Commercial photography Brisbane requires a particular aesthetic for the products to come across clear and simple. Each product has to be photographed in a well-lit way and without background imagery to distract from the product itself. For new commercial photographers in Brisbane, you might not have a studio on hand from day one. Here’s how you can build a DIY photography studio on a budget, so you can still take beautiful product photos.
What You’ll Need
Before you begin setting up a makeshift studio, there are a few things you’ll need. Other than the obvious essentials, such as a camera body, lenses and a tripod, you’ll need a few other items to create the perfect image.
- Seamless White Paper – A roll of white paper is perfect for a clean backdrop. Commercial photographs need to be clear and uncluttered. Therefore, using a roll of white paper as a backdrop is an affordable way to avoid capturing distracting items in the background.
- Foam Core Boards – Foam core boards is a board of white foam, which can be used as a reflector. If placed correctly, the natural lighting from your window reflects onto the product. It removes all shadowing, without the lighting being so harsh that the image looks overexposed.
- A Folding Table – Folding tables are great because they’re affordable, functional and practical. The folding table holds the product straight and steady and keeps the backdrop in place. Moreover, when you’re done, the table folds up for easy, space-saving storage until you need it again.
- Clamps Or Tape – Clamps, if you can keep them out of the shot, are suitable for holding the backdrop in place. You can also use clear tape, which won’t show up if you can’t keep it out of the shot.
Setting Up Your DIY Studio
- Be Quick – Natural lighting is best, which means that when you’re setting up your makeshift studio, you don’t want to waste daylight. The more natural light you have to work with, the better your images will turn out. Also, if you’re using the white paper as a backdrop, avoid rearranging it too much. If you do, it’ll get creased and dirty, which means that these imperfections will show up in each shot.
- Get The Right Lighting – With your natural light and reflector board, take a few test shots to make sure that the lighting is perfect. You might find the best way to set up your studio after a few trial and error runs. However, once you’ve got it down, it’ll be a quicker set-up in future. You might find that setting up your studio facing more to the left, or a metre to the side, produces the best photos. Don’t be afraid to play around with setting and positioning, if it means the lighting will be perfect in the results.
- Reduce Post-Production Time – Doing touch-ups and cleaning up your photos can be time-consuming. In post-production, you might find marks or smudges on the product. Make sure that the studio is clean, or scuffs and dust particles will show up. If you’re photographing something with a flush surface, wipe it down to remove fingerprints. Remember, the more time you spend in post-production, the more time you’ll have to charge.
Commercial photography is something that plenty of businesses need, but finding someone to handle it for you can be stressful, time-consuming and expensive. By following this guide, you’ll be able to capture high-quality images of your products that look the part, without spending big bucks.