Problem with studio lighting for website photos

mbourkewhite · 17th of May 2006 (Wed)

Hi, We have been basically "making do" with quick product photos for our website with our digital cameras - a Canon Powershot A75 and Powershot A85. If objects are outside - no problem. Inside, it is a different story. We have invested in professional studio tungsten "hot lights" and a white paper background. Somehow we are not able to get the lighting right. We take photos with and without a flash. Using a tungsten setting and without. We use a tripod sometimes and sometimes not. The two main problems are the background looking "pink" and the objects looking "fuzzy." This also occurs when using a tripod. We are mainly photographing furniture, by the way.

We have learned to keep all overhead lighting off. We have learned how to fiddle with Photoshop to try and correct some of these problems, but getting one photograph to look ok can take an hour!

Does anyone know what we might be doing wrong? Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Ray Marrero · 17th of May 2006 (Wed)

You need MORE light.

mbourkewhite · 17th of May 2006 (Wed)

Thank you for your reply. More than three tungsten soft boxes? What would you recommend?

Would a more powerful flash be a solution?

Thank you,
A

Ray Marrero · 17th of May 2006 (Wed)

Can you post a sample?

Ray Marrero · 17th of May 2006 (Wed)

I am not familiar with the canon powershot A75, is there a way to increase the ISO? The aperture? This will let more light in and increase the sensitivity to light of the sensor.

mbourkewhite · 17th of May 2006 (Wed)

Hi Ray, thank you so much. I will attempt to post a photograph here.

mbourkewhite · 17th of May 2006 (Wed)

Umm ... how do I post a photograph. I am helpless, it seems!

song4themoon · 18th of May 2006 (Thu)

It sounds like your lights arent strong enough... also if you use white backdrops make sure not to pose your model to close to it or it will turn grey on the photo... directing an extra light only onto the background will help with that (dont do that with a black background!!)

For most of my shoots I have two softboxes end up and have one directed on the model and one on the background and it works perfectly fine.

song4themoon · 18th of May 2006 (Thu)

To attach photos you can either uplaod on photobucket.com and then copy and paste the last link (IMG) into a post here

or you go to the bottom here where you see quick reply.. all the way down you see "Go advanced" and this lets you attach two pics

PhotosGuy · 18th of May 2006 (Thu)

Quote:

.. all the way down you see "Go advanced" and this lets you attach two pics

Thats 2 pics 100KB, or smaller.

Quote:

You need MORE light.

Actually, with the studio tungsten "hot lights", you just need a longer shutter speed & probably will want to use the self timer (objects looking "fuzzy.") to take the shot. Forget using the strobes with the tungsten lights - color balance problems.
FAQ - Studio Lighting

17th of May 2006 (Wed)	#1
mbourkewhite Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6	Problem with studio lighting for website photos Hi, We have been basically "making do" with quick product photos for our website with our digital cameras - a Canon Powershot A75 and Powershot A85. If objects are outside - no problem. Inside, it is a different story. We have invested in professional studio tungsten "hot lights" and a white paper background. Somehow we are not able to get the lighting right. We take photos with and without a flash. Using a tungsten setting and without. We use a tripod sometimes and sometimes not. The two main problems are the background looking "pink" and the objects looking "fuzzy." This also occurs when using a tripod. We are mainly photographing furniture, by the way. We have learned to keep all overhead lighting off. We have learned how to fiddle with Photoshop to try and correct some of these problems, but getting one photograph to look ok can take an hour! Does anyone know what we might be doing wrong? Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

17th of May 2006 (Wed)	#2
Ray Marrero Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,589 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Problem with studio lighting for website photos You need MORE light. __________________ Ray Canon 7D, 30D - 550ex & 580ex, Nikon SB-28's x3, AB800 x3, Canon 10-22mm, 18-55mm, 50mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8, 24-70mm 2.8L, 70-200mm 2.8L IS, Sigma 28-105mm 2.8, Tamron 28-75mm 2.8, CyberSyncs.

17th of May 2006 (Wed)	#3
mbourkewhite Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6	Re: Problem with studio lighting for website photos Thank you for your reply. More than three tungsten soft boxes? What would you recommend? Would a more powerful flash be a solution? Thank you, A

17th of May 2006 (Wed)	#4
Ray Marrero Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,589 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Problem with studio lighting for website photos Can you post a sample? __________________ Ray Canon 7D, 30D - 550ex & 580ex, Nikon SB-28's x3, AB800 x3, Canon 10-22mm, 18-55mm, 50mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8, 24-70mm 2.8L, 70-200mm 2.8L IS, Sigma 28-105mm 2.8, Tamron 28-75mm 2.8, CyberSyncs.

17th of May 2006 (Wed)	#5
Ray Marrero Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,589 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Problem with studio lighting for website photos I am not familiar with the canon powershot A75, is there a way to increase the ISO? The aperture? This will let more light in and increase the sensitivity to light of the sensor. __________________ Ray Canon 7D, 30D - 550ex & 580ex, Nikon SB-28's x3, AB800 x3, Canon 10-22mm, 18-55mm, 50mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8, 24-70mm 2.8L, 70-200mm 2.8L IS, Sigma 28-105mm 2.8, Tamron 28-75mm 2.8, CyberSyncs.

18th of May 2006 (Thu)	#8
song4themoon Goldmember Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,039 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Problem with studio lighting for website photos It sounds like your lights arent strong enough... also if you use white backdrops make sure not to pose your model to close to it or it will turn grey on the photo... directing an extra light only onto the background will help with that (dont do that with a black background!!) For most of my shoots I have two softboxes end up and have one directed on the model and one on the background and it works perfectly fine. __________________ www.forever-yesterday.com Gear: 2 Canon 1Ds Mark II, 2 Canon EOS 20D , 580EX flash, Canon 70-200L 2.8 IS USM, Canon 17-55 2.8 IS, Canon 24-70L 2.8, CanonEF 100mm 2.8 USM, Canon EF 85mm 1.8, Canon EF 50mm 1.8, Sigma 20mm f1.8, Peleng Fisheye, 3 AB 800 w/ Pocket Wizzards

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