I Need a Crash Course in Product Photography ASAP!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/16/2010 11:09:16 PM · #1

Ok, so long story short I've been invited to take photos for a family friend who's daughter's products (designer purses) will be featured at the secret room at the academy awards. Not only do I get to take the photos for the website, but I get to go with them down to LA for 3 days and attend the secret room even to take more photos of celebrities with the products!

Ok so now that that's out of the way....I have almost no idea what I'm doing. I am excited beyond all belief, but I also have nearly 0 product photography experience and I'm going to take the photos on Sunday afternoon (5 days from now). So what I do have is a little studio-in-a-box thingy I got for a gift a couple years ago. I also have a 5-in-1 light reflector, my 50mm 1.8 lens and the kit lens for my 40D that I could use. There will also be ample natural light if the weather permits because I was told we can shoot in a sunroom or on the front porch, but of course indoor is always an option. No light meter, no soft box, no external flash. I was also told that there are sketches of the purses as well so I was hoping to incorporate those into the photos using photoshop, but perhaps I am getting to far ahead of myself. So please, I could use any and all advise, particularly on lighting set ups for someone like me who doesn't have much to work with. Also any info on props (fabric? Flowers?) and things to avoid would be very helpful. Oh and one last thing, she was mentioning a line sheet or a product sheet, so any info on that would be great too. Meanwhile I will be using all my free time to practice.

Thank you all in advance!!!

Message edited by author 2010-02-16 23:10:20.

citymars

Nikon D700

02/16/2010 11:15:02 PM · #2

No crash course here, but...
I'd try to drum up an external flash so you can bounce some light down on the products. However, if only using window light, be sure to have something to reflect some fill light.

Try looking at other product shots to see what appeals to you.

The 50mm lens should be wide enough for the purses and give you the option of a shallow DOF, if that's what you're looking for (i.e., a blurred background).

Good luck! I recently did food photos for a friend's restaurant and it was also a first-time experience. All I can say is thank god for photoshop!

smardaz

02/16/2010 11:27:02 PM · #3

i have no advice but i'm really excited for you! that sounds totally cool!

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

02/16/2010 11:31:38 PM · #4

can external flashes be rented? I'm pretty broke at the moment

MattO

Nikon D4

02/16/2010 11:36:47 PM · #5

Originally posted by Blue Moon:

can external flashes be rented? I'm pretty broke at the moment

Flash rental

Matt

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

02/16/2010 11:38:08 PM · #6

I'm happy for you, but with not too much advice to offer. You may want to try a light tent for the ones with lots of bling on them, even if you have to make your own from a white sheet and a couple of chairs or something like that.
Sheets of colored poster paper may work for BG since not many purses will be bigger than that.
Best of luck with this event. I hope that it leads to more and even better adventures for you.

Tez

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/16/2010 11:38:52 PM · #7

make a light tent.

You need some wax paper, a cardboard box and some tin foil.

That would work for basic product shots and also enable them to be cut out from the background.

If you want catalog style shots then get a female model, go outdoors, get your reflector and bingo.

citymars

Nikon D700

02/16/2010 11:45:47 PM · #8

Good advice about the light tent -- there's plenty of info on the web on how to build your own, btw.

The main thing to avoid (in my opinion) is using your direct built-in flash, but you probably already knew that! :-)

If you can dial down (or otherwise soften) your built-in flash, however, it may be useful as a fill light when outdoors.

02/16/2010 11:51:39 PM · #9

this is what I have light "tent"
but it doesn't have a white background (can it be changed to white effectively in PS? Seems like it wouldn't work). But yeah that's what I'm experimenting with but the results aren't great so far :/

this is the reflector I have but I've never used the stand
5-in-1 refelctor

my friend just said she could come and be my assistant so that will definitely be a help with the lights and such :)

Message edited by author 2010-02-16 23:53:41.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

02/17/2010 02:31:35 AM · #10

For your light tent shots at home, you can use clamp on work lights with incandescent (old fashioned) bulbs if you set your camera's white balance for that kind of light, and don't have much daylight involved. The lights are available at Home Depot or Lowes, maybe Wal Mart. They are the kind with a heavy wire clamp, and a big aluminum reflector.
If he D40 has custom W/B, you can set a custom one for whatever lights you can find to use. If you have never done that, look it up in the manual for your camera.
This may be a cheap way to get the light you want for the product shots. You can move the lights closer or back to adjust their individual intensity on the subject.

Tez

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/17/2010 02:46:12 AM · #11

can't you just put white copier paper over the blue? Or a sheet? Or a shirt? Or a pillowcase?

I'm having a bit of a hard time imagining product shots of handbags/purses outdoors without a model.

roba

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/17/2010 03:25:47 AM · #12

Originally posted by Blue Moon:

First of all... COOL !!!
Okay, now that that's out of the way - down to business:


   - i'm assuming that your light tent actually came with the hot-lights in the picture (?)

   - you say that you're not getting great results... what are the issues?  Too dark?

   - the background can easily be changed by either:

          a.) hitting your local Michael's and picking up 2 white foamcore sheets and using 

              one for the base and angle the other as the background.

          b.) pick up one large sheet of white construction paper (art supply) and taping the

              top to the upper back corner.  This will essentially give you a seamless background.

   - I would refrain from using a sheet, pillow case, or any other material, unless you plan on 

     spending hours in PS to get the wrinkles out.  Product shots need to look polished.

   - I would seriously consider renting a flash, or borrowing one.  This will come in handy 

     when shooting the celebrities as well. Don't forget to take LOTS of extra batteries!

   - If you can't find an external flash... play around with your built-in flash on the 40D.  

     It might just do the trick (especially with all of the white inside the tent. 

   - Remember, your 40D does well with ISO up to around 800, so let in as much light as you can.

   - practice at home until you get it right - you may not have time to play around when you get there

That's all I can think of for now...

Good luck! (and send pics)!
:)

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

02/17/2010 11:31:38 PM · #13

good tips, thanks. Anyone have any info regarding product sheets?

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

02/18/2010 06:59:29 AM · #14

This is so cool, you must be jumping around like a bean!!!

No experience, but maybe a suggestion: I would get a professional light tent if you are going to go there. Mainly cos , can you imagine a homemade light tent with silver foil and pillow cases there, really? You want to look as professional as possible and I don't think that would cut it. Unless you are in the room all by your self, then use what every you have! lol

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/18/2010 08:00:10 AM · #15

Everyone has mentioned lighting, but I don't think anyone has mentioned a good macro lens for closeups of the detail. You must include detail shots of the product. Some that show the quality of the product. Labels, stitching and other features.

Tez

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/18/2010 03:46:49 PM · #16

you can also just crop to show the detail. It isn't a massive issue and you wouldn't have to spend any more money renting a macro lens.

And with regards to the light tent: just increase the aperture size and throw the background out of focus. Again, there's no need to spend more money on a 'professional light tent'. I shot food shots using a flash through a bedsheet and nobody cared because the final result was fine, which is what it all comes down to. When they saw the pictures on the screen they quickly shut up.

There are ways around everything if you just think about it a bit more and I personally would take the route of 10 minutes work and saving money for me (and subsequently the client) ahead of just buying something i didn't need from B&H just to save myself some brainwork.

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

02/18/2010 03:55:36 PM · #17

//www.prophotolife.com/ He has some product lighting videos with very basic lighting setup! Hope this helps!

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/18/2010 05:34:08 PM · #18

Sounds like a great opportunity. A few thoughts:

1) What do you envision for a shot? Can you find any similar shots on DPC? If you show us examples, we can walk you through the lighting. Maybe in this challenge? Product Shots
2) Beg, plead, steal, an external flash from someone you know. Doing something like bouncing it off your reflector will hugely help your lighting. I'm guessing that natural light will let you down, not because it's not bright enough, but because it will cast all sorts of shadows on your product.
3) Practice, practice, practice before you get there. Whatever your final setup, use it to shoot something at home. Shoot your own purse. Shoot something else of a similar material. Don't figure things out on the fly.

blad

Nikon D700

Nikon MF 28mm f/2.0 AIS

02/18/2010 06:08:49 PM · #19

Leah-
my advice is simple. make photographs that you feel comfortable and capable of doing. if you try to get into something that becomes a trial and error you will find yourself faking it and the results will look like it. you have a fine attitude with natural light and portraits ( your "smoke break" portraits are marvelous ) try to approach this opportunity the same you always approach taking any other photograph. style is what your looking for and it's your style they want. take portraits of the purses. good luck.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

02/18/2010 07:05:08 PM · #20

Don't forget the stable tripod.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

02/18/2010 07:06:52 PM · #21

Catalog shots made simple.(May be of help)

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

02/18/2010 07:10:56 PM · #22

Find out the size of the products. If a majority of the purses are larger or as large as the light tent you have, then there may be a problem.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/19/2010 07:25:02 PM · #23

Thanks everyone, your advice is really helpful! To

DrAchoo I just want to do some really basic, well lit, clean shots for the majority of the website photos like this

. Then after that I am going to take some more creative/fun photos of specific purses and also a portrait or two of the designer with some of them. By the way, I've know these people since I was born and it's a very small (2 people) business they run, but obviously I still want to do the absolute best I can.

Yesterday, I decided to build my own soft box out of some mattte board, foil, a wire coat hanger, a light from the thrift store and a lot of tape...and to my amazement it actually WORKS. So, I will be using that for the larger purses that may not fit in the small light tent I own, as well as any other set ups I may need it for. I also bought some black and white poster board to use as backdrops since I really didn't want to use the gray and blue ones that came with the light tent. Tonight I will also be poking a bunch of white christmas lights thru the back of a black poster board to hopefully create a bokeh "starry orb" effect for some of the more dressy purses. For the stand on that one I am planning on using a small, round glass table as the stand and putting black material underneath the glass for a mirror effect (although I'm not sure if that's how it's typically done). I think I may also go poach some tree blossoms for a prop from one of the many flowering trees in my area :) Nerves are going away a little bit so far. I will keep updating though. 1.5 more days!!!

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

02/19/2010 07:39:31 PM · #24

sounds like you are well on your way. Practice over the next could days. If the poster boards are big enough, curve them so they are both the backdrop and the floor (with a seamless transition). I always like when I can do that. It's generally limited by the size of the board and the thing you are trying to take a picture of. I used that technique, for example on this shot which was done outside in the full sun.