Product Photography - Advice Needed!

[LaylaMurphy]

Hey All,

I've got my first paying gig next weekend and it is to take pictures of silk floral arrangements. I do not have ANY lighting equipment besides the flash on my camera, which I NEVER use. So, any ideas on inexpensive lighting equipment and how I can set up a white backdrop would be much appreciated. Any other suggestions would be great too!

Thanks All!

[Jim Poor]

So, to summarize, you took a job you're not ready to do and now you want us to bail you out with last minute advice?

First, define inexpensive.

It can be done with anything from shop lights to studio strobes and everything between. Whether or not you have time to find, buy and master the equipment anywhere along that scale is another question entirely.

[andyw]

Originally Posted by LaylaMurphy

Hey All,

I've got my first paying gig next weekend and it is to take pictures of silk floral arrangements. I do not have ANY lighting equipment besides the flash on my camera, which I NEVER use. So, any ideas on inexpensive lighting equipment and how I can set up a white backdrop would be much appreciated. Any other suggestions would be great too!

Thanks All!

WOW - at least when I have accepted a job I have never done before at least I have had the equipment and given that type of thing a go previously.

It depends really on the arrangements and the "effect" you are wanting.
If they are to be floodlit then you need a couple of lights, softbox, reflectors, decent plain background material and the stands and supports to hold everything. You can do that with strobes or tungsten just make sure you get the wb correct.
OR... if you can then do it all outside and use reflectors


Here is a quick tutorial on a basic set up How to Take Beautiful Pictures of Flowers and Floral Arrangements - Watch Free Tutorial at LearnMyShot.com


If you are doing this at the weekend then I would get practising very quickly

[zona5101]

jim lays out your situation nicely.
If i were you I might ditch the idea of the white background and go with what you you "know", natural lighting. Window light would be great. A white reflector to add fill and a depth of field shallow enough to knock down the background.

your predicament reminds me of this thread!:
What Gear?

[LaylaMurphy]

Wow. Not asking for a bail out at all and pretty sure I can figure it out on my own. I was just hoping there would be some nice people out there that may have a bit of advice for me...

Relax people, it's not paying a lot because I am new to product photography and most of my stuff is done on location in natural light, hence the reason I was asking for a little advice on lighting.

Lighting is such a bag of worms, it's damn near impossible for us to encompass all that is required for you to know.

My question is... who are you going to ask during the shoot when you can't figure something out?

The client?

~Eric

[andyw]

Originally Posted by LaylaMurphy

Wow. Not asking for a bail out at all and pretty sure I can figure it out on my own. I was just hoping there would be some nice people out there that may have a bit of advice for me...

Relax people, it's not paying a lot because I am new to product photography and most of my stuff is done on location in natural light, hence the reason I was asking for a little advice on lighting.

Layla,
Because it is not paying a lot is immaterial. It is YOUR future reputation and business that is on the line potentially. That is why people were a bit "wide eyed" at your request.
Lighting any still life is not just a case of "i can figure it out" really and the worst place to start figuring it out is in front of the client.

Good luck with it.

[LaylaMurphy]

Thanks much. I know I can do it so thanks anyway and I'll confidently do it in spite of the negativity that this post has produced. Thanks for making me feel so welcomed and free to post...

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by LaylaMurphy

Thanks much. I know I can do it so thanks anyway and I'll confidently do it in spite of the negativity that this post has produced. Thanks for making me feel so welcomed and free to post...

Or you could actually answer the questions posed to you about budget, etc.

Or not, it's up to you really.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by LaylaMurphy

Thanks much. I know I can do it so thanks anyway and I'll confidently do it in spite of the negativity that this post has produced. Thanks for making me feel so welcomed and free to post...

Before you storm off in a huff because people questioned your readiness for this task (which you pretty much invited by saying you had a paying gig coming up soon, but had no experience lighting, and didnt know where to start) ...there is good advice here, and if you can swallow your pride, people will be more than willing to advise you and ultimately you'll do a better job.

Try giving a more specific outline of the assignment, as well as your budget and what you want out of the shoot, as well as how the client anticipates using them, and you'll get what you need.

Complaining sarcastically about 'harsh treatment' just leaves you where you were, and further reinforces the reasons that the answers were what they were in the first place.