Intro to Product Photography (for instructables)

Step 3 Lighting

In general, you want nice, even lighting all around, so turn on a bunch of lights, open window shades, etc., until you have a clear, bright picture. It's best not to use your on camera flash if you can avoid it...they blow out shiny surfaces.

If You're Getting Shadows

There are a few things you can do about shadows:

• If it's coming from the on camera flash, position the flash directly in front of your subject, instead an offset picture. This means you'll have to shoot landscape (and crop later, if needed).
• Position a light or reflector on the side of the shadow

If the Picture is too Dark

• Add more lights
• Turn on your flash
• Back away from the subject, or zoom out, and crop later on..being farther back allows more light to enter the camera.

Diffusing

Diffusing makes for softer light. There are many ways to do it, but some easy methods include bouncing and holding a piece of white printer paper in front of your on camera flash.

Bouncing

Bouncing is a method of diffusing that involves bouncing light off light colored surfaces (like ceilings or walls) onto your product.

Reflectors

Reflectors help by redirecting stray light (like from a window) onto your product. This can be helpful if you are getting some shadows. Simply place something reflective or white on the side of the shadow, and they will be taken care of. White poster board makes a good reflector, as does tin foil covered card board.

Lighting the Backdrop

If you're not using ambient light from all over, and just have a single light on your object, you may want to light the backdrop as well, if it's white. Otherwise, it will turn out gray, and not as attractive.