How Do I Duplicate This Product Photo

[jmkirkwood]

Hello,
I hope someone can help me save some money.

I had my product shots professionally taken a couple years ago. Since then, I have changed the labeling and need new shots. I would like to take them myself.

I would like to duplicate the technique my photographer used : Back lighting, good lighting on labels with no reflection.

I have tried a soft box light, key lights, etc. but I've not been able to duplicate her lighting. I tried to use white boards to bounce light on the front of subject- but that didn't work.

I am now experimenting with a light box that has an overhead light and 3 hard plastic sides. And a white plastic base to achieve the reflection.

Obviously, now I don't have a back light. I am thinking about trying to fold the back side down and aim the soft box light there.

I will be using a Nikon DSLR. I have Photoshop for editing.

Any suggestions?
You can see the original photos here:La Dolce Diva

And here are a couple examples:



Thank you!

[geekgirl415]

Can you post some of your attempts?

[jmkirkwood]

Hi,
I deleted most attempts. But I did find one. This is using the light box.
Shot in RAW and then I AUTO corrected and increased the exposure in Aperture and then increased Luminance in Photoshop to get the background whiter. It is still not white enough.

I will have lots of pictures to take and edit- so I want to take as good of a shot as possible to there won't be special fine tuning for every single shot.

I have tried to play with the white balance on the camera setting- but it didn't seem to make much difference.

Thanks for responding.

[OsmosisStudios]

You need a light hitting the background, not just the item.

[jmkirkwood]

I can't hit the background from the front because there is a top to the box that holds the overhead light. I am going to have to figure out how to keep open the back of the box and have a light coming in from there.

I have tried more of an open set up- but it was too dark in the front and more color variance between each product shot.

My light box is similar to this: OBNphoto.com

[teaking]

Cant you use a desk lamp one that has a base and a arm you can position over the open of the box. Like the other people pointed out you need the light from the top in product photography if you can achieve it or from the top and side. The light box covering material usualy acts as a diffuser for the light as well.

If you can try to keep the back of the box on as this is where your white background will be.

And from what I have read most people just tweak the contrast and saturation when editing product shots from these light boxes. Hope that helps a bit.

[edbayani]

looking at the sample photos of your photographer, he used an acrylic white product stand or a white acrylic sheet that was set up and bent so there would not be a horizon or infinity effect hence you can see a reflection of the product on the acrylic sheet. he probably lighted the sheet from behind since the sheet is like a light diffuser hence the very white background. after doing that, he set up a strong softbox to the left causing the shadow. the front was lighted by white reflectors so as not to introduce another shadow. you have to arrange the reflectors in order not cause reflections or hot spots on the product. if you cannot avoid the reflections if the product is shiny, you can spray it lightly with krylon dulling spray to remove the glares.

i hope this can help. also i noticed he must have used a longer focal length since there is minimal or no perspective distortion on the product and set it at a small aperture to get depth of field.