This is an easy technique if youre only working with one speedlight on your model. Its common for studio photographers who do work for catalogs to have a light table. While not affordable to create (learn how to make one in the below video) you can usually rent a studio with a cyc for an affordable fee. The key is having ample natural light and a workspace that allows you to move around comfortably while taking photographs. The best possible result would be an off-white background after you have done some edits. Place, 50mm Photography: 5 Reasons Everyone Needs a (Nifty) 50mm Lens, How to Straighten a Crooked Image in Photoshop (Step By Step), 5 Lightroom Tips and Tricks (to Revolutionize Your Editing), How to Convert to Black and White in Lightroom (Quick Guide), Just-Released Lightroom Updates: Video Editing, Adaptive Presets, and More, The Most Popular Digital Cameras (in 2022). Many devices have ready-made settings, such as cloudy and sunny. It doesnt matter what you can see through the window, you will blow out the window and it will be white. The important things are that your foam board stands straight, is positioned opposite to the window, and is the same size as your subject or larger. The smaller the window/light source the less light and more directional it will be. Mastering a photography style like this will require practice, but you can get a few basics right to enhance your shots without trying too hard. In most cases, utilize the largest window in your home. 8 Ways to Improve Your Portrait Photography, Think about the emotions you want to convey, use an editing platform like Adobe Lightroom or Capture One, How to Invite Friends to Follow You on Instagram, How to Fix AirPods When They Won't Connect to a Windows 10 or 11 PC, 10 Common Amazon Alexa Issues and How to Fix Them. Your exposure settings for the background might be 1/250th of a second, f22 and ISO 100. I will cover the optimal time to photograph your products in Part 2 of this post. 
Stabilizing the white photo backdrop also helps me keep things clean and organized which allows me to focus on my camera. This depends on your personal preference and intention, of course you may want some spill on your subject for a certain look or effect, or you may not. They would have been very difficult to clean up in Photoshop if the background had not been pure white. That being said, if you have room in the budget for a quality machine, go for it. Danny teaches MUO's readers about improving their photography and creativity. There are no unwanted shadows on the background, as was my intention. I suggest a foldable card table for easy clean up. I always use manual mode and spot metering when I am making portrait photography like this.
Tape the sides of the paper to the table as well, so your setup doesn't move while you are shooting pictures. You can use several tools to help you achieve negative fill and create the exact type of picture you originally planned. If youve ever seen a picture where the subject has too much light coming onto it and feels like its part of the background, the primary reason is that they were too close. You can see that the background is pure white. I attach the fabric to backdrop stands so there are no wrinkles or creases in it. There's a reason e-commerce photography is synonymous with white background photography. You just need another light source or reflectors on the front to light the face. In the second part of this post, I will show you how to adjust your camera's manual settings depending on the light in your studio. Usually, I have a good deal of space to work in when Im outdoors. 
All Rights Reserved. It will also not render pure white. It worked great for a budget option. Photography is a varied field, and you can use lighting and backgrounds to create all kinds of interesting pieces. Print out the cheat sheet & start shooting.
Privacy Policy Terms of Use. The benefit to using a prime lens is that you can get closer with a lower aperture and achieve quality images.
This mean you wont need to post process or a photo editing software. You can also photograph your background or a white sheet of paper in your desired setting. But it is less reliant on equipment than the studio method I have described. You will want to fill your product in the frame of your camera, but make sure to leave extra space around your subject so you have room in the image. Remember that you can also get a great deal on used cameras on eBay or Craigslist to bring the price down even further! The photo below is before post-processing. So don't stress about the camera. These, Best Settings for White Background Photography, Most Common Problems With White Background Photography, White Background Photography in the Studio, White Background Photography for Studio Product Shoots, See all articles in Profit from Portraits.
It was the quickest, easiest way Ive ever been able to achieve bright white backgrounds without having to do any work in post production. When the background light did fire on the left, this shadow was eliminated (right photo, above). But this tutorial will show you the process clearly. Once Ive switched to Photoshop, I will add a Levels Adjustment Layer and move the sliders most of the way to the right. In this series of blog posts, I will cover three DIY product photography specific topics: a simple home photography studio setup that uses a white backdrop and natural window light for DIY photography lighting; how to take advantage of your, Must-Know Tips Before Outsourcing Photo Editing. Extend the legs of your tripod and adjust it until the top of the tripod is flush with the surface of the table.
For smaller applications, like product photography, using 3040white foam core board from your local craft store is one of the most economical ways you can go. In this article, Ill show you two methods to create a white photography background. Whatever the size of your product, you will want the window to be significantly larger. Theres little to no post-production involved. If there is not three stops or more of difference, you will need to add more light to your background. It can also mean spill light from the background affects your subject. I suggest that you first try to use what you have at home before you go on a shopping spree (here's a guide to smartphone product photography). The light drops off around the edges of the frame. But Im here to tell you its not all about Photoshop. In addition to modifying shadows, you can mask certain areas of your images and add detail to lights, darks, and so on.
If you do not have enough lights you will not be able to make enough of the background surface pure white or like a white seamless paper. You might be working in a small photo studio or room. How about you? Having the right background material is also important. Thank you, Tanya.
Memory is cheap these days and a modest capacity SD card (+16GB) shouldn't run more than $10 bucks. Checking your image on a computer is the most accurate way to find out if your background is pure white. If you are trying this out you may need to experiment until you have the right conditions. Like the white paper roll, you can find foam core board at most office supply and camera stores. While techniques like negative fill can add contrast to your subjects against a bright white background, you can also use props. What to buy? A clean white backlit background with white products is not usually possible. Check if you have your setting correct for your subject to be well exposed.
I rented a studio in Spokane for awhile that had a cyc wall and I loved it. It is easier doing this with a small-scale subject, as the lights are huge in comparison. In this first post, I will teach you how to set up a photo studio at home on a bootstrapped budget. Good vs Great | Free 1 Hour Training by Pye, Copyright 2019 SLR Lounge. High-end equipment and gadgets do have their benefits, but they simply are not necessary to create great looking product images. This means you wont have enough space between your subject and background. I wanted to bounce my flash onto the white rogue bender to modify the light. I've learned that being in a small space can literally cramp your style. Yes, I mentioned a collapsible backdrop in the article. Regardless of whether its white, yellow, or something similar, brighter backgrounds make sense if you want to take more uplifting photos. thanks for this article. If you feel like you're too close or too far away, try utilizing the zoom feature on your camera lens.
In fact, you can achieve it without using any electric light sources. You must also understand storytelling and exposure. ExpertPhotography is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Well there are tons of great cameras on the market, and for the budget conscience E-tailer, I suggest something along the lines of a Canon PowerShot SX620 HS, which is more than enough camera to get the job done. You can see this overexposed effect in the images below: I hope this little tutorial has shed some light on basic techniques forcreating a white background, and that it has solved any and all mysteries regarding how to achieve such a look. Now, attach the camera to the screws or clip on your tripod. Whenever Im taking portraits, I have a black and a white background. You geta tone and color other than the intended white. It is even possible to do product photography outdoors using this method. This may change what you set your aperture and shutter speed to, but I will explain those in the next lesson! I actuallybuyit in bulk on Amazonand use it whenever I do any table top photography. Using the method described above would result in a photo with either a gray, dull, or muddy-toned background. The white background allows me to get that clean white look in-camera. These are very useful to us as we are photographer. One technique is to light your background from behind. With the backlighting method, I couldnt get enough definition in the edges. Sometimes, all you need is a subtle tweak to turn your photos into something special. Login to access your dashboard, watch tutorials, submit photos for critiques and and get recognized for awards. You might have heard of the term negative fill before. During the day if you put your model in front of a window, spot meter for the model. Thats not the only issue, though; youd see unwanted shadows everywhere, too. When photographing against a bright white background, the main goal is to make the subject and background work in harmony togetherrather than against one another. The histogram is showing a representation of the tone range in all the pixels. Photographing product on an opaque white background often results in shadows. The width of the roll of paper should be larger than the product you are photographing. Make sure your tripod is level because it will be easier to adjust your camera when it is attached. Simply put your subject in front of the camera against a white background (preferably with a flash or strobe), and take the picture. It is also important to take your exposure meter reading only from your subject. When both the background and main lights are on, your metershould still give youf/8 on the subject, because you are metering the light that falls on your subject and not on the background. Minor post-processing can fix a backlit background that is not pure white. Duct tape is quick, convenient and easy to find, while clamps make for easy clean up and reusability. If you are using a textured background you should see some of it. You will be surprised to see how easily you can turn your living room (or spare bedroom, garage, etc.) But these were to ensure the colours were balanced well and the background was clean.
We should point out that a badly-taken image is often irreversible. Therefore, the resulting imageis almost a silhouette of the subject. Step 4: White Foam Board "Fill Light" (2 minutes). The studio I rented had built in strobesin the ceiling to light the cyc wall and then strobes on stands with casters that were easy to move around to light the subject. Its important to set the lights facing away from the background. There are two key ways of doing this: You can use anything black to flag your lights: the black side of a reflector, black cardboard sheets, or black foam core. Here are some tips to help.
Note: You need to meter foreground and background lights separately, so that when metering for the main light (on the subject) you would turn the background lights off and vice versa. Sliding these towards the right will lighten the background. Check out her work on www.lilysawyer.com Follow her on her fave social media platform Instagram. If you go past pure white and really overexpose a shot, the white will start almost glowing around the subject, just like if you had sun flare outdoors. Take some test photos and check them over. You should also be sure to allow yourself enough room to move around the table to style and shoot your product once the backdrop is set up. If you are using an auto or semi-auto mode you will need to use exposure lock for best results. Set up one or more lights and reflectors for the style of portrait you want to make. You can also increase the shadows in your photo during the post-production process, which well discuss in more depth later. I like having all these tricks available for whichever situation I happen to be dealing with. A Cyc Wall (short for Cyclorama) is a seamless white wall used commonly in fashion and product photography (see some amazing examples of a cyc wall in use in the Breed Fashion Photography Workshop.) Reserved / Disclaimer, Your email is safe with us.
We won't share it with anyone, Shutter Priority Mode: The Ultimate Guide, 8 Tips for Breathtaking Forest Photography, 7 Tips for Beautiful (and Meaningful) Engagement Photography, Weekly dPS Photography ChallengeYour Choice, 10 of Our Favorite Photography Accessories, Upcoming: Nikon Full-Frame Camera and Lenses to Be Released in 2022, Mylio Photos Review: Manage All Your Images in One (Safe!) Watch this video to learn more about making V-flats from Sue Bryce herself. This product series was easier to make on an opaque background because of their light color. The good news is that it's possible to create the same quality images without the bulky, high-tech equipment most professional photo studios use. A third white board makes a great reflector. If you are photographing small earrings, a smaller window will work finebut in my case I am photographing shoes, so the bigger and wider the better. You need to adjust the light levels and exposure and/or make the spread of the light more even. So I opened the image in Photoshop and added a Levels Adjustment Layer. One hook and its mounted. Perfecting your white balance can automatically elevate your photography, and focusing on this area is particularly important if you plan on taking pictures against a bright white background. You can read more about this technique and how I also achieve a pure black background in this article. Expert Photography 2011-2022. So that's it! Now that you have all the necessary equipment to photograph your products, follow my next steps and get your home photo studio set up in 10 minutes or less! For front lighting setup, I rely on light reflecting from the ground. So here are three rookie mistakes to avoid when tryingto achieve 100% pure-white background photography: The background must be lit with approximately two stops more light than the subject. When set up, the light coming through the window will bounce off the bright white board and "fill" the shadows on the left (darker) side of the shoe. If your subject is being affected too much, edit the image in Photoshop. Once your camera is secure, start playing with the position of the tripod by looking through the viewfinder on your camera while directed at your product. Its 5X6 feet and I use it horizontally for headshots or vertically for body shots. $35 Savage Seamless White Backdrop Paper 53 wide x 12 yards. i shared it in linkedin, We have previously used the option of borrow a colleagues set up. Place two or more high powered strobes behind the background. Below, youll find eight tips that will help you take a better white background photo. Multitasking?
White background photography requires having a good knowledge of composition and ways that you can manipulate lighting in your favor. Try working with a smaller background and cropping tighter to your subject. I will be using my ceiling, because my window is in the middle of the room and this will allow my paper sweep to fall nicely onto the photo table.
If money was no object and I worked primarily in-studio I would definitely have one. If the light is not even, move your strobes and keep testing. Heres a 9th option a window. There is one more item that you can through into the mix foldable backdrops: https://www.amazon.com/StudioPRO-Double-Backdrop-Photography-Background/dp/B00FG5DOV6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1471542974&sr=8-5&keywords=flexible+photography+backgrounds. This camera retails at $230, has manual settings, takes clean and crisp images at 22 Megapixels, and has built-in wifi capabilities. You could also use foam core board. Last on our list (and most important) is having access to a large window that allows for a lot of natural light. You can adjust the opacity of the reflection in Photoshop during post-processing, but having the reflection shows that your subject is planted firmly on solid ground. In part three, I'll show you how to edit product images, if you don't want to use an online photo retouching service. A white background photoshoot makes sense if youre taking pictures for a brand with vibrant and fun marketing or if youre going to take portraits where the person looks happy. DO: add extra free space on top and bottom. I recently acquired a collapsible backdrop that mounts on a light stand. They will bounce off the wall and light the background evenly. Doing so will make your images more consistent and will reduce the amount of post-production time needed to perfect the images. Having more light on a white background than on your subject is the key to creating a pure white background. Even if you master all of the technical aspects of white background photography, your image will look somewhat bizarre if youre not portraying your intended message. Her absolute favourite past time is going on mummy dates with her kids and husband. That being said, it's important to point out that we do not want direct sunlight to hit the set. You can also use white card, polystyrene board or any white or light surface as a reflector. Move your subject further away from the background if there is too much light on them. I use the same technique I do in the studio to measure the light and make my exposure setting. Theyre also quite cumbersome to haul up the stairs at my office to the conference room where I use them on occasion. This will be quicker and easier than using the Dodge Tool. My camera settings for all the shots in this setup were ISO 250, 1/160s, and f/8 (though the background gave a meter reading of f/16). Just don't tell your spouse that you learned these tips from us! To get the most out of your white background photography, you must ensure that your setup is correct. Real world education & resources from the most successful wedding photography studios in the world. Your camera settings will be 1/250th of a second at f8 and ISO 100 or the equivalent. Keep in mind that your camera is just 1 of 5 factors that will affect the final outcome of your product images. This will get rid of shadows. If you are photographing jewelry, make sure to clean and shine all your chains and gems. Its affordable and transports easily. To do this adjust the brightness levels or curves from the left side (dark pixels) to the right side. It also blocks light from seeping through to places where you do not want it. I can alter the backgrounds appearance dependent on how I place my lights, and if I want a deep black presentation, I have that option by just flipping it around.. Just sayin-. Just remember, when it comes to DIY studio lighting, the bigger the window is the better. Now unroll your white background paper roll and tape it to a wall, ceiling, or something that can hold it up (like a large box or a book stand). See V flats below for an example of the styrofoam sheets Im using. Thestyrofoam boards work amazingly well and I love them, but theywere very difficult to transport from the hardware store. However, I wanted to have a reflection and shadow in the foreground. The plastic is semi-translucent, so light can pass through it. Even when your subject is close to the background, you will have more control of shadows and spill light. You do not even need to set up a very large white backdrop. V-flats are a popular option, especially if you intend to shoot a white background portrait. I then dodge over the areas of the background that are not pure white yet. Because the background lights are so much brighter than the foreground light, you need to separate them from the main subject. For example, if you want to photograph your subject at f/8, set your background lights to two stops brighter, so your meter reads f/16 on the background. I set the exposure for this tool at 100%. You can bend this to provide a horizontal surface and a vertical background. 2006 - 2022 Digital Photography School, All Rights Using enough strobes and the right background material is key in studio photography.
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