I have been in the photography lovers community for quite a while now, but there are still very few enthusiasts for product photography. Perhaps this is due to the inherent difficulty of product photography, starting from the use of lighting to often having to resort to digital imaging to make the photos attention-grabbing. The purpose of product photography itself is to grab the attention of viewers, so that they develop a desire to purchase these products.
The genre of product photography, I must say, is quite challenging when compared to other genres such as portrait or wedding photography. However, I believe that each photography genre has its own level of difficulty. For example, in wedding photography, as a photographer, one is required to direct poses to ensure that the resulting photos look good and evoke emotions. Additionally, one needs to have strong stamina because wedding photo sessions usually last a long time and involve meeting many people, so one must be physically fit to handle it all.
Moreover, in portrait photography, there are various sub-genres. There is beauty portrait, as well as portraits for advertising purposes, which combine two photography genres, namely product and portrait. In beauty portrait photography, it is usually used for model portfolios or makeup artist portfolios. However, in my city, there are very few makeup artists who care about their portfolios, so they are reluctant to collaborate with photographers. Often, they rely on their own abilities for photo shoots, although I cannot deny that some of them also have good photography skills.
For portrait photography aimed at advertising purposes, it is usually even more challenging, as this genre combines two types of photography. On one hand, we need to highlight the product in the photo, but it should still look natural with the model to make the product look more appealing and as if it is being used by the model. It is not uncommon for a photographer to conduct two separate photo sessions and then hire a digital imaging artist to combine the two photos into one frame. Usually, this is done by a team or production house, as the ultimate goal is for advertising needs for television, billboards, or magazines.
Some time ago, I had the opportunity to conduct a product photo session for a body lotion. This product happened to belong to my friend, so he entrusted all the photo sessions to me. The product itself has obtained a license from the health office, making it safe for everyone to use. It can also protect against UV rays and can be used during the day. And of course, it can brighten the skin. Based on this, the following photos were created:
During the photoshoot, I only used one Godox SK400II flash, if you're wondering why I only used one, it's because it's the only one I have. Unfortunately, the flash is now broken, and I'm not sure what caused it; often, it wouldn't fire when I pressed the shutter button. If you're wondering if using just one flash is sufficient, clearly it's not. At least three lights are required to create a clear silhouette of the body lotion packaging.
One flash was positioned on the left, one on the right, and one above the product at a slight angle to ensure the front received some light. This is the setup I would use with three lights. But how did I manage to get the lighting as if I were using three? The answer lies in using the multiple exposure mode.
The multiple exposure mode serves various purposes, one of which is assisting me in achieving the lighting in the aforementioned photos. The most crucial step is to place the camera on a tripod without any slight shifts to maintain the focus on the product. Then, you can adjust the positions of the lights as needed. However, this method has some drawbacks. Firstly, the product photo becomes HDR as it's taken multiple times. Secondly, there might be color shifting (something I experienced). Lastly, the light distribution isn't consistent due to manually moving the lights, resulting in varying distances in each frame. Therefore, digital editing skills are challenged to ensure consistency in color across the frames.
As mentioned earlier, these are some advantages of the product. Therefore, during post-processing, I added flares to mimic the effect of sunlight, indicating the product's UV protection. I also captured some frames highlighting the texture of this body lotion, allowing potential buyers to imagine what's inside the packaging. I could have added clouds or used a model to apply the lotion for a more dramatic effect. Unfortunately, the client's budget didn't allow me to hire a model, so the photoshoot had to conclude at this point.
Interested in trying product photography? Don't let limitations hinder you; I managed to create these photos with just one flash. I believe you can do it too, especially if you have a well-equipped studio. Oh, and when capturing product photos, try using a small aperture, like F8, to ensure sharp images.
I hope you enjoy my photos and don't forget to support the work of photographers in this community. With your support, I might be able to purchase a new flash to replace my broken one. I'm really saddened by this setback; it's been quite challenging for me.
Thank you and warm regards.
