 The successful Merchandise photographer or Product Photographer has to have the right equipment for the job as well as an eye for style. The keen vision of a product photographer must be aware of what settings to use for various types of merchandise and since the objects of the shoot have no pulse themselves, it is up to the merchandise photographer to breath life into each shot.
Unlike portrait or nature photography, almost all products are shot in a studio. This controlled environment allows the product photographer complete manipulative power over light, background and subject positioning. The professional merchandise photographer has usually acquired a multitude of light kits, back drops, tents and various other tools of the trade. But for those just stepping into the field there are a few essentials required in order to be able to make a living.
Of course the primary tool for any product photographer is the camera but since there are hundreds to choose from and each shutter bug has their own particular tastes on what to use, we’ll look at basic studio equipment instead.
Shooting products, as in photographing anything, is all about light. For studio work the expert merchandise photographers will use diffused light sources such as an EZ cube which holds the product inside it and softens the light directed at the piece. These cube tents come in a variety of sizes. A Soft Box surrounds the light source itself and diffuses the illumination onto the subject. Since the images you are capturing are inanimate and will remain still, there is no need for strobe lights. These are only for live subject that have a tendency to move even if it is only slightly.
The amount of equipment a product photographer can become unlimited however starting with a simple table top set up can give you a complete mini-studio and get the ball rolling. Three basic components are required for any merchandise photographer;
- D-Flector tabletop background stand. This is a small but portable photo studio which can be folded out quickly and is fairly light weight. They usually come with three different backgrounds – white, black and reflective silver.
- Tabletop Monopod with Universal Ball head or a tripod. The Monopod has more versatility and since it doesn’t take up as much floor space it gives the photographer more work space to create the magic.
- Two studio lights. By and large you will be adding more and different kinds of lights to your arsenal, but for starters this can work just fine. Make sure to use daylight balanced fluorescent bulbs, ones with a spiral top design so that it will have a better center light intensity.
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