Lighting a product shot

vicmilt wrote on 1/8/2006, 5:09 PM

Hey all -

When Studio Monthly Magazine contacted me to write an article on lighting - what could I do... but jump right in.

If you'd like to see it, you can buy the magazine... or click through to their site:
http://www.studiodaily.com/studiomonthly/currentissue/5883.html

I hope you all enjoy this little tutorial, and have a happy new years!

Victor Milt

Comments

tbush wrote on 1/8/2006, 6:29 PM

Hi Victor...I personally want to thank you for the tutorial. A couple of months ago...my graphic design friend that is designing my website wanted me to take my own product photographs for my website. She wanted me to do it because she was trying to save me money. I never did anything like that before, but I figured I would give it a try. I worked so hard...and took over one hundred pictures one day. I sent them to her and she didn't like them. There was one thing she seemed to like which was a relection I was getting on the product. I went back to the drawing board and tried again...making sure I kept getting the reflection. Anyway, long story short...she was very satisfied with the 2nd batch I was sending her. What I found out is how much I enjoyed the process of photographing a product. I am still very interested...but really didn't know where to start or how to light it. I get Studio Monthly magazine and was immediately drawn to the article. I checked out the article even further on the website. It was what I needed to get started again. Thanks, Tara Bush

rmack350 wrote on 1/8/2006, 9:55 PM

Not only is the product shot sometimes the last shot of the day, it sometimes doesn't arrive until hour 12 of a 10 hour day. Everyone is tired and the grips would like to load the truck. Getting that last shot with a minimum of gear makes everyone happy. Especially the person paying for the OT.

About those reflector cards. If you're reflecting a soft light you can use a hard reflector, even a glass mirror if you want. It's good to keep a range of reflectorized showcard in your kit.

1'x1' mirror tiles can be found at most hardware stores.

Rob Mack

Grazie wrote on 1/8/2006, 10:30 PM

Thank you Vic. I noted the need for plenty of area around the product AND the "out of focus" background tip. G

rmack350 wrote on 1/8/2006, 10:33 PM

Tara,

A couple of hundred stills and two sessions to get what you wanted? Considering that you didn't feel like you knew what you were doing, I'd say you're a quick study! Many people couldn't get something satisfactory in the second session. And of course if you're shooting digital stills it's not at all a problem to shoot a few hundred shots.

I worked as a grip on a fashion photography shoot many years ago. Big name photographer. We shot for three days and he had a couple of assistants handling cameras. When one ran out they'd hand him another and reload the first. He shot thousands of stills.

Reflections. Product photography is a great way to learn about reflections and how to make them work for you. All light off a subject is reflected light, of course, but products give us very specific problems to solve. I have a lot of fun shooting small products.

Rob Mack

Coursedesign wrote on 1/9/2006, 1:30 AM

Vic,

Great article! I can't remember ever spending less than half a day on a product shot like this one, will try your setup next time.

I'm sure there must be some here who are wondering what all the fuss is about. "After all, how hard could it be to shoot a box?" He-he-he!

Simple is beautiful!

DavidMcKnight wrote on 1/9/2006, 8:49 AM

Anyone who does any type of external lighting should check out Vic's thorough training dvd on the subject, "Light It Right!" available at vasst.com. There's a LOT to learn on the subject and Vic is The Man!

If interested you can search for info and reviews of it in this forum. Just thought I would add this plug only because I've seen and learned from the dvd myself.

baysidebas wrote on 1/9/2006, 1:33 PM

Victor, you're going to laugh at this. When I saw the subject on the forum I thought that it was a request for information on how to best do it. My first thought was "I wonder if studio monthly has that great article on lighting posted on the Web." Believe it or not, I had just read the print version a couple of days ago, and being a photographer myself (20 years at Spiratone as Dir of R&D, as well as DP for all in-house product photography) I appreciated the clear, concise manner in which the subject was treated. Good for you!

winrockpost wrote on 1/9/2006, 2:39 PM

oh yeah,, great stuff !!!!!
thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

vicmilt wrote on 1/9/2006, 9:39 PM

Hey guys (and gals) -

Thanks for all the kind words - but a special Heloooo to the guy from Spiratone!

A long time before I could afford ANYTHING I stocked my whole still equipment retinue with junk (Great Junk) from Spiratone. I had Spiratone strobes, a mirror lens, a fisheye, a bellows and who can remember what else.

I'm only sorry they went out of business - 'cuz they were the BEST.

Those of you that don't know this company - please excuse a LONG overdue "thank you"...

v