or subtle textures work best. Arrange the product nicely and check for unwanted shadows or reflections.
Use diffused lighting from several angles to avoid harsh highlights and shadows. Side lighting can accentuate textures and shapes. Reflectors can lift shadows. Shoot from multiple angles and elevations to showcase the product fully.
Lighting for Reflective Products
Reflective surfaces like glass or metal can be tricky. Try bouncing the light off walls or cards for a softer effect. Use diffusers over the light source. Polarizing filters can help cut reflections.
Watch for unwanted reflections that distract from the product itself. Backlighting reflective objects can give nice edge lighting.
Lighting for Textured Products
Textured surfaces like fabrics and woods benefit from side lighting to bring out the textures. Use harder light sources and position them at an angle.
Watch for hot spots and adjust as needed. Using reflectors or additional lights can fill in shadows and illuminate details.
Backlights can accentuate edges and outlines. Go for depth and dimension in the textures.
Creating Depth and Dimension
Use lighting to create a sense of depth and shape. Side lighting emphasizes contours and textures. Backlighting outlines shapes and separates the product from the background.
Underlighting creates a base and lifts the product off the set. Reflectors can create shadows that define dimensions. Shoot from multiple angles to showcase the depth and dimensions of the product fully.
Advanced Lighting Concepts
There are lots of cool advanced lighting ideas that can take your product photos to the next level. You can play with hard and soft light to create drama or make stuff pop.
Using gels and reflectors lets you change the color and quality of the light. And don’t forget about getting creative with practical lights that are part of the product itself.
The possibilities are endless if you experiment.
Color Temperature and White Balance
The color temp of your lights makes a big difference. Warm light is cozy while cool light looks crisp and clean. You’ll need to balance your white light so the colors stay true and don’t look off.
It takes some testing to get it right. Using a grey card helps get your camera set up properly. Pro tip: shoot in RAW so you can tweak it later if needed.
High Key and Low Key Lighting
High key means you use bright, even light for a cheerful, airy look. For low key, you make shadows and highlights more extreme for drama and mystery.
Both can be super effective for products. Like with high key, you show off the product details. Low key makes the viewer curious to find out more.
Lighting Ratios and Their Impact
Pay attention to lighting ratios, meaning the brightness difference between your key light and fill light. A higher ratio creates more contrast. Lower ratios fill in the shadows evenly.
For products, you usually want a higher ratio to make textures and details pop. But play around to see what works best for the vibe you want.
Post-Processing and Editing
After taking some killer product shots, you need to get them looking crispy in post. First I open up the raw photos in Photoshop or Lightroom and do some basic edits like exposure, contrast, white balance to make the lighting really pop. Nothing too crazy, just bringing out the best in the original shot.
Enhancing Lighting Effects
Next I’ll use some radial filters to draw attention to the product, boosting brightness, clarity and saturation. Subtle vignettes help too.
You don’t want it to look fake, the goal is enhancing without going overboard. Sometimes I’ll use masking for more targeted adjustments.
Correcting Exposure and Color
If the camera messed up the exposure or white balance, I fix it here. I check the histogram to make sure nothing is totally blown out.
Color correction lets me get the exact look I want – warmer, cooler, more vivid. I try to get the colors looking as accurate as possible.
Final Touches for Professional Quality
Lastly it’s all about polish – slight sharpening, noise reduction if needed, lens corrections. I look closely for any little imperfections to retouch out.
Finally I export the files properly sized and optimized for web, print or whatever the usage is. With the right post work you can take product shots from great to incredible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What kind of backdrop works best for small products?
Solid color backdrops like white, black or gray work well for shooting small products, keeping the focus on the product itself.
How can I avoid glare when photographing shiny products?
Use diffusers and reflectors to soften and redirect light. Placing products at an angle can also minimize glare.
What are some tips for shooting products with glass or transparent elements?
Use polarized filters on your lens and light sources. Shooting against a black backdrop also helps darken and hide what’s behind the glass.
How do I keep food looking fresh during a photoshoot?
Keep food chilled until right before shooting. Mist perishables with water and glycerin to add shine and prevent wilting. Swap out melty or wilted items.
What are good locations for shooting lifestyle product images?
Kitchens, home offices, gardens and natural outdoor settings help connect products with real life contexts.
How can I achieve a clean studio look on a budget?
Use inexpensive materials like white poster board for backdrops. Clamp work lights with daylight bulbs to simulate studio lighting.
What props work well for accessorizing product photos?
Everyday items like mugs, utensils, bowls, plants and books help stage relatable, lifestyle-oriented scenes.
How do I photograph clothing without models?
Use dress forms, hangers and wooden blocks to drape and display clothing attractively.
What are some beginner mistakes to avoid in product photography?
Insufficient lighting, cluttered or distracting backgrounds, incorrect white balance and focusing issues.
How can I improve my product photos with editing?
Adjust lighting and colors. Sharpen details. Remove imperfections and distractions. Add subtle vignettes to draw focus.
About Author
Rachel Noël is a professional photographer and videographer from the UK with over 10+ years of experience. Rachel specializes in Underwater, Tavel & Portrait photography among other areas.