Learing to take photo's for my business

[sdlogan9]

Well guys I have a business that includes the photography of my products. I do all of the photo's myself. I am not sure if this qualifies for a professional photographer exactly. But I thought I would share some of my recent photo's. I bought a Nikon D7000 and Lightroom - Off I went to teach my self how to use them! haha.

Here is a few of the photo's I have taken for personal enjoyment (Chickens in the backyard, and my wife and son)
1.

2.

3.


for the business (guitar pedals.)
1.

2.

3.


Here is a link to my business website.
Rock Your Repaired Amp The Klone Guitar Pedal

Any advice would be very welcome!

-Shane

 

[KmH]

#1 personal needed fill lighting (flash or a reflector) to balance the harsh back lighting on the people and so the people's faces are not under exposed.

All 3 for business are lit with harsh direct sunlight causing sharp edged and dense (dark) shadows. The harsh shadows distract from the product.

Small products are best shot in a light tent lit from outside the light box from above and all sides. The light sources are then diffuse and apparently larger. A larger light source makes the light 'wrap' around a product producing soft shadows that have no apparent edge.

I suggest you get this very often recommended product lighting fundamentals book -
Light Science & Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

The last 3rd of the book deals with how to light photos of people.

I made this photo of a camera using 2 hot shoe flash units and 36" umbrellas mounted on 2 light stands, and a large north facing window. I didn't use a light tent but did use 3 pieces of white foam board. One foam board under the camera, the other 2 made into a vertical corner to serve as a background.
I used Photoshop to clone out the lines made where the pieces of foam board over lapped.
Notice how soft the shadow edges are under the camera, and that the shadows are not as dense (dark) as the shadows in your product photos.

 

[sdlogan9]

Good info here. What did you use for the white background that the camera is sitting on?

-Shane

 

[KmH]

I didn't use a light tent but did use 3 pieces of white foam board. One foam board under the camera, the other 2 made into a vertical corner to serve as a background.

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