Product Photography Lighting Techniques

Often times, a photographer needs to take pictures of products for a client. It can be for personal use or to use in a commercial or advertisement. In order to show off the product and make it looks its best, a photographer must utilize lighting. 

Use a soft light. Using a continuous soft light is beneficial in getting a great product picture. Hard light can produce too many shadows from the product and a camera’s flash can create glare. Make sure that your light is soft by conducting a light test. Hold a finger on one hand a few inches above your other hand. If it produces no shadow or a faint one, then you have soft light. To get the best soft light you can shoot the picture outdoors when it is overcast. Or you can use a soft box diffuser.

Taking your picture in a light tent is another way to achieve soft light. A light tent is used as a background while diffusing the light. Place the product inside the nylon tent, and position your lighting equipment outside the light tent. Move your lights around to different positions until you have eliminated the excess shadows.

Using a white seamless background or backdrop can also help you get a great product photograph. This is also an inexpensive method. You can use anything you have to create a solid white background. Foam boards work well, as do poster boards or white sheets. Simply prop or tape up your white background. Position your product in front of it and shoot it using soft light.