Watch and Eyeglasses Photography - Anti-Glares Techniques to Remember!

Red eyes and glare from eyeglasses are common problems of photo shoots. How to avoid these problems is an art. Some shutterbugs have learnt after years of experience.

How can the eye glare appears and spoil a picture? It happens when a person wearing glasses is the main subject of the shoot. If there is light reflecting on the glass, it will reflect of the transparent eye lens. The glare appears as a result and ruins the shot. Editing out the glare is important and is done via photo processing. But while shooting with the camera itself the glare can be minimized. This is also a problem faced when watches of various dials are shot against several lights. Actually all glass wares like goblets, bowls also face this problem. Hence when these subjects are being prepared for shoot the lighting element has to be perfect. A degree here and there can make or mar the quality of the frame shot. When the still life of wristwatches or eyeglasses is being done the light patterns are first taken care of. This is the fundamental requirement of anti-glare techniques. This sets the mood of the rest of the work. When the watches are being shot the time ideally (on the dial) should be 11.00 or 1.00 for best visibility of all the elements in it. And when it comes to eyeglasses if they are shot with a person wearing it, needs to be positioned well.

Let’s start with clicking pictures of people who wear glasses. Ideally a photographer will ask the person to remove the spectacles or glasses. That is the easiest thing to do.  But if the person is very used to wearing the glasses then the photograph taken will be odd. Such a person is not accustomed to look without the glasses. The pictures may be out of focus and it will be very apparent that the person is ‘missing the glasses’ in the picture. However when the same person is shot with the glasses on then it is a challenge for the photographer. Hence it is the duty of the photographer to adjust the lights to avoid the problem. If the source of light is coming from above the subject the focus will have to be tweaked. The glasses may be tilted around the ears to get the right photo. The use of catch lights is also used to avoid the glare.

In the same manner shooting watches and clocks that have reflective glass is a fine art. All kinds of timepieces feature glass as a protective covering. Hence they are subject to possible glint while shooting. The use of a black background is proven useful for watch photography. It brings out the richness of the time keeping device. Getting close up of the dials brings the details out for the buyer. With the right DSLR this main problem is mitigated. What makes the black background ideal here is that it will work as an anti-glare canvas. The white background tends to throw additional light hence it is avoidable. The gradients of the glass dials or any other transparent objects appear clearly on the dark canvas. The photos turn out crisp and with additional photo editing the sharpness emerges leaving out the glint.

Bags and Shoes Photography

Both bags and shoes are very important accessories for fashionable men and women. People make style statements wearing these fashionable items. They buy the products after seeing impressive photo shots!

Most people own a couple of real stylish bags and shoes. And there must be considerable number of them who may have bought these items from the Internet. They have done that after looking at the beautiful pictures that have been shot and displayed in picture galleries in the websites. Bags and shoes photography is quite a dedicated way for some professionals. They have helped their clients to promote their wares online. Many web-stores are using flat lighting to get their products on sale online. And how do they make such amazing pictures?

Each studio has tools like the camera and its equipment, clamps, tripod, flashes and tables of varying sizes. A good studio will house various props that will help the products shine in the pictures. To shoot a single item-shoe or handbag choosing the right background is imperative. A contrasting drop is better. If the item will be placed on the table it’s positioning is important. A shoe cannot be placed on the table. Ideally it can be hung with a tape that will prove to be invisible and can be removed later during image editing. A feeling of the suspended shoe will be ideal for clicking pictures. While it is in suspension, a photographer will have to deliberate if the top angle will be needed or the eye level. According the lighting will be set. Simultaneously the light meter will be placed to check the right exposure. Tents or umbrellas will be required to given the overall lighting uniformly. Both the light sources will have to be equal in proportion. Once these tools have been placed. The camera needs to be adjusted before clicking the pictures.

In the same manner stylish bags of different shapes can be shot with élan. To ensure that the bag can be seen inside out and also from all angles the use of 360 degree technique is also used. So when the buyer comes online he can zoom on all the properties of the bag. It is as good as touching and feeling the product. Many studios are now using in depth picture angles to prove that they can deliver creative ways of professional work. Accessories like bags have several compartments. Hence it is worthwhile to change the flat lighting and use another method to attract end users. Bags of reputed designers are every expensive, hence buyers prefer to check out the detailing before they buy.

A professional is aware that he will need to tweak the pictures even after they are clicked. Since he has set up the lights he will know if there are any hidden shadows lurking behind to exposure the light sources. Once he has done the shoot he can later experiment with the lighting and the focus. One of the reasons bags and shoes photography has caught on is because of the eye-catching visuals. The hard work of the studio workers is now paying off for several clients. They now have sleeker presentation of their valued products.

Food and Drink Photography-Hungry for Some Tricks?

Specialty restaurants have sprouted all over urban dwellings. They also like to have tantalizing pictures of their mouth-watering menus. Photographers specializing in food and drink photography are making a killing doing this work. How do they capture the delicious items?

Thank God some tricks can be shared for all to imbibe. As food and drink photography becomes more niches, restaurant shutterbugs are in demand. Shooting irresistible pancakes and making them look oven fresh can be demanding. The trick lies in capturing the ‘freshest and ripest moment’. You may ask how many pancakes and honey syrup it takes to get the shoot right? Not more than a triple-decker of three pancakes! And the strategy lies in setting up the props before the ‘subject’ has arrived fresh out of the non-stick pan. A shutterbug with decent skills can do the lighting well in advance. So if you are in catering business, which is online, having delicious pictures of the menu can be the best bet for getting good business.

To make the food look digestible, the lead photographer will have the assistants arrange the studio bay first. The setting may take an hour or two. Why are we saying this? Because hot steaming food can look limp if it is bought before the shoot. The assistants will assemble the cameras, lens and the tripod stand. The controlling lights, white balance, bouncers and scrims will be positioned for the table top still pictures.

A photographer might use a camera that he can manually adjust to control the way he will shoot. A use of a compact camera is common for food and drink photography Once the camera is loaded, the lens is another major component to choose. A good quality lens is fitted. A Canon has 50mm 1.4f. It is the best focal length that can capture great shots. A camera mounted on the tripod is steady and better suited for still photography sessions like this. The next comes formatting, i.e. Jpeg or RAW images. Most digicams have the two options. Why Jpeg is more popular-Because, it easily helps pictures to upload on the websites. It is lighter and speed is important when many images have to be seen together. Jpeg images are not necessarily of low quality. They can be scaled while photo processing. Some photographers like to use the RAW format too. The biggest advantage here is the many other elements around can be captured. If they are not required they can always be deleted during the editing. Several new age photographers are using live shot demos before the actual shots are clicked. Shooting tethering has become common. When the camera is plugged to the USB port of a computer the real time image is seen. It becomes easier to shoot the right frame. If a big difference needs to be made to a final shot this can be really helpful.

When these elements are done, the last thing that needs to be done is lighting. It creates the final impact on the product photography. Yes artificial lighting can be controlled and can do wonders. There is a choice of soft light box or halogen lamps with umbrellas. Throw off the lights or bounce them across the items on display. This makes the photographer take the delicious shot eventually.

Trending Fashions for Clothing Photography

Lifestyle or fashion photography has advanced to higher degrees. It is one of the most specialized and lucrative areas for professional shooters to showcase their talent.

Just as the fashion keeps trending so does the ways of keeping the glad rags in the spot light. Reputed fashion houses have their own studios that employ special photos to capture the creative designer collections. Apart from the rich design studios even e-commerce vendors who sell their designs on portals use clothing photography extensively. At one time the clothing photography was confined to brochures, catalogues and other print mediums. Today its usage is in the websites and this makes it a global business. Specialized photos are already devising new methods to stay ahead in the rat race. In fact they are trending the latest fashionable ways to help their clients to sell their designer stocks in the shortest possible time. From time to time we see some of the most stylish examples of photographer done with good taste.

The busiest section involves the still shoots indoors. The most essential tools that are required include soft lens, lights of varying depth, tents and reflectors. Imagine having the wrong kit, for shooting clothes and it is a potential disaster. Already there are many sections diving different clothes-i.e. women, men, kids, sports, and other categories like embroidered clothes and company logos on clothes. For different section there are different kinds of lighting and other tools. Then the client and the photographer will also discuss if the clothes will be shot across on the rack or table top. The use of full mannequins or bust of mannequins is also possible. The Kuhl light 120 soft boxes are very common in use. The tool kit contains 20” flood light and also a stand mount.  The light stands are adjustable, and the diffusion panels can be removed also. It also contains some additional accessories to help the shooting. The regular items include steam iron, foam board, camera tether wide-angle lens. Even Photoshop elements are included in the inventory.

Clothing photography can be very demanding. Now with e-commerce taking charge, the need for clothing vendors on the web is increasing. They need good pictures of the garments and from the right angles. The whole idea is not to deceive the buyer but show the right features of the garment. It is a risk that the photographer takes when he does some gimmicks to highlight some areas of the clothing. For example taking shots of silk ties can be a real task for any professional shooter also. How he will bring out the design for men to buy is an art. It needs planning before the execution. Multiple angles are used for clicking the pictures. They can be made 2 D or 3D depending on the key elements to be highlighted. Sometimes a top angle shot can do the trick. At times the eye level or lower angle may be needed.

A photographer who shoots clothes regular will keep on trending and finding new ways to shoot. The hallmark of a good picture is the minimal effect and maximum exposure to the product. Styling the clothes before the shoot is a necessity.

Mastering the Art of Jewellery Photography

Nothing can be more challenging than shooting tiny pieces of gemstones or delicate pieces of accessories that women wear. And it is equally a stimulus to master the art of jewellery photography with studio infrastructure.

The art of the shooting jewellery items involves a series of techniques, lighting and a systematic method to achieve the finest effects. To start with, the accurate camera with slr is needed to capture the objects. A 35 mm camera with TTL (through the lens) is ideal and most professionals have it in their kitty. Well-known brands like Nikon and Canon have sophisticated models, which are perfect for shooting jewellery photography. The digital cameras for product photography have evolved towards more complex versions for detailing. Since the items are small and exquisite the delicacy needs to be captured in style. To make dangling earrings look attractive to the buyers, the photographs will feature focused lighting. For diamond (solitaires) and pearls (necklaces), soft reflections can do the trick. In the same manner, rubies and emeralds are highlighted with the right sharpness and exposure. Getting the act right will ensure that the shoot does not remain a mystery or a perpetual failure.

Dramatic lighting is essential in this special breed of jewelry product photography. It will take some effort to set up the equipment and get the items displayed. And it requires no super model to prop up its glamour quotient. One undisclosed tip that can really be helpful is that after the shoot, image editing can create the lengthy or short drop shadows for added effects. Before that let’s concentrate on the shoot itself. With the lights, camera action in place the studio will ensure that a clean clutter free table is used. A white satin cloth is draped around for the setting. The photographer decides the sources of lights. It could be a single source or a series of multiple angles. The look can be ‘daylight’ or it could be ‘sepia toned’. These are done with the addition of fluorescent bulbs. Special shutterbugs also use the LED bulb, which is considered a fine diamond sparkler. These are remarkable in getting sharp pictures. The camera can be put into ‘spot mode’ where the focus is directly targeted on the main item-diamond, emerald or pearl stones. The photographer is able to restrict the surrounding jurisdiction of the item. The spot mode is applicable when the close up of the items are targeted. While a user can close in towards the item while shooting, the lens or the hand movement can be unsteady while shooting. A tripod can be a savior. Sharp images can then be clicked.

Some jewels shine when soft lighting is thrown on them. The use of the diffuser on the lens is the key to such shots. In the studio shots there is no need for flash for close up shots. It may overexpose the picture and ruin the hard work. It may also create shadows that may be distractive. Therefore, controlled lights around the jewellery are the best option. These days the trend is to use the compact florescent bulbs is a great balancer. The right exposure brings best results. Mastering the art eventually will take some years and employment of creative skill also.

Commercial Product Photography is Ideal for Any E-commerce Website

Commercial product photography is a dynamic field with a number of competent professionals working in this sector. They specialize in creating digital art product images like still life and fashion photography for advertising, catalog and the web.

Commercial product photography is ideal for any type of website to help it increase sales.

Are you looking to increase your web sales? Is your catalogue unable to lure as many customers for your products? Do you want your products to maintain their quality and content when turned into an image? The answer to all these queries lies with commercial product photography. It is very essential for e-companies that need to extend their customer profile and want to re-gain their loyal clientele by portraying a proper image of their products. Commercial product photography helps in making the products look expressive and lively, attracting varied kinds of consumers.

Websites are all about expressive pictures. Viewers are potential consumers that usually go through only the images of a website. If the images are not attractive or confusing to the mind, they tend to lose interest. Only if the images are impressive the customers will automatically convert their interest to the website and stay wedged to it. Use of pictures that are professionally captured and are of good quality helps this to happen faster. These images increase the sales of the website and also of the brand, if the website is not a dedicated e-commerce one. It also augments its search engine results, bringing the website to the top position. When a number of products have to be displayed together in a single page of the website, every image has to have its own magical appearance to attract the customers. Commercial product photography helps in solving this issue.

Many people, today, possess a craze for photography and own a digital SLR camera. Even though they tend to click their product images on their own, the result received will be of no match when compared to a professionally photographed image. Photographers with proper training and expertise in the field can only do high quality product photography. Commercial product photography needs the involvement of proper techniques and equipments such as lenses, tripods, etc. Setting up sufficient amount of lighting and exposure is also important.

The one thing that is absolutely essential to get good photographs for the website is the software that is used to correct the images after being captured. This post-processing software is used to give the photos a touch up and little adjustment that is needed. Since it is the most time consuming part, professionals in the product photography field can only do it. There are some photos with a really busy background that distracts the viewers’ eye from the product. With the help of commercial product photography, the photos would be clicked in such a way that keeps the viewers attention stuck to the product itself.

There are some commercial product photography firm offers all kinds of product photography services at a reasonable rate. These firms have the appropriate equipments and techniques to undergo the best product photography even urgently. They have skilled photographers that are the best in the field and sufficient area of expertise.

Smashing Tips for Successful Commercial Product Photography

For photographers, shooting pictures in a studio is challenging. It is also a very rewarding experience. Dedicated pros have developed smashing tips to present successful visuals. How does the success formula work?

Today the glossy pages of glamour magazines or even color supplements of tabloids are replete with fabulous visuals. As a reader you may have admired a handbag shot in a spotlight or a wristwatch staring out of the pages, waiting to be purchased. This is a remarkable work of commercial product photography. It has become an essential requirement for the print and web media. Several photographers specialize in shooting specific products like jewelry or clothes or electronic items. But how do they manage the uniform gloss factor? There are three broad elements-perfect lighting, setting and image quality that determine the entire shoot. To keep these three elements in order, some tips are used for successful results. These include other factors, which are discussed below.

The shooting equipment is by far the most crucial gear. The right camera, lens of 2-3 kinds, tripod, reflectors and spotlights are mandatory. They make up the studio infrastructure. Without these elementary gears even a professional shutterbug is handicapped. For example, lens should have a good zoom factor. In case, still commercial photography is being done, a camera can be placed in one spot on the tripod and the zoom will capture the angles. The photographer does not move at all. A fast lens of f/3.5 is used for highlighting the canvas behind the products. It also takes of the lighting placed around the main subject.

Studio photographers understand the importance of virgin white backdrops. This is so useful for commercial product photography. White allows the viewer’s attention to remain on the products rather than on the canvas behind. As white throws the light around the pictures are prone to extra brightness. Hence while shooting the lights placed should aid in the crucial ‘white balance’. Another reason why the white background works is that when the pictures need to undergo image editing. It creates smoother clipping paths. You can try a black canvas too, but the results of the white canvas are far more superior.

Lights are an integral part of the entire shooting process for items shot in a studio bay. There are different kinds of lights that are a part of the equipment. For example short focus lighting brings out the sparkle of a gemstone or a pair of earrings. Smaller objects like diamonds and stones are normally highlighted for their properties in this manner. Poor lighting can undermine the value of the items. Such visuals do not attract users on the website too.

Other factors also contribute to the success and value of commercial product photography. The creation of the right mood or environment while shooting is a clincher at times. Imagine having a dull or too bright backdrop for a designer garments project. It can instantly kill the entire hard work of the client. A professional shooter will be sharp and try to create an ambience suitable for the designer garments. This is where the personal creativity of the shooter comes in for 100% accomplishment. Ready for a clicking some smashing shots with these smashing tips?