I'm about to start photographing products (rugs) which will be hung on a large stand so they can be photographed head-on.
We're probably going to get muslin behind then but should we got black or white?
Also, we'll be buying a studio lighting kit. We're not looking to spend a fortune as we're not setting up a studio, we just want good lighting conditions. Should I be using soft-boxes, umbrellas or a mixture of both? I've seen kits with barn-doors but I'm not sure if these are needed for rug photos or even what they do? And what power would be recommended?
P.S. I'll be using Photoshop CS5 to edit the pictures and remove most (if not all) of the backgrounds but I'd imagine muslin behind the rugs would help to stop light escaping from the shot?
Go for a white background - for product shots, white is generally better.
You want a couple of lights (flash or continuous) lighting at a 1:1 ratio (ie flat light). Position the lights at 45deg angles between the camera position & the rug & have them both at the same power.
Have the b/g far enough away so that you avoid shadows & keep it out of focus.
You shouldn't need light modifiers (barn doors, softboxes, umbrellas) as these are designed to make the light source large & therefore softer, to gently sculpt facial details in models. As you are flat lighting, shadows created by one light should be eliminated by the opposite light.
If you do want to diffuse the light at all, then have a frame either side of the rug & hang a large white sheet on it. Shoot the lights through that (not too close, or you'll just have a hotspot). This in effect makes a giant 'light tent'.
PrintFile 4x6 Print Archival Pages 6 Per Page Pack-25, 5x7 Print File Archival Photo Album 48 Prints Purple, White Soft Photographic Photo Studio Umbrella 43'' Shoot Through Diffusing, 60 x 130cm Photo Lighting Studio ShootingTable Set Kit , Photo Studio Flash Strobe Light Lighting Wireless Kit 900ws Total, Photography Photo Studio Black Reflector Umbrella 43" , PrintFile 4x6 Print Archival Pages 8 Per Page Pack-25, PrintFile 35mm Negative Storage Pages 35-7B Pk-25, 5in1 Photograph Studio Light Flash Reflector+Muslin Clamps+Lens Pen For Camera, On Camera DV Camcorder DSLR 170 LED Video Photo Lite Panel Lighting with Metal S, PrintFile CD-DVD Storage Pages CDB-8 Pk-25 Holds 8 CD's, PrintFile 35mm Negative Storage Pages CP35-7HB Pk-25, Print File 4x6 Archival Album Covered End DARK RED 72, tabletop desktop 6x6 macro digital copy stand metal new, Print File 5x7 Archival Album Covered End Green 48 Pix, PrintFile CD-DVD-4x6 Print Storage Pages CDI-4 Pk-25, microfiber micro fiber optical lens LCD cleaning cloth, PrintFile 35mm Negative Storage Pages 35-7B Pk-100, PrintFile 5x7 Print Archival Pages 4 Per Page Pack-25, magnetic picture photo copyboard copy board 11x14 gray, 4x6 Print File Archival Photo Album 72 Prints Yellow, 4x6 Print File Archival Photo Album 72 Prints Green New, PrintFile 4x5 Print Archival Pages 8 Per Page Pack-25, 4x6 Print File Archival Photo Album 72 Prints Purple, Print File 5x7 Archival Album Covered End YELLOW 48 Pix, PrintFile 8x10 Print Archival Pages 2 Per Page Pack-25, Print File 4x6 Archival Album Covered End YELLOW 72 Pix, Remote Digital Release for Nikon D70S & D80 MC-DC1, Remote Release Switch Nikon 10-Pin Prof SLR Cameras, Remote Cable Release Switch f/Nikon D90 D5000 D7000, Print File Archival Large Album for CDB-8 pages, Dot Line SensorVu Loupe Digital SLR Sensor Lupe Sample, Infrared Remote Shutter Release for Canon Digital New, Print File Archival Large Album Premium Archival ALB-G , Individual Photography Sand Weight Bag For Light Stand Boom Tripod, Aputure Timer Camera Remote Control Shutter Cable 3C for Canon EOS 1d,1ds,MarkII, Aputure Timer Camera Remote Control Shutter Cable 1N for Nikon D1, D2, D3, D3x, , Timer Camera Remote Control Shutter Cable 1C for Canon EOS Rebel XT, XTi, XSi, X, Photography Studio Pro Background Back Drop Stand (H) 4.05m x (W) 4.65m , Individual 27cm Modelling Reflector Lamp Head Only, Red Head Tungsten Studio Photo Video Lighting Kit 1600W 3200K, 2400W Red Head Tungsten Studio Photo Video Lighting Kit 3200K, 7 in 1 Multi Disc Light Photography Photo Reflector Set , Large 43inch 107cm 7-in-1 Photo Video Multi Collapsible Reflector Disc Set 43" , Cowboystudio Yellow neck strap for Canon,Nikon,Sony,Olympus Camera, Martin Premium Leather Camera Hand Strap for DSR Camera, Portable Digital Timer Shutter Release (EZA-N1) for Nikon Cameras, LCD Timer Remote Shutter Release for NIKON D90 D5000 with LCD Display, Digital Timer Remote For Canon EOS, 1Ds, 1D, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 10D, D30, DSLR VCR Rig Movie Kit Shoulder Mount w/ Follow Focus And Matte Box, DSLR Shoulder Support Steady Rig 15MM Mount Follow Focus for Canon Nikon Panason, Digital Shoulder Rig Camcorder Steady DSLR Video Cam Camera, Digital Shoulder Rig Follow Focus Camcorder Steady DSLR Video Cam Camera, DSLR Rig Movie Kit Shoulder Rig Mount, Shoulder Support Pad for Video Camcorder , Metal universal
Hot Shoe to 1/4-20 threaded adapter, Athena NEST NT-A70 Camera Photography Equipment Back Pack, Athena NT-A60 Nest Camera Accessories Equipment Traveling Back Pack, Athena NT-A30 Nest Camera Accessories Equipment Traveling Back Pack Carry Bag, Professional Athena NT-A10 Nest Camera Accessories Traveling Carry Bag Back Pack, Photo Video Photography LED900AS (Bi-Colour Temperature) V Lock,
Comments are closed for this entry.