Read here the must-know artificial lighting techniques for product photography and how the SIRUI Saturn lens can get you consistent results in this online commerce niche.
Introduction:
You will be surprised to learn about the numbers in analytics that show how effective product photography actually helps shoppers make a purchase and attracts more retention time on product listings across different platforms. The definition of "good" here is how well the tactile and functional value of an object is translated into a two-dimensional visual image.
The value and effectiveness of a product photo highly depend on artificial light on photos of e-commerce products; it is controlled, in other words, by one's ability to sculpt an object using highlights and shadows. This article will help you master product photography and improve your listings, ultimately driving more traffic.
Artificial light & product photography
As the name suggests, product photography involves capturing images of products to be sold online, and for this purpose, artificial light is commonly used. Why? It is controlled, unlike natural light, which we have no control over and can be hard to manage when capturing hundreds of commerce products.
This is why artificial light solutions, such as LED light panels, softboxes, strobes, and umbrellas, are commonly used, as they are designed to provide greater control over parameters like the quality of light, its direction, and its intensity. However, even with controlled lighting, many people struggle to achieve the best results in their listings. Below are techniques to get you started with better product photos this year.
Techniques for Shaping Light
Polarizing Filters
When dealing with product photos, the most common issues are reflections and unwanted light, and that is exactly what polarizing filters are designed for. They become extremely crucial to use when strong artificial light sources often create blown-out hotspots on products, such as cosmetics and electronics with glass.
To eliminate that light, mount a circular polarizer on your lens and slowly rotate its polarizer ring while watching the reflections on the product through live view. Find the angle where these reflections will be almost eliminated.
Mixing light
A single artificial light source can easily create a flat or harsh feel on the product, which can be mitigated by mixing light sources. This gives you better control over how the light on photos of products feels, making them appear better lit with more control over mood (resulting from soft vs. hard contrast) and, by adjusting depth, how three-dimensional the product appears.
Bouncing and Filling Light
Photographers often seek subtle refinement for close-up images of products. To achieve this, you can use bounce surfaces like the ceiling, white foam boards, white walls, or dedicated reflectors to bounce and direct your main light. This enhances the product, creating smoother, more natural transitions with softer shadows.
Side and 45-Degree Lighting
These techniques are used to highlight the product and prevent it from looking flat and lifeless. For this, the main light source is placed almost directly to the right or left of the product being photographed, allowing for skimming across the surface and resulting in excellent texture revelation.
When placed at a 45-degree angle and oriented horizontally relative to the main camera, it lowers and flattens shadows, making it an effective technique for drawing attention to product features, such as readable product info labels.
Professional Lens for Product Photos
The above-mentioned techniques will work best if you have a capable camera lens with optics to capture professional product photos. One such lens this year is the SIRUISaturn 35mm/50mm/75mm Full Frame Carbon Fibre Anamorphic Lens kit, a true marvel of optical engineering and designed specifically for product photographers seeking professional results in different scenarios.
The lens kit features the next generation of premium optics, which produce exceptional sharpness and low distortion, parameters crucial for product photos. The anamorphic nature brings extremely smooth bokeh and distinctive lens flares, which can be used to highlight product features and add a creative depth to the image.
The entire kit features a carbon fiber construction, making it portable for indoor and outdoor usage. Professional-grade performance and premium construction, all at a budget-friendly price, make it an incredibly valuable lens for product photographers.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned techniques can better direct light on photos when shooting products for e-commerce, instantly improving the results and leading to higher viewer click rates. This is as important as investing in a new lens, and for that, the SIRUI Saturn lens is highly recommended.
