Perfect Background for Product Photos

[The Knitting Lady]

I just posted two new products yesterday.
https://icraftgifts.com/handmade/26616/colorful-knitted-poncho-jacket-for-a-girl.php and https://icraftgifts.com/handmade/26615/adjustable-headband-for-a-girl.php

I used $1.00 cardboard stock, that you can get in many dollar store, for creating the background for my photos. It's an easy and inexpensive way of making your product photos look great. It saved me much time and money over years. I got this advise one time from a professional photographer and wanted to pass it on.

What are your inexpensive tips and tricks for taking product photos?

[PetiteTuques]

I use the large white cardboard sheets from Dollarama, and I took this photo,





It turned out ok, but now my sheet has wrinkles in it, so I bought a white vinyl 9 foot sheet, and I took this photo,

 

and I think my pics will get even better now! I just have to find a way to suspend it off the floor, like the photographers do. I draped it over a couch, but I don't think that will work for my boys.

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Thanks for sharing these tips.

Vinyl?  Interesting.  I haven't seen giant sheets... where did you get it?  From the Dollarama also?

I built myself a light box in an attempt to take better photos.  I posted about it here:
http://www.fairycardmaker.com/2011/02/adventures-in-light-box-land.html

Here's my tip:
My box is white, so I went to Michael's and bought a baggie of black pebbles for $2.50.  I use that as a prop to force white balance in my photos (so there is something white and something back in every photo).  Then, I can adjust the colours better in my photo program.

Before, I used an black easel I bought at Michael's also as my token "black" item as there is usually white somewhere in my cards.  However, I got tired of my blue-green wall.  Depending on the time of day, the wall could be blue, more green, or even blue-greyish.  I think it detracted from my photos, which is why I built the box.

I still need to do better though.  The upright back wall of my box comes out grey and the floor more white.  (I need better lights, but that costs a lot, so this will have to do for a while!)

[PetiteTuques]

I bought the vinyl from a local fabric shop, and I'm sure any fabric shop would have something similar. Cost me $30.

I should also make a lightbox. I'll get the hubby to make it

Do you take your photos in daylight? Close to a window? In my photos, one side of the white board will be lighter than the other, so my hubby says we need a bigger flash on the camera, the one that is built into the camera does not do the job. He's looking at flashes for our semi pro camera, which will cost between $100 to $300. A good investment he tells me.

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Fabric store - good thinking!

Your new avatar and banner are adorable!  Love 'em!

[Fairy Cardmaker]

I just realized I never answered your question!  Sorry!

I don't use the flash.  Because my camera is so close to my product, the flash ruins everything.  My studio has three windows at angles, so I open all the blinds.  The windows are generally to the left of my lightbox.  So, I bought a small desktop daylight lamp and put it to the right of my lightbox.

Ideally, if I could have two lamps, I would put one left and one right and never need windows, real daylight or flash!

For your product, though, I think you need the flash because people don't fit in lightboxes!  My brother-in-law dabbles in photography and he has a giant flash with a cone/tunnel/tube on it.  The flash tunnel is jointed, so he can direct where the flash goes so it is not directly on the target which would create harsh shadows.  Most times, he directs it upwards.

[PetiteTuques]

We got a new flash- and it's giant! It's jointed too, and we used it for pics at a b-day party, and what a difference! I haven't used it for my own products yet, but I will when I get some models. I need to set up part of my house as a studio!

[DavidRunyan]

I just posted two new products yesterday.
https://icraftgifts.com/handmade/26616/colorful-knitted-poncho-jacket-for-a-girl.php and https://icraftgifts.com/handmade/26615/adjustable-headband-for-a-girl.php

I used $1.00 cardboard stock, that you can get in many dollar store, for creating the background for my photos. It's an easy and inexpensive way of making your product photos look great. It saved me much time and money over years. I got this advise one time from a professional photographer and wanted to pass it on.

What are your inexpensive tips and tricks for taking product photos?

i use a $20 device to help my compact point & shoot camera take closeups like $2,000 worth of DSLR and macro lens.
http://littlebigshot.blogspot.com/
to get results like this