How to Shoot Product Photography: Using a Light Box


Info media photography : I realized during my post about how to build your own light box that using it might actually be a fairly difficult task if you do not know who to properly use your light box. Many of you are probably reading this wondering whose ignorant enough to not understand how to use a light box, and that is a fair point. However, using a light box and properly using a light box are two separate things. So even if you think you know how to use a light box, you may want to read on.
Placing your object
Image by Espis

This is actually a part of light box and product photography that many people fail to take into account. When you place your object in your light box there are two things to consider. First you need to consider where your light is going to be the strongest, and how you want the object to be lit. Many product shots are done without the product casting a shadow, the only way to accomplish this is by placing the object in the middle and setting up the lights in a specific manner. But if you want a small drop shadow of your object, you will need to place it off centered. Secondly, you need to consider how your object will be viewed. The two main variables that control this are the angle at which you are shooting at (looking down, looking up, straight on) and the way the object is facing. Many product shots are done from a very slight looking down angle (almost straight on) with the object turned at a 3/4ths turn. This means that the object will be half way between facing the camera and a profile shot. This angle is chosen to show as much of the product as possible.
Deciding on the background
Image by Plano Light

Typically, product shots are done on white backgrounds, so that there is no distraction in the image from the product. This doesn’t mean that you have to only shoot on white backgrounds. Depending on what the image is being used for you can change the backgrounds to create new looks. For example, a selling image should be a product on a white background, but an advertising or marketing image could be a black or other colored background. This is done typically to create a unique look rather than a traditional “buy our product” image.
Setting up the lighting
Image by Nurse Kate

This is the last part of shooting you should set up, because the way you set up a lighting system will be entirely dependent on the background you choose as well as the position of the object. Because of this, I will give you two example of how to set up a lighting system. If you are shooting a selling image, using a white background, and don’t want a drop shadow you will need to set up a top light and both side lights. This will create a uniform lighting scheme on the object and will minimize the amount of shadow on the object. If you are tying to shoot a DSLR camera (assuming the body and lens is black) on a black background with the camera turned at a 45 degree angle, you will need to set up the top light just slightly above the top of the cloth, both side lights just a little bit away from the fabric, and the back light angled upwards from the bottom of the back of the light box. This will create a low key look on your DSLR.

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