There are many reasons for a photographer to take pictures of small objects. You may want to sell objects in an online auction. You may need the photos for insurance purposes. You may want to show off a collection on your personal Web site. In all cases, lighting is crucial to getting a superb picture.
Flash
A camera's built-in flash rarely produces excellent product photography. The position of the flash (right above the lens) often creates glare and harsh shadows that hide details in the subject. The picture often looks "flat." Continuous lighting is the preferred choice for product photography. It produces less light than an electronic flash, but that is not a problem in product photography, because the item is stationary. Product photographers can buy studio strobes or build their own system using incandescent 500-watt work lights. Studio strobes are available in floor or tabletop sizes.
Soft light
Soft light is crucial to getting a superior product photograph. Hard light produces too many shadows. To determine whether light is soft or hard, Tabletopstudio.com advises holding a finger of one hand a few inches above the other hand. If the shadow is faint or not visible at all, you have soft light. You can get soft light by shooting outdoors on an overcast day, using a soft box diffuser around the strobe or using a light tent. If you are using a soft box, the main light should be placed at a 45 degree angle to the subject. A second flash unit should be placed over the top of the table pointing to the ceiling. This helps get rid of shadows by evening out the light.
Light tent
A light tent is another way to get soft light. A light tent is made of white nylon material. The product goes inside the tent, and the lights are positioned outside. A light tent provides a background for the picture and acts as a diffuser to soften the light. You can move the lights around to eliminate shadows.
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