Product Photography

[Pompeylad]

Hi All,

 

Is it me or can anybody else see what I am talking about? I go on to diffrent OSC sites and see the same products over and over again, with the same pictures used over and over again. Ok I know that there are persons out there that are more that happy to rip off pics from other sites and I also know that some wholesalers are more than happy to give you the Jpegs or Gifs which you require. Is there anybody out there in cyberland that take their own pics?

 

I really want to take my own pics, I have even taken a few test pics, but all I seem to get is washed out photos. Is there anybody who can give us a few good photographic tips?

 

Please don't go a tell me to go Google for it, 'cos I already have and have came up with nowt, well nothing for still life i.e. products.

 

Pompeylad.

[johnmc]

Eesh!

As a long-time photographer, I'm sad to say there is no "simple" answer - it will depend on your camera equipment, the physical size of your stock items, the nature of your stock etc etc. I could fill the page with photography tips...

A good idea may be to approach a local Photography club (most of us have studio lighting equipment) and cough up a few quid for a studio shoot with one of the members.

If you insist on doing it yourself, a couple of basic hints:

1) FILL THE FRAME! Show the subject, NOT the scenery.

2) Avoid direct "on-camera" flash wherever possible. Especially for reflective/metal subjects.

3) Weather permitting, you can't beat daylight! But preferably of the slightly overcast type - this avoids harsh shadows. You can always use a large white card to "bounce" light back into shadow areas if you need to. You look a complete doofus... but it works!

4) Further to that, steal a white sheet from the airing cupboard (Wait till the wife goes out!). Drape it over a garden table. Pin it up to the wall behind the table. Sit your subject on the covered table. Even more light is bounced onto your subject!

5) If you don't have one, invest in a modest digital camera (2mp will be absolutely fine for web-stuff. Hell, you can probably get away with even less... OSC pics aren't usually A4 after all!). DO IT NOW!!! It will pay for itself in no time flat if you are taking plenty of stock shots. And you can try, try, try again till you get it right!

Hope this helps!

John Mc

[Pompeylad]

John,

 

Thanks for the tips, I have a 4 million pixel camera, which I set to 1 million due to the fact that I was doing the pics for the web.

 

I will follow your advice and I guess I will have to try, try and try again till I have the best light. I will also give the camera club a look in to see if I can put some cash their way for a few pics.

 

Thanks again for the advice,

Pompeylad.

[idared]

I found a tutorial that is intended for non-photographers, and explains a lot without being too technical:

Product Photography for the Web Tutorial

[johnmc]

Hahah!

Nice one, Katalin! I've just bookmarked that one for some of the more stubborn "photographers" at my local Club. That's the first time I ever got a laugh out of the "inverse square ratio" law!!!

John Mc