Category Archives: Photography

Car Detailing Tool – Product Photography

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Car Detailing Tool Product Photography
This was a fun product shoot.  All the tiny and large attachments of this car detailing set needed to highlight how the tools and attachments are used. A show and tell project!

Car Paint Buffing Tool Product Photography
It’s helpful to have a gorgeous car’s paint job for the background.  Any product staging or styling demands planning and set-up is always lengthy.  There is no such thing as “an easy shoot”.  The results are worth it. Once the car was in place all dust had to be removed, and monitored as we moved equipment around. Tarps we hung on the walls to help minimize reflective lighting interfering with our lighting.

Detailing Camaro Product Photography
Angling the softbox for the right bounce is the fun part!
These were all shot with 1 softbox, using a Canon 24-70mm lens.
Camaro Detailing Attachment Product Photography

Health Food Bottles – Product on White

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Product on White Photography
Dark glass bottles shot on white background are a challenge. (The largest bottle above is plastic.) The goal is to manipulate a soft subtle reflection on the face of the glass.  Backlight was critical to bring out the depth of the bottle without blowing it out.  The backlight had to be focused and controlled. We shot 90 products in a range of sizes all light modifiers had to be adjusted for each size and shape.

We used no flash, multiple diffusers, continuous lighting, 100mm 2.8 Canon Macro lens and one softbox.

Mine Tunnel Photography

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Old Mining Tunnel Photography

When you can’t see your hand in front of your face and no power outlet what are your best lighting options in a tunnel? It turns out Kubota builds a nice little diesel 4X4 cave crawler with powerful headlamps and a spotlight on top to handle all the photography lighting needs.  This mine has been inactive for a time and was being inspected. It was a great photo shoot as long as you’re properly attired with heavy boots and safety gear.  After 45 minutes of safety lecture we were ready to enter. Our first underground industrial photo shoot.

All the shots had to be staged due to the lack of professional lighting which meant the subjects had to hold still. The shutter speed was as low as 1/13 second and an ISO of 800 for most of the shots. We used a tripod for all shots. All shots are straight out of the camera.  It was a great shoot!Old Mine TunnelInspecting Copper Mine TunnelCopper Mine Tunnel

Product Photography on White with Multiple Angles

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Some products are just gorgeous due to their exterior surface. This diamond pattern is lovely! The reflective nature is the tough part about photographing this product. Our client is launching a new product line with two sizes of this unit. They also wanted to show the quality of craftsmanship, details and a product styled use image.

Product styling always sounds simple: Grab some items and stack them inside. The last thing you want for your product is distraction from the unit. In this case we discussed  colors of soda, lid options, choice of cans, what to put on the top rack, position of the labels and making sure everything was “balanced” to the eye–and keep these items from moving/rolling. Attention to detail pays off in a well laid out composition and the product “shines”.  In this case–it always shines!

Reflective products (glass, metal, jewelry, high gloss acrylic products) offer challenges. Once the lighting is in place-then you begin to block out reflections you don’t want – inclusive of the photographer in the product. Controlling the light to not blow out the high reflection, yet show off that very shiny surface we all love. The diamond metal pattern here controlled some of the typical hot spots. We were also able to make use of massive overhead natural lighting and several white reflectors to obtain an even product surface look.  Working all of the elements together takes a lot of time. We spend more time setting up a shot, than shooting, typically.  Shooting multiple angles meant repositioning everything (continuous lighting, white reflectors, c-stands, every clothes pin and re-taping) with each change of angle, and the second unit.

When you’re selling online any product photography should include an all-the-parts shot, manuals included.  Let prospective clients know what’s in the box.  We’ve also been asked to edit the photos adding the dimensions for clients.  Make it easy for people to buy your product!

Continuous Lighting
Natural Lighting
White Reflectors
Canon 24-70mm 2.8 Lens
Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro Lens

Product on Black Acrylic

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Product on Black Acrylic Staged

This innovative speaker design offers stunning sound.  The product photography needed to reflect the mood.

The photographer used two Arri 650T fresnel lights with 300 watt bulbs and two Matthews 48″ x 48″ artificial silk scrims, 1.6 stops.  Also used a Rotolight NEO matching the Arri tungsten temperature for the top of the speaker.
Canon 5D MarkIII
Canon 100mm 2.8 macro lens

We used a sheet of black acrylic to create a classic look.  There is nothing in the background, but shooting at a 9.0 aperture kept the product in sharp focus while turning the background completely black. This shot is straight out of the camera, no Photoshop adjustments or editing.

Speaker on Black

Simple Product Staging on Black Acrylic

The designer requested a size perspective so we added wine glasses for a simple staged product image.

Staff Portrait for Company Calendar in Rancho Cucamonga

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Staff Group Portrait for Calendar

Group staff photo

When it comes to your the face of your company a fun project can be a calendar.  This shot was set with the fun, playful side of the department, inclusive of the department head. We combined ambient light and flash. Set against an exterior window we were able to capture the blue sky.

(2) Paul Buff 64 inch PLM Soft Silver Umbrellas
Einstein Flashes

Attorney Portrait Photographer in Santa Ana

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Attorney Portrait

The photo session for this Law Office offered a rich background of beautiful wood desks, book cases and wide windows-ideal for an environment portrait session. This was the first shot-perfect pose, perfect attitude, perfect lighting.

Lawyer Portrait Photographer

Photography Details:

  • 64 inch Paul Buff PLM with no diffusion
  • Einstein
  • 24-70mm lens

Legal Attorney Photographer

Staff Lifestyle Portrait in Rancho Cucamonga

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Staff Lifestyle Portrait
What a fun shoot! The fall sun in Rancho Cucamonga was low and bright.  With our staff group’s back to the sun we used 3 flashes into a small umbrella and a 2 stop ND filter to knock down the sunlight brilliance.

You hear the terms “lifestyle” portrait and “environment” portrait when you’re looking for a staff photo with a setting in the workplace, but not using a backdrop. This pose brings energy and an inviting smile to reflect the company. Make your website photos original and fun!

  • (3) 580 Speedlites w/small umbrella
  • 2 stop ND filter with Genus Matte Box
  • 24-70mm lens

Cosmetic Product Photography

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Cosmetic Product Photography

What began as 35 cosmetic products turned into a full line of 360 products for a full e-commerce website.  Using continuous lighting many shots needed stack focusing to provide crystal clear focus from front to back.  We used a Canon 100mm 2.8 macro L lens no more than 1 foot from the product and set the aperture at f8.

To create the shine on the brushes, lipsticks and other reflective products we used a variety of light modifiers (scrims) to create each gradient.

Color matching is always critical for e-commerce and requires special 2 fold attention – lighting the color consistently, then visually matching the product to the screen in post.  Though all monitors use RGB, not all monitors will display color the same. Things like graphics card, monitor drivers affect the actual display of color on every device. Despite knowing this shooting the products under strict lighting and visually color matching they will be consistent and you’ll minimize product return headaches when color is part of the buying decision.

Cosmetic Photography

See more product photography.

Cosmetic Line Photography