Product photography lighting: It is simple when you know how.

<p>Working on our latest assignment, a catalog shoot for Refrigiwear, I decided to show how proper lighting can make a big difference by using one of the boots from the catalog as an example.<br /><br />The object I've selected is a simple to photograph. Really simple.<br />Why?<br />Because it has well visible texture, and does not have highly reflective or transparent surfaces.<br /><br />However, having an easy to shoot object does not mean you should not worry about the lighting. It is so easy to do a crappy image just because it looks "nice" as is, with one light source, for example. Believe me, I am not against simple lighting schema, but more lights gives me more control over the look of the subject, just need to narrow them down.<br /><br />Here I am going to show you how each additional light source will change the look of the boot and explain why I need it.<br>

Let's start from this well textured boot and only one light in front-top of it (White Lightning BD in my case):<br>

<br /> <img src="http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/product-photography-lighting-lesson-step-1.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="802" /><br /> <br /><br />It may look good, but not for our catalog, where white background is required. It needs to be completely white (RGB: 255.255.255). We do not clip out the whole object, but use instead a different technique explained <a href="http://www.perfectphotoblog.com/is-the-white-background-really-white/1044/">here </a>, it allows the shadow to remain under the boot and is much faster to do.<br />So, one strip box added to fill the background:<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/product-photography-lighting-setup-lesson-step-2.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="779" /><br /> <br />Does not look bad, right? However, it won't be good for a catalog shoot, as it does not have clearly visible product details. Now it is time to add some backlight to highlight the texture: intense directional (from 20° honeycomb) light hits boot on a very low angle, from behind (right side) and adds more volume to our boot:<br /> <br /><img src="http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/product-photography-lighting-lesson-step-3.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="788" /> <br />Now, the last one.<br />Same spot light (20° honeycomb) was added from behind on the left side, to show the texture on this side of boot. Additionally, top-front light (BD) was decreased by 1.5 stops (approximately, I do not use flash meter) to compensate additional light source. Now it is more like a fill light.<br />Background was whitened during post-production as well.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/product-photography-lighting-lesson-final.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="715" /></p>

<p>I know, some may say that the very first shot looks better then the last one... This may be true if we were talking about individual preferences, each has his own vision. I like it better the way I did it on the last image, plus, there are unwritten standards for the catalog photography which I need to follow to be successful in what I am doing.<br /> <br /> Lighting setup:<br /><img src="http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/product-photography-lighting-setup-boot.png" alt="" /><br /> <br /><br />That was shoot for the catalog. Nice, but regular catalog with products on a white glossy paper. This is how I make money these days, but I always wanted to do more creative photography, AD-oriented, much more innovative, edgy, stylish and technically challenging.<br />So, why not now? Customer did not ask me to do such shoot, but it will be a good exercise for me to produce something more creative.<br /> One additional hour spent in the studio, and here we go:<br>

<br /> <img src="http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/advertisement-photography-example-by-alex-koloskov.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="857" /><br /> <br />The full article is on the blog: <a href="http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/product-photography-lighting-it-is-simple-when-you-know-how/">www.akelphoto.com/blog</a><br /> Enjoy:-)</p>

<p>Alex Koloskov</p>

<p>Nice work, Alex...</p>

<p>Nice stuff.<br>

Isn't everything simple when you know how?</p>

<p>Cool. Love the last 'creative' one, thanks for sharing.</p>

<p>Nice presentation, but the title is misleading, since there's nothing "simple" about professional product photography, not withstanding your one example.</p>

<p>I personally feel that there is no area in professional photography today that requires more, real professional expertise than product photography.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>^^Well.. You are right, but.. from other side, it is simple. Simple, when you know how to do it, right? Like Ian said: everything simple when you know it:-)</p>

<p>One can look at photography books on lighting from 50 to 70 years ago and it was all about technique; and little to do with brand names. The books had nice diagrams like Alex's; and most all was with dumb Edison base tungsten.</p>

<p>Today many seek the store bought solution.</p>

<p>Threads on lighting here almost never have a diagram like Alex's; and if a tungsten is mentioned lay folks parachute in and act like a stupid tungsten is like Uranium 235.</p>

<p>Most folks really do not want to learn lighting; they really want to use a matrix flash and what ever strobes are trendy this year and just fire away.</p>

<p>I have a friend that shoots high end real estate interiors. He has a separate van just for all the gels; strobes; tripods; tungstens; reflectors; shades etc, After a big 2 day shoot and it gets published in a high end magazine even seasoned pros want to know what camera; what film and what brand strobes. They *ALL* think it is so easy; if they buy the same tools; they will get the same results.</p>

<p>In a way lighting has little respect. It is like if folks dwelled on what vesion software; what typewritter; what brand pencil and paper a great author used.</p>

<p>In cine work and still food and product shots; lighting is everything. Sadly most all is in great books from 1/2 century ago when there was more of a respect for craft; than todays dwelling on brand names.</p>

<p>The real hard part of lighting is folks brains cannot fathom that a lighting master can go to Walmart or Home Depot and create great lighting with common stuff if they have to. It goes against the grain of buying XYZ preppie brands.</p>

<p> My home realestate shooter can try to draw a sketch like Alex's; and msot all will quickly get bored; most all want brand names; ie an instant solution.</p>

<p>The funny part of it is that the 1930's Kodak books had a massive amount of good info on food and product shots; booketes that cost 25 to 75 cents. The pocket exposure guides was 5 cents before WW2. The totally amazing thing is the total lack of pushing brand names; and the total instilling of diagrams like Alex's. The idea that it is a craft; learning to make things simple; learning to experiment; learning to see the light.</p>

<p>Also must be said that "product" takes in a lot of subjects. Lighting a shoe is about 1% as hard as lighting a car in studio, or a high end piece of jewelery. Or food photography. In can take ages to get one shot.<br>

I once saw a very well known D.O.P. fill a sound stage with lights (probably 20, including 10Ks) to light a tube of toothpaste. Crew of 8 working for hours.</p>

<p>^^ 100% agree with Ian.. This is why I said this is simple object and it was relatively easy to do such walk-through.<br>

Yesterday I was dealing with GE Kettle with chrome parts and back glossy body.. That was a challenge!:-) One day I'll release the process, but now can't really disclosure anything due to the agreement.<br>

Thank you!</p>