Lighting plays a significant role in product photography as it directly affects how a product is seen and perceived by potential buyers. The correct lighting can highlight its best features, enhance its appeal, and help create a compelling image. Here’s how to select the most suitable lighting for your product photography.
Natural vs. artificial lighting
The first step in choosing the right lighting is deciding between natural and artificial light. Each has its own benefits depending on your product and the look you want to achieve.
Natural lighting. This type of light works well for beginners or for those trying their hand at product photography themselves. It’s effective for lifestyle shots where the product is used in a real setting, such as shooting near a large window during the day. However, natural light is rarely used in professional settings due to its variability from weather or time of day changes.
Artificial lighting. Artificial lighting is required for professional product shots, providing more control and consistency. It allows you to manage the intensity, direction, and colour of the light, making it ideal for studio settings. This is especially useful for smaller items such as jewellery or cosmetics where every detail needs to be sharp and clear.
Types of light
After deciding on natural or artificial lighting, the next consideration is the type of light that best suits your product.
Soft light. Soft light is the standard for packshots (white background product shots) and is always used in studio-based product photography. It produces a gentle, diffused effect that minimises harsh shadows, making it perfect for products that need a subtle, even look, such as clothing, skincare products, or food. Soft boxes or diffused light sources provide this type of lighting.
Hard light. Currently fashionable, hard light creates strong shadows and bright highlights, adding depth and contrast. This style works best for lifestyle shoots and is popular with food and drink brands, as it can give a vintage look with harsh shadows using direct flash shots.
Lighting positioning
Lighting positioning ensures that product details are shown clearly, with crisp edges that don’t blur or blend into the background. The positioning depends on the desired end result, and it’s important to note that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
Three-Point Lighting: This classic setup uses three light sources: a key light (the main light), a fill light (to reduce shadows), and a backlight (to separate the product from the background). This setup provides balanced lighting and is widely used in product photography.
Side Lighting: Placing a light to the side of the product can create dramatic shadows and highlight textures. This setup works well for products with interesting surfaces like fabric, wood, or ceramics.
Top Lighting: Ideal for flat-lay photography, top lighting is where the light source is directly above the product. This setup is commonly used for shooting food, stationery, or beauty items, providing even illumination across the product.
Managing backgrounds and reflections
White background product shots are known as pack shots and provide the standard professional look expected from an e-commerce brand. However, for lifestyle photography, backgrounds can vary to change the mood and feel of the product. You can create sets within a studio or use real-life locations such as bars or kitchens, depending on the budget and how bespoke the shoot needs to be.
When dealing with reflective surfaces such as jewellery or electronics, managing reflections is key. Consider using a light tent or diffuser to soften the light and reduce glare. Positioning lights at an angle and using polarising filters can also help minimise unwanted reflections.
Choosing the right lighting for product photography involves understanding your product, the mood you want to create, and the technical aspects of lighting. Get in touch with the team at Capture House to discuss your commercial photography requirements today.