Is there an affordable light set to take product photographs?
Question by miss_nfernandez: Is there an affordable light set to take product photographs?
I’m looking for a decent table-top lighting and display setup to take photographs of the products I make for my online store. I usually wait to take pictures when I can get a semi-cloudy and/or 3pm nothern light outdoors, but it’s not always possible when I need the photo quickly…any suggestions? I’m an artist and I’ve taken a couple of photography courses, but sometimes I need a little refresher. Is there any way of making a make-shift light setup? Thanks
Best answer:
Answer by charcarson
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
What do you think? Answer below!
Posted November 17th, 2012 in Buy 500 Watt Online. Tagged: AFFORDABLE, Light, photographs, Product, take, there.
You can build a light-tent (white material from the $ 1 table at Wal-Mart .. get 4 yards) and use two sets of construction lights (under $ 40 per set of two 500 watt lamps) and shoot using your cameras white balance set for incandescent.
Then just use the skills you learned in your photo classes to get good even light, use your tripod and if you have one, use your macro lens to get close-ups or buy a “close-up filter kit”.
Link to light tent construction.
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/
November 17th, 2012 at 7:26 amAce is right …
Or … buy a couple of 500 or 250 watt blue photofloods and a couple of socket/reflectors at the hardware. Maybe $ 30 total.
I shoot a lot of artwork for people – painters, sculptors, jewelers.
The tent is great for jewelry and small sculpture, but for paintings I just use the floods with the piece on an easel in front of a black background (in my case, it’s an old sheet).
If your products are fairly small, the 250 bulbs should be more than enough. Place them at 45 degree angle on each side of the product for even lighting. Higher, lower … whatever works best. And vary the distance of the lights from the product.
I’ve found that the best white balance setting for my work is the sunlight setting. But you should experiment a little. Auto WB might also work for you.
November 17th, 2012 at 7:27 am