Consistency in Product Photography

[gvon79]

Hello everyone, looking for some CC.

When doing product photography, specifically 'lifestyle' photos, the texture of leather looks very different depending on the lighting direction (natural lighting).

In these instances, would you recommend only posting images that show consistent textures in the leather? Or would you recommend showing the variety of lighting conditions? See the 2 following photos, the leather looks flat in the first photo, and glossy in the second.











Also, I'm not a professional but I think these photos are good enough for a small Shopify site. Let me know if you would not even use these for a small scale business. It may hurt my ego, but I'll get over it

Gary

 

[D Cox]

I don't the texture is a problem, but the colour certainly is. It is quite different in the two photos. Which is right ? Or neither ?

Also, part of the leather in the second shot is out of focus.

However, they are good enough for a web shop.

 

[Heen]

I don't the texture is a problem, but the colour certainly is. It is quite different in the two photos. Which is right ? Or neither ?

Also, part of the leather in the second shot is out of focus.

However, they are good enough for a web shop.

Part of it is out of focus in the first photo as well. Although I am not sure how the top right and bottom left corner are out of focus but the top left and bottom right corner are in focus.

 

[dwalby]

I don't the texture is a problem, but the colour certainly is. It is quite different in the two photos. Which is right ? Or neither ?

Also, part of the leather in the second shot is out of focus.

However, they are good enough for a web shop.

Part of it is out of focus in the first photo as well. Although I am not sure how the top right and bottom left corner are out of focus but the top left and bottom right corner are in focus.

yeah, I find the DoF issues a bit distracting myself. They're not adding any artistic benefit I can see so I'd recommend going to a higher f-stop to get the whole item in clear focus. You may need some fill flash to accomplish that if your ambient light isn't bright enough to support a higher f-stop. Or shoot with a lower shutter speed and a tripod if you have one available, that will allow using higher f-stops without the flash.

 

[gvon79]

I don't the texture is a problem, but the colour certainly is. It is quite different in the two photos. Which is right ? Or neither ?

Also, part of the leather in the second shot is out of focus.

However, they are good enough for a web shop.

Oh good catch on the colour! Maybe that's what my eye is being drawn to, the difference in color and not the texture. I will fix this!

 

[gvon79]

Part of it is out of focus in the first photo as well. Although I am not sure how the top right and bottom left corner are out of focus but the top left and bottom right corner are in focus.

I don't understand the out of focus areas either. It was taken with the fuji xf 18-55 at f4. Processed raw in Lightroom. It looks like some tilt shift gimmick.

 

[gvon79]

yeah, I find the DoF issues a bit distracting myself. They're not adding any artistic benefit I can see so I'd recommend going to a higher f-stop to get the whole item in clear focus. You may need some fill flash to accomplish that if your ambient light isn't bright enough to support a higher f-stop. Or shoot with a lower shutter speed and a tripod if you have one available, that will allow using higher f-stops without the flash.

Agree, I'll need to grab a tripod. I have to admit getting the desired DOF with the proper f-stop is a complete guessing game to me while I'm shooting. I have no idea how much of my image will be in focus, in this scenario I wanted the entire product in focus with the background completely blurred. I don't enjoy chimping but until I learn my gear I don't have much choice I guess

 

[Just Tim 3]

Hello everyone, looking for some CC.

When doing product photography, specifically 'lifestyle' photos, the texture of leather looks very different depending on the lighting direction (natural lighting).

In these instances, would you recommend only posting images that show consistent textures in the leather? Or would you recommend showing the variety of lighting conditions? See the 2 following photos, the leather looks flat in the first photo, and glossy in the second.

Always remember that you're selling the product and not the photo. Some things are very important.

What does it look like?

What colour is it?

Below, it looks like two colour balances here, natural light on the left and artificial, (warmer) on the right. So what colour is the product? What colour are your customers expecting to receive? Colour needs to be correct and consistent. The cards in the wallet clearly go from cool to warm but how many customers would be expecting a duo toned product?

It's not really in focus. Don't be "arty" about brand names, show the product as crisp and clear. The texture in both is soft because the product is out of focus, and out of focus on the part closest to the eye

And always watch your backgrounds, the first is rank amateur, the second is trying to compete with the product. It's so easy just to choose something neutral and plain so do it!

I have no idea about the correct colours but just to show you how much your background is distracting from the product:



Don't try to show "lifestyle", you admit you're no pro yet you try to express the emotion you wish to attach to your product. How do you think your results look to the customer?

It's hardly a product that defines a lifestyle in the same way a Ferrari does. Keep it simple and to the point, show the product crisp, clear and correct. Make it look attractive. Take your "artist" hat off and put the salesman one back on. ;-)

 

[D Cox]

yeah, I find the DoF issues a bit distracting myself. They're not adding any artistic benefit I can see so I'd recommend going to a higher f-stop to get the whole item in clear focus. You may need some fill flash to accomplish that if your ambient light isn't bright enough to support a higher f-stop. Or shoot with a lower shutter speed and a tripod if you have one available, that will allow using higher f-stops without the flash.

Agree, I'll need to grab a tripod. I have to admit getting the desired DOF with the proper f-stop is a complete guessing game to me while I'm shooting. I have no idea how much of my image will be in focus, in this scenario I wanted the entire product in focus with the background completely blurred. I don't enjoy chimping but until I learn my gear I don't have much choice I guess

A tripod is absolutely essential for this kind of work. I find f/13 to be a good f number for objects this size, a good compromise between depth of field and diffraction.

For lighting, daylight from a big window is good, with a sheet or block of polystyrene foam on the other side to reflect light into the shadows. But the lighting arrangement depends very much on the object.







Given plenty of money, studio flashes with modelling lamps are ideal, but this involves spending more on lights than on the camera. Colour quality from LED lamps varies, but they are worth trying, and of course much cheaper.

 

[hotdog321]

I quite like your photos and, as a consumer, would appreciate information contained in the different textures/surfaces. But some catalog work is done assembly-line style simply because of volume. Either way is fine.

 

[Klaus dk]

Part of it is out of focus in the first photo as well. Although I am not sure how the top right and bottom left corner are out of focus but the top left and bottom right corner are in focus.

I don't understand the out of focus areas either. It was taken with the fuji xf 18-55 at f4. Processed raw in Lightroom. It looks like some tilt shift gimmick.

The top right corner is closer to the camera than the focal plane, and the bottom left corner is further away. The focal plane is a plane, parallel to the sensor, which is in focus. The depth of field extends the plane of focus perpendicular to the plane of focus where sharpness is acceptable. There are DoF calculator apps that will tell you how much DoF you have at different settings. The smaller f/-stop number, the shallower the DoF.

I wouldn't mind the blurred corners, I would be much more concerned with a distracting background as a result of a narrower aperture. IMHO, the pictures are fine for the purpose.

For the understanding of light, study "Light Science and Magic". For more control of specular highlights, I'd experiment with a polarizing filter.

For getting consistent colours, I'd use manual white balance.

 

[oldfashioned]

Hello everyone, looking for some CC.

When doing product photography, specifically 'lifestyle' photos, the texture of leather looks very different depending on the lighting direction (natural lighting).

In these instances, would you recommend only posting images that show consistent textures in the leather? Or would you recommend showing the variety of lighting conditions? See the 2 following photos, the leather looks flat in the first photo, and glossy in the second.

the excuse of "lifestyle" in products came as a first (to me). Heard of the excuse of weddings "PJ" style for the same reason (the "I don't know how to do it professionally" kind of reason) but I can do it "PJ" style

excellent shots because they are clean and sharp. But products must meet the basics in lighting and composition. Shadows are a no no. Distractions are a no no. (unless it's a model)

Glass is fine, but it must be treated with care when lighting it.

In your two samples :

1st : the top background is a distraction. The light is too harsh

2nd: the coins are a distraction (too much of them, in case place them behind the DOF or slightly blurred). The shadow is a distraction.

But in both cases you show a remarkable talent in composition. Well done. Work on the lighting and watch the distractions for this kind of "creative" product style.