Product photography help

[trt-reece]

I built a light-tent thing last night using a cardboard box and baking paper, and had a practice today.

I'm mainly looking for some critique on how the lighting is. A flash was fired at 1/4 (i think) power, from camera right. I didn't have a second flash to fire from left to even the shadows out, and the desk lamp didn't offer much light when I tried it either..

Thanks in advance

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/4039027254_eeeb0e360c_o.jpg

[pxchoi]

I'm not an expert in product photography, and I am viewing this from my laptop and not from a calibrated screen. But as you mentioned I think that shadow off to the left is a little distracting. You can pick up some cheap lamps from Home Depot and stick it behind some sort of a defuser and it would probably take care of any shadowing.

It also looks like your getting some harsh light on the subject itself. It looks like there is some glare coming off of the wrapping, making it look washed out. Also, you might have to bump up your f/stop, it looks like the further edge of the subject is out of focus and I think it's an important area to have focus on since that's where the brand is stamped.

[SAB_Click]

I'm too am no expert, so I put myself in the position of a buyer of this image an considered what I would prefer to see improved. This is what I came up with:

Angle of chocolate bar looks awkward.
Piece of chocolate looks like it should (perhaps?) be broken from the bar in the photograph.
Piece of chocolate looks mice chewed.
Piece of chocolate shouldn't have finger prints and other bits on it.
Corners of wrapper need touching up.
Colour of wrapper looks washed out.
Not sure where my eye should be focusing.
Eye never seems to land on logo (focus?).
Not sure about colour of background.
Could the colour of the lighting be warmed to match the warmth of the product?

Hope this helps. I would be interesting to see what a professional product photographer's views were.

Great first attempt though... :)

[trt-reece]

Thanks guys, looks like I have plenty to work on for next time!

[Lizzy7]

I don't do product photography any more but I'll try to help.

Most importantly if you are going for a clean product shot on a plain white background you need to have everything in perfect focus.....stop right down. I used to use at least f16, usually f22.

I agree about the mice, the chocolate does look a bit nibbled. Food is really hard to do.....it's a real art to make it look apetising! I only did it a couple of times.....nightmare ;)

Agree with the others too, there is some glare on the wrapper although I am looking on my laptop. Maybe use a board or something to shield the glare. Really good start though....hope you to got to eat the chocolate ;)

[john_edwards]

Without getting into the lighting, which isn't to terribly bad (thats good). I would rotate the bar so the "Old Gold" is at the upper left, and move the camera slightly to the left as well. We mostly begin reading from the upper left so you feel more comfortable doing it that way.As it stands now the weight of the bar is almost the predominate thing when first viewed.I would dump the piece of chocolate. Notice the chocolate on the cover, see the highlights along the edges. Notice your piece, bland by comparison. So unless yours looks as good as theirs its best to leave it out.
The key to good product photography is lighting. Not impossible with one light but easier with two or more. You can use small mirrors to bounce light inside your tent along with small black pieces of cardboard to cut light if you need to as well.
Roger Hicks and Francis Schultz had a couple of product photography books published back in the 90's. If you are more than a little interested in this type of photography I would recommend you try to find these books.
And since my wife is traveling to Aussie land on Monday I'll tell her to pick up a couple of these as we are both chocolate-aholics.

John

[mikekelley]

I dont like the original poster and here´s why.

I used to live about 300 meters from the cadbury factory in Dunedin, New Zealand. I think I´d eat a bar of old gold EVERY DAY.

I miss the chocolate and the smell of that factory so much :lol: