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Photography Question 

Stephanie Daoust 		 

Inexperienced Photographer need help with lighting


 
 
I am doing a budget photo shoot of dolls to be sold on a small website. I am using a solid white backdrop with lamps without shades on two sides. I have a third hand-held lamp in front of the item. My photos are not turning out the way I want; the backdrop turns out a different shade of gray or beige each time I take a new photo. I have no idea what I am doing. Can someone help me?


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October 19, 2004

 
- Gregory LaGrange

BetterPhoto Member
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Gregory LaGrange's Gallery 		  Fabric isn't very good for a white background because for one it needs to be smooth and wrinkles and folds show up very easily. And two, a fabric like you used is thin and the thread count makes much of the light go thru. So you get what's behind it showing some.
So to get a white without detail background, best to use a smooth surface and add a little light to the background to get it a little overexposed compared to the subject.
You wouldn't need the large rolls of background paper that are made for it, but if you can find a roll of construction paper from an art supply store, that can work if you need it to be the foreground material and curve up to be the background.


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October 19, 2004

 

Bob Cammarata 		  Sounds like you have adequate lighting.

As Gregory suggested, shine the third light on the background to over-expose it enough to brighten it and make the wrinkles dissipate.
Also, getting more distance between the subject and the background and using a wide aperture, will help to "iron out" the wrinkles.

You might also want to consider a bright colored background...say bright red or yellow.
When you are displaying something for sale, color can be a real eye-catcher.


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October 19, 2004

 

Jacques G-L 		  Stephanie
Sorry but I'm desagree with the two precedent comments.That pic is extremly bad. Are you digital or film? What kind of film? day light film? What kind of spot are you using, how many flash, tungsten 3400?????
Your source come from too hight. It is a small object so you can put and over flash w a slave 3'max behind the white backdrop (face to you)wash it with light. Then put a white reflector apart one side of the dull just out of camera view . Now main flash ideally 45 degre on the other side, sholder high,better with a bounce it will give a larger light surface emission.
or if you ca build a kind of white tent
and light it from out side.Good luck


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November 09, 2004

 
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