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If there’s one thing eCommerce businesses need it’s high-quality images. There are, however, few business owners that get their product photography lighting right. There are shadows where there shouldn’t be. Parts of the product are reflected. Whatever the issue, it’s detracting from the quality of the product. That’s why learning what the best options for product photography lighting are will put you in the best possible position.
Investing in a professional product photography setup can have a significant impact on the quality of your product images. Better images can massively contribute to your company's success. If you can create images that are both visually stunning and informative by using high-quality equipment and techniques, then you can showcase your products in the best possible light.
If you’re able to produce the best possible images after investing in a professional setup you will:
You’d be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the various pieces of equipment that photographers talk about and seem to use on shoots. The following list should clear things up for you!
Continuous lights are a type of light that produces a constant, uninterrupted light source. Often continuous lights are used as a contrast to flash lighting. Flash lighting provides a brief burst of light, whereas continuous lighting lets you see precisely how the light is falling on your subject in real-time. If you’re going to be photographing products it makes for an excellent choice. Even more so if you’re a beginner and you simply aren’t experienced enough to work with complex lighting setups.
With continuous lighting, you're able to adjust the light easily and the results are apparent immediately. That means you can pick out specific highlights on products while maintaining consistent, even lighting throughout the various shots that you take. Rather than moving the object, you can easily move the light around the subject until you reach perfection.
It’s certainly one of the more affordable options for product photography lighting, which, again, makes it appealing to those just starting out.
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External flashes, also known as speedlights or hot shoe flashes, are light sources that are attached to your camera. They produce a burst of bright light that can be used to illuminate your subject while also creating a more dramatic effect than continuous lighting.
External flashes have the advantage of being portable and versatile meaning they can be used in a variety of settings. It also makes them an excellent choice for on-location product photography. Photographers tend to use external flashes to create a more dynamic lighting setup by adding light sources to create shadows and highlights.
External flashes also give you more control over the light's direction and intensity. Thanks to this you can create a more personalized lighting setup for your products. They are, however, a more expensive option than continuous lighting and often require even more equipment to get the desired outcome.
Photographers use diffusers to soften light sources and reduce harsh shadows. This results in more even and natural lighting. Diffusers achieve this effect by scattering light and creating a larger light source, this reduces harsh reflections and bright spots on the product.
There are many different types of diffusers. Softboxes are often seen in studios to spread softer light over larger areas. Umbrellas are extremely portable and perfect for location shooting. Diffuser panels are robust and useful for covering natural light sources such as windows.
If your products are made of metal, or glass, or have any reflective surfaces, diffusers are a must-have part of your setup. The same applies if you have backgrounds that are reflective. If you really can’t get the background to play ball, you could always edit the photo background at a later date.
Reflectors bounce light onto your subject and create a more even and balanced lighting setup. They function by reflecting light back onto your subject, filling in shadows, and reducing harsh contrast.
Typically they come in one of four styles:
If you’re struggling with shadows in your photos, using a reflector is likely your best course of action.
Alongside all of the equipment above, it’s important that you consider the editing process. You’ll definitely want to learn how to clean up pictures once they’ve been taken. There are lots of expensive photo editing software options on the market, some of which will cost more than your actual photography setup. Remember that you don’t have to start with these, there are lots of cost-effective and incredibly powerful photo editing apps out there which make for the perfect place to start.
If you’re struggling with the mounting cost of all of this equipment you’re certainly not alone. That’s why many photographers have come up with budget-friendly solutions to try and save a few dollars.
Getting started with product photography is no easy task. It’ll take you a lot of time and effort to get going but once you’ve got your setup in place and you’re able to take professional quality images yourself, you’ll be reaping the benefits.
Good luck with your setup! Once you’ve achieved what you’d like with the raw shots, why not see just how beautiful they can look by using the Pixelcut upscaler tool?
Join more than 10 million small businesses, creators and entrepreneurs that use Pixelcut to grow their business.