Being a product photographer, it is essential to have an efficient studio to take proper photos of the products that will meet the client’s expectations. That being said, here are some factors, which should be taken into consideration when a client is looking for an ideal photography studio for their work:
Lighting
It can therefore be argued that the most important of all factors is the lighting. Natural light can be unpredictable and may require tweaking throughout the day is best complemented by high quality artificial lighting that is available in studios. Look for the following:
- Continuous or Strobe Lighting: Continuous lighting offers steady lighting that helps you see changes as they happen or as you make them. However, the strobe lighting is more powerful and it can freeze the motion. Some photographers prefer one approach while others would like to have a mix of both.
- Power: Ensure that your lights have enough power to enable them deliver their expected use. Determine the measure of light power in watts where the higher wattage corresponds to more lumens.
- Light Modifiers: Light modifiers such as soft boxes, umbrellas, flags, and reflectors enable the photographer to soften and control the light as desired. They should be easily accessible.
- Dimmer Switches: Enable you to adjust brightness to a specific level and determine other levels of light that are possible.
Backgrounds
Cyclorama or painted backdrops provide the perfect non-distracting backgrounds for shooting products separate from each other. Consider the following:
- Material: Fine paper, canvas, muslin and vinyl fabrics are ideal and widely used. Choose plain colors such as white, black or grey if you want the shoes to match with most outfits.
- Size: Background width should cover the width of the wall from floor to floor, ideally, it should be between 9-20 feet wide depending on the size of your studio. Auto background rollers also makes changing of backdrops very easy and fast.
- Support System: Seek for wall or ceiling mounted background supports to hang backgrounds with minimal staking.
Space & Layout
Besides lighting and backgrounds, the organization of the studio and the amount of space available is invaluable for a smooth workflow.
- Floor Space: There should be ample floor space so that lights, backdrops and products can be arranged in an elaborate manner. Product photography studios should have at least 600 to 800 square feet of space.
- High Ceilings: Floors must be smooth with heights of 8 to 12 feet bare minimum to install lights and accessories on the ceiling.
- Separate Spaces: Besides the actual shooting area, there should be a staging area for putting together the items to be shot, storage space for the equipment used and a ‘clean up’ area where items that have been shot can be put in order.
- Electrical Outputs: Make sure that there are many electrical outlets placed around the studio to accommodate all equipment used in providing light without using extension cables.
Camera & Lens Equipment
A major benefit of shooting products in-studio is that the need for very specialized, and therefore costly, equipment is minimal. Lighting is more important than the lenses used in the cameras. However, key camera features allow fast workflow:However, key camera features allow fast workflow:
- DSLR or Mirrorless: Both kinds are fine, but go for 20+ megapixels and fast operation. It just goes to show that full frame cameras are by no means necessary. Some of the well-known brand such as Canon and Sony were given high ranking.
- Sharp Zoom Lens: A zoom lens like the 24-70mm f/2. 8 can handle most product photos. Large aperture enables one to fumble around with the depth of field.
- Sturdy Tripod: Essential for holding cameras for the right focus and clarity in photographs. Heavy tripods prevent vibrations.
- Remote Shutter Release: Reduce vibrations while shooting through the use of wired or wireless remote shutter release devices.
Post Processing Station
A computer station for post-processing eliminates unnecessary time taken in processing large volumes of images at once. Prioritize the following:
- Processing Power: The speed of the processor and the amount of installed memory increase the speed of the software for editing videos. Graphics cards help in image previewing.
- Calibrated Monitor: Color accurate displays allow you to edit colors without the difference in shade and tone between devices.
- Adobe Software: Advanced software like Lightroom and Photoshop programs fit for post-production tasks of all complexities within the industry.
- Large External Storage: Store all session image files and catalogues on multi-terabyte external hard drives.
When you’re on the lookout for a studio with these key features in mind, you’ll be equipped with an enviable product photography studio in no time. Think twice if you want to buy lighting gear, backgrounds, space requirements, cameras and post-processing to find the best system for your needs and your purse. The right studio enables you certain freedom and certain controls to quickly capture a wide array of products at professional level for your clients.
