Product Photography - What Equipment do I Need

Hi all,

I am looking at the most cost effective way of doing some product photography - when I say cost effective I dont mean cheap - I just haven't got the budget for a £400 studio light

The products I will be photographing are no bigger than a can of soda - but I would like the have the facility to photograph bigger things should I need to.

Was thinking of a 90cmx90cm lastolight tent - or similar - any recommendations? I want to get the biggest one I can that isn't a pain to carry round on the train etc

Secondly is of course the lighting - am I better off hiring the lighting as and when I need it? Or should I buy a cheap head like the Interfit INT140 SXT3200?

Alternatively I would get away with a lightbox and some desk lamps?

Anyways, any advice on a good setup would be most appreciated

Thanks

Joe

Before you buy any gear, lay your hands on a copy of the book "Light Science and Magic."

Gobs of info on how to induce highlights and shadows with reflectors and flags plus how to deal with highly reflective or textured subjects.

Much of it is geared toward table-top and product photography.

Once you get some ideas on how to deal with various subjects, you'll have (IMO) a much better idea of what you really need.

Hi
Have you had a look at this thread?
https://photography-on-the.net …81524&highlight​=light+box
its full of diy ideas.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12602428
Before you buy any gear, lay your hands on a copy of the book "Light Science and Magic."

Gobs of info on how to induce highlights and shadows with reflectors and flags plus how to deal with highly reflective or textured subjects.

Much of it is geared toward table-top and product photography.

Once you get some ideas on how to deal with various subjects, you'll have (IMO) a much better idea of what you really need.

yep

Light: Science and Magic

http://www.amazon.com …Science-.../dp/0240808193

Thanks guy - ill give it a read

The book is a good read for sure.

A light tent is good for even illumination but will give you a flat lighting and limit your control.

As for lighting you'd be surprised how much you can do with a simple 1-2 light setup and a couple of bounce cards.

One of my favorite books.

Case In Point (Yes, it's an odd image...):

Sylvester XxX wrote in post #12602650
yep

Light: Science and Magic

http://www.amazon.com …Science-.../dp/0240808193

Ha ha yea! I was going to recommend the same! EVERYONE should read that book! Excellent resource!

I would suggest that you look at this site by a working commercial photographer. It has pages & pages of video info:
Photographic tips by Jim Talkington. Includes videos for studio work for product photography, still life, macro, or portraiture, business tips, etc.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12603784
Case In Point (Yes, it's an odd image...):

I call it "Lunch With Neo"
1 x 580EX bounced up into a "ceiling" of white foamcore.
Various bits of black foamcore around the outside to control reflections.

Hey Jay,

Did you have Uri Geller over for lunch?

Various lengths of PVC pipe with elbows and t joints, white rip-stop nylon, cardboard spray painted black to control spill and reflections, spring clamps, white plexi-glass and black-plexi glass.

You can build a light tent to any size you need, clamp the rip stop in to place with the clamps and either shoot through it or bounce off of it. The plexi will give you a nice reflective surface when needed.

Here's a quick example. For some reason a buddy and I decided to play around with using a fog machine in the background out of boredom.

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TMR Design wrote in post #12607857
Hey Jay,

Did you have Uri Geller over for lunch?

Exactly So!

bdillion has a good solution.
Only thing I would add is to bend the plexi under the product to eliminate the edge as seen behind the tomato.

Alex has some great tutorial videos on this and similar subject regarding product photography.