Using lights in photography?

Question

I have to take product shots for my companies website. I have a digital camera, white background, and 2 lights on tripods. Where would i position the lights for the best shots? Should they be parallel with the camera and the product? above the camera? below? in front of the camera? behind?

Usually i don't use the lights and rely on my photoshop skills to make the pictures better, but i want to start using the lights so i can start taking better pictures.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

Standard light practice puts the lights to the sides of the camera, pointing at a 45 degree angle towards the product.  Lights are also usually above the camera and product, tilted downward slightly. You can adjust the angles and how far from the product and camera depending on the product reflectivity and so on.

Get some neutral grayscales and color step tabs to put in the photos (at least your test photos), to help you balance the photos in post production. It helps to have known colors in the photo to get the image balanced.

Use a polarizer if necessary, usually with highly reflective products to reduce glare.

Use white reflectors to help fill in product shadows, if necessary.

At your local photo store or bookstore, take a peek at a book on studio lighting, it will give you some ideas on basic set-ups.

Answer 2

With products you want to focus on the object itself not how amazing the photo is so you want to go for non-dramatic lighting usually.