These are often very large and heavy lights and take a bit of time to get used to how to use them properly, so are only really for those serious about photography. These provide a lot of light very quickly which drowns out any other light sources. This is where you might want to look at Studio Flash (also know as Strobes) lights. But as you do more DIY product photography you may find that they aren’t quite powerful enough, particularly for white background. Now for most scenarios, continuous lighting will provide as much extra light as you need. You can typically get a basic set of continuous lights for £200 upwards. You will also want to use reflectors as needed with continuous lighting to get the most out of the light. Each of my main lights has 5 bulbs in it so I can add or decrease the light as needed. I typically shoot with four - two either ride, one on top and a harder light (undiffused) in front with a gemstone dazzler or diamond dazzler bulb in it for jewellery). Ideally you want at least three lights (two each side and a boom light which is angled and goes over the top of the product) but if funds are tight start with two. I also recommend the newer LED Daylight bulbs which last longer, don’t get as hot and don’t contain mercury which is toxic if the bulb breaks. But obviously the bigger lights need more storage space! I prefer the larger lights as you have much more flexibility in terms of making them taller or shorter depending on where you most need the light. Here is my typical natural daylight setup. Using a reflector (I use white board or card to the side of the product furthest away from the light source) allows you to maximise the natural daylight from a bright window and bounce it back onto the area of the piece furthest away from the window to brighten unwanted dark shadows. Now there are things you can do to maximise the light using natural daylight. You also sometimes get unwanted shadows on your products particularly on the side furthest away from your light source (your bright window) Some days we don’t get much natural daylight AT ALL! And you cannot control the light so your light source can brighten and darken throughout your shoot meaning you have to work a little harder when editing to get the consistency right in your photos and remove any colour casts the change in lighting has caused. It has a lovely quality and looks beautifully natural and it’s FREE! BUT, particularly here in the UK we are very much in the hands of Mother Nature on this one. So natural daylight is my absolute favourite kind of light for product photography. For DIY product photography the options are: The best place to start is to use the best light source possible. So how do you master light and exposure for your DIY Product Photography? Here are my top tips below:įirst things first. Now yes, technically you can sort out many issues in post production, but I always like to get everything looking as good as possible to reduce work after the shoot. It doesn’t matter how fancy a camera or equipment you have, if you don’t have great quality light then you will always be on the back foot! And I always say that the ultimate end goal is a sharp, well-lit image! With their help, you will adjust colors and apply stunning effects in no time.The most important factor in capturing great images of your handmade products is light. It might prove to be impossible to hold a reflector in this position for too long in your hands.īy using these pro-level freebies for Photoshop and Lightroom, you can fully transform your photos. It is especially important when a reflector is big and you need to place it above your subject’s head. If you don’t change your location often, it might be better to use a stand. It is quite convenient if you need to take a photo of a moving subject or if you work outside in different locations. Otherwise, you can learn how to use a reflector by yourself, ask your model to hold it or purchase a reflector stand.Īs for me, I prefer working with my assistant. If you have an assistant, the task might be pretty easy. When you purchase a reflector, you need to decide how to set it up. Smaller reflectors are helpful when you need to use the harder light. If it’s quite large, lighting will be softer. It’s important to consider the size of a reflector as well. However, if you need to use the harder light, set it farther so that there is a long distance between them. When you need to make lighting softer to take a perfect portrait photo, try putting the reflector right near your subject. If you put a reflector closer, it will be able to reflect more light. Don’t forget to check the distance from a reflector to your model.
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