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Controlling the light part 2
In part 2 of this article we get more in-depth in controlling your lighting
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Controlling the light
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This blog entry:
In this first "How to" article, I'll be sharing with you how to take control of lighting and make even the most unglamorous item look stunning! Oh - and while I'm busy, I'll show you how to do it on a budget.
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Controlling the light
One of the most daunting tasks for a photographer (besides shooting weddings) is studio catalogue work.
Some clients prefer that you shoot on their premises so that they can maintain control of their stock - others don't mind if you haul their stuff away and do the shooting in the privacy (and control) of your studio.
The items you are asked to shoot might fit nice and neatly in your lighting rig, or they might not...
You might be asked to shoot dresses today, and lounge suites tomorrow.
This is all daunting stuff for someone with a weak constitution...
If you've been messing around in the world of photography for a while now, and have begun to get a better grasp of the importance of light, and are now keen on taking the challenge of shooting catalogue items, but don't yet have a lighting rig or the know-how for doing catalogue shooting, read on...
Let's begin with some basics:
- You absolutely need to take total control of the lighting.
If you've ever shot people under fluorescent lights at a social event and later died of fright when you saw their blue or green faces appear on your prints, then you know that the lighting available to you while shooting is going to make a world of difference to the end product. - You need to understand the concept of "White Balance".
I.e. - the fact that your (digital) camera wants to shoot white objects in your scene as close to white as possible, while keeping all other colours as close to original as possible. Advances in digital camera technology mean that today your camera is (nearly) smart enough to correct the yellow hue caused by Tungsten bulbs almost every time. However, your camera can only do so much. At some point a little human intervention will be required to ensure that your colours come out right. For this reason it is absolutely (and I mean COMPLETELY) essential that you shoot in RAW format, for later editing, AND, ensure that you always have an item in your scene that's as close to pure white as humanly possible (it will act as a reference point later). - Do research on styles of photography for the type of product you will be shooting.
There are great magazines, catalogues and websites out there for almost any type of product photography you can imagine (and some you didn't - believe me!). Have a look around at how other people do their shooting of similar items, and prepare yourself ahead of time. Also - discuss the client's needs and find out what kind of style they're looking for. You'll save yourself a lot of heartache and frustration by looking at reference material together with your client, and, after all, they know their stuff better than you probably will, and have knowledge you would be wise to tap into. - Have some DIY fun.
Sure, there are many pioneers out there who have gone ahead and paved the way for us to follow. So, if you have the budget, and are just plain lazy ;-) you can fork out big cash for Italian lighting rigs, or do some net shopping for lighting tents and lights. Or, like many of us, you can spare yourself some dosh and have a bit of fun along the way...
