Setting out to simplify my product photography turned out to be a several year project. Each time we moved I had to start over to find the sweet spot in each new studio and wrangle a set up that was easy to use.
I knew if I had to reassemble every time, I’d end up dreading it. As a small business owner who makes everything herself, adding another task was daunting. Luckily, I learned early on I needed a window, a flat surface and a few simple items like a reflector and my iPhone.
As the business has grown, I’ve upgraded my equipMent and yes, it makes a difference, but it is not a necessity. The photos that built this business were shot with foam core propped against a stack of books, an iphone, some props pulled from my kitchen, and occasionally our two cats.
Thanks to some much needed guidance from My friend Jennifer Beachy, I continued to learn more about photographing my work and eventually upgraded to what I call “my big girl camera.” I shoot with a Canon R6 now. No, you don’t need a $2,000 camera. Also, no, I would not be willing to give it up because I love what it does.
Below you’ll find the links to the equipment I use and if you happen to purchase through those links I’ll earn a surprisingly small commission from Amazon. No worries, though, if you just want to purchase elsewhere.
Watch the video on Instagram to see how I set it all up and where my lights and reflector are placed.
- Wash Light
- Neewer Specialty Light
- Light Stand x 3
- Screw mount to connect light to the stand
- Clamp for reflector
- The Canon R6 Camera
- 50mm lens
- Camera Tripod
- 53” Kate or Savage Seamless Paper (24” is never quite wide enough for multiple angles or pulling back from the subject)
- White foam core, poster board or white reflector. I personally use foam core in my narrow permanent set up
It’s not a glamourous set up, but it functions with incredible ease for shooting every time I open a kiln with something new.
I usually edit using Snapseed on my phone because it is quick and easy but for greater control I will fire up the computer and do detailed editing in Lightroom but I use it so infrequently it’s a whole relearning process every time. Is that the best choice? Pffffft no. But complicating the process isn’t an option.
For video I either shoot with my iPhone or the Xtra Muse Vlogging Camera. You can find that here: XTRA MUSE and when I have my act together to shoot a lot of throwing footage in a single day, I use both at different angles.
It is a wild ride being a small business owner. Adding the complexity of making everything I sell means I need to streamline the processes I can. Thankfully, photos and video are simple to streamline and provide the images you see every day. Once a year or so, I bring in a professional photographer to get a fresh look and more lifestyled photos.
