Is product photography possible w\ portrait studio equipment?

This is a discussion on Is product photography possible w\ portrait studio equipment? within the Commercial/Product photography forums, part of the The Business District category; I was recently asked to do a job taking pictures of watches. Until now I only did portrait photography. Would I be able to take ...


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Old 12-22-2009, 12:50 PM   #1
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Is product photography possible w\ portrait studio equipment?

I was recently asked to do a job taking pictures of watches. Until now I only did portrait photography. Would I be able to take these pictures with my current equipment? I have a softbox, umbrellas, absb800, and a nikon speedlight.
Do I need different equipment?
Oh and I have a Nikon D200 and 50mm lens.
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Old 12-22-2009, 12:54 PM   #2
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I don't see why not.
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Old 12-22-2009, 12:58 PM   #3
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A lightbox would be a good addition to your setup:
Strobist: How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio

That would give you a good way to control the lighting in the shot. As for the lens side it depends what sort of shots you want to get - have a try with a watch and the 50mm and see where you get. If you find that you need to get seriously closer (ie that you are cropping a lot away from the shot) you might consider extension tubes/macro diopters or a proper macro lens to let you focus closer.
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Old 12-22-2009, 02:54 PM   #4
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Where would I position the light box? I imagine I'd use it instead of the softbox?
Also how do I achieve the look of the watch standing on its own?
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Old 12-22-2009, 03:01 PM   #5
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Follow the link I gave - it will explain all you need to know about the lightbox
As for the watch standing on its own more tricky you could use some fine cables in the lightbox or a base the same colour as the background. I suspect some cleanup in editing would be needed, but so long as the main effect works it should not be too difficult
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Old 12-22-2009, 03:09 PM   #6
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Woops I clicked the link after I posted. It seems so easy! Thank you.
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Old 12-22-2009, 03:09 PM   #7
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Quote: Originally Posted by Ygrazi View Post
Also how do I achieve the look of the watch standing on its own?
Here's a method by Scot Kelby. It requires some photoshop skills.

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3 - Video Downloads | Kelby Training


Scroll down mid-way to Special Wire for Hanging Products (video). Also have a look at the one above it Enhancing Highlights and Shadows in Post (video).
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Old 02-10-2010, 02:13 PM   #8
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Quote: Originally Posted by kundalini View Post
Quote: Originally Posted by Ygrazi View Post
Also how do I achieve the look of the watch standing on its own?
Here's a method by Scot Kelby. It requires some photoshop skills.

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3 - Video Downloads | Kelby Training


Scroll down mid-way to Special Wire for Hanging Products (video). Also have a look at the one above it Enhancing Highlights and Shadows in Post (video).
Nice link. Thanks for sharing.
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Old 02-17-2010, 07:57 AM   #9
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Yes, lighting equipment is very versatile. But when shooting products you need to look at the reflective quality of what you're shooting and light it appropriately. In other words, you cannot shoot a crystal object very well using a direct hard light, but that may work well on a fabric. I choose the type of lighting depending on what the object is. So look at each object as a separate lighting challenge and choose the type of lighting set up that is best for that object.
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Old 02-17-2010, 08:36 AM   #10
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Very Nice
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Old 02-17-2010, 09:57 AM   #11
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It's me again. One last important thing to know. You must remove the crystal of each watch so you can light the faces properly and without reflection on the glass. Just go to a jeweler and have them remove the crystals. In the final photo no one will know.
If you do this you're halfway home!
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Old 02-17-2010, 10:04 AM   #12
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Quote: Originally Posted by LearnMyShot View Post
It's me again. One last important thing to know. You must remove the crystal of each watch so you can light the faces properly and without reflection on the glass. Just go to a jeweler and have them remove the crystals. In the final photo no one will know.
If you do this you're halfway home!

I've always worked without a flash. Sure it takes longer in the exposure department but it saves a lot of time and effort having pieces removed from the watch. Another part about it is that this habit will prove useful when shooting glass ware.

Maybe later I'll do up a quick watch shot if my brother still has the watch I am thinking of.

I do have examples of some non watch shots taken and properly visible through transparent material without a flash for anyone who wants to see them, one of them was taken with my portrait lens.
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Last edited by Battou; 02-17-2010 at 10:14 AM.
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Old 02-25-2010, 11:51 AM   #13
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Do simple watch shooting, i did many watches shots in the studio using one or 2 lights and i am happy with some results, just i am not into product photography yet, but i am planning to do it ASAP.

one of my crap simple shot of the watch

Watch on blue
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