Ahh....the joys of product photography

I dont post much, but Im a reading fiend. So, Ive been trying to read as much as possible on product photography. As a soapmaker, my products are varied as far as design and color. I find that I get the best results in natural light, outside, either in my little 16" nylon light tent or in late afternoon/early morning shade.

But....winter is a'comin' and I wont be able to take as many pics outside (I live in Indiana...we get weather here lol) I do have CS2, so post processing is not a problem, however Im having quite a time with WB when inside using the light tent and artificial lighting and sometimes post processing cant overcome bad lighting. (Well, at least with my meager skills)
Im just now learning my K100D and I do happen upon decent shots. But, Im working on trying to get some consistency for my website photos.
Oh...and I obviously tend to ramble lol

anyway, here are a few shots, C&C are welcome anytime. I'll try to understand the technical lingo as much as I can lol....is this an open book test?

my biz card, this was lavender growing in my yard
taken in the macro auto settings, lightened up in cs2, but I kept the blue cast for interest.
oh and if you happen to click on my website today, it might be down server is having DOS problems this morning, dang it.
Im not sure why I felt the need to blank out my last name lol...just humor my paranoia.


see the little wrinkles in the white background cloth?...should I even worry about those?
the pix are posted smaller on the site, so they arent quite as noticeable.


yeah, this is a Guiness soap complete with a lime lol


in this one, the soaps are on an inverted glass plate...wrinkles still obvious.


these were taken inside on my dining room table close to a window...but Im not too thrilled them




on this one, I tried to white out the background, my CS2 skills leave much to be desired.


so am I being too picky with my photos for my website?
or not picky enough?

[JamesD]

These are amazing product shots. I really like the lighting and that includes your shots on your dining room table. Your business card is just superb. I think you're being a bit too fussy about the wrinkles in the cloth. Frankly, if you hadn't pointed them out, I would not have noticed because my attention was drawn (as it was in all the photos) to your marvelous soaps. And isn't this what good photography should do: draw one's attention to the subject matter? Well done.

[thomasjmpark]

Lovely shots and lovely soap, they look good enough to eat!

[TaoMaas]

I think you're being too picky. The only shot where the wrinkled background is semi-distracting is in the shot of the soap with the hearts on top. On the others, if you hadn't mentioned the wrinkled background, I wouldn't have paid it any attention. I like the white background for the majority of the shots, but I think the wood background adds something to the shot with the lavendar stalks in it. Makes it seem more organic or something.

[Niki]

you guys rock, thank you.
Im totally enamored with my camera. I just wish I knew how to get better shots in not-so-good conditions. But, I will continue to research and learn.
I wish I wasnt so much of a perfectionist, if the colors are just right, I toss it immediately. Guess thats the synesthesia kicking in lol

again, thank you
any criticism or comment is muchly appreciated =)

[raz-0]

I think almost all the photos look good. Frankly, the one with the soap on the glass plate is the only one I'd ditch. Between the plate and the lighting being a bit dark towards the front, it's the only one I'd ditch. Now that your web page finally loaded for me, there are a number of pictures on it that have the same issue. The first soad shot has a similar issue, but because of the lighter soap, it's not as obvious.

All the rest in this post look great. The only thing I'd consider redoing any is from a design standpoint. And that is to pick one or the other regarding the white background and the wooden background.

Personally, you seem to be getting a more consistant look with the wooden background, and the added color seems to limit the impact of any variation in lighting. I also think it looks better in the center pane of your website than the white background photos.

OTOH, the white background photos you ahve on the left sidebarwork well where they are.

[Niki]

I see that now, raz-0. Now that its pointed out to me lol
You are right, I should decide between the wooden BG and the white.
At least if I have wooden on one page, perhaps having all the soaps on that page on the same BG.
hmm...much to ponder. Thank you!

[bc_the_path]

I also liked the photo with the wooden background. I entirely agree TaoMaas' comment that "wood background adds something to the shot". On the other hand, white reminds most people as lightness and cleanness; so you should probably have such images also. Putting them on separate pages designed accordingly seems to be a good idea.

I also humbly suggest that you call yourself "perfectionist" and not "picky"; the former sounds more serious and the "...ist" adds it some more credibility

All your photographs are beautiful, by the way...

[scott-devon]

These are wonderful shots, perhaps you are the perfectionist BC the Path suggests but if so..it paid off in these shots. I often do close up shots of rings I find metal detecting and I know how hard it is to get a good shot of an item with lighting that makes it clear yet interesting.

My only criticizm is of the Guiness soap shot...Lime??? In Guiness?? thats just wrong....

[Peter Zack]

I would agree with the comments above and you've done a fine job with most of the shots. Nothing wrong with being picky and getting the best and most professional looking result you can.

2 comments. Are you shooting RAW? It will give you a lot more latitude to adjust the image in PS than a Jpeg.

Second I'd get rid of the plate and not worry about the wrinkles. You are getting good results with the wooden table and you could do even better possibly if you set up a white reflector card just out of the shot. It could give a bit of extra backlight to make the product pop out more. Alternatively if you found a nice rich looking wooden cheese board that is the right size, you could use that in the light tent. The crisp white background with the wood underneath just might give you the best of both. Dunno, might be worth a try, but don't spend all day redoing all these as you must be busy making these soaps.

I agree that the wood adds a more natural impression to the shot and that seems to be your marketing focus.

Oh yeah the one with the grass in the background should go. It looks amateur compared to the others (Honey Carrot & Buttermilk).

As someone said they need a warning label so as not to be eaten!!

[little laker]

Beautiful work Niki,

I've done a little product photography as well, but I'm revising my style with it a little.

oh, your web site opened for me, and looks quite nice

[Niki]

Thank you all!
I really appreciate this as I am such a newbie at this. Graduating from a P&S to a K100D is a little daunting at best.
I am taking all your advice into serious consideration, again thank you.

[davemdsn]

Great photos! I love product photography and would love to do more.

[Niki]

sorry Peter, I missed your question.
no, Im not shooting in RAW....altho you are right, I probably should be. I have no experience in tweaking RAW images, guess there's no better time than the present, eh? lol
If I remember correctly, Windows Scanner and Image Wizard doesnt particularly like RAW images, I suppose Id have to use the software that came with the camera to upload them into CS2?
Its a beautiful day outside, I suppose I could find a leaf to shoot in RAW.

Dave, thank you as well

[Niki]

wow...since Ive never shot in RAW, I was unaware how it would come out
the Pentax tools arent as familiar as CS, but I really need to play more with this and get used to tweaking them.
thanks for the reminder!
here's a pic from a RAW shot...not great, just a quick shot of the cat I took a minute ago