Studio lighting for product photography plays an important role in many online businesses. Good lighting can improve the quality of your product images and make them more appealing to customers. In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know, including equipment, setup methods, and useful shooting tips.
Why studio lighting matters in product photography？
Great studio lighting for product photography can improve your sales. While sunlight can be useful, a studio setup brings more control and reliability. That’s why many brands prefer it for better results.
Studio lighting is easier and more flexible to control than natural light.
Compared to natural sunlight, studio lighting provides reliable illumination for product photography no matter the weather or time of day. You don’t have to worry about clouds, rain, or snow interrupting your shoot. It also allows you to take photos anytime you want, even late at night. This flexibility makes managing your product photography easier and keeps your workflow smooth.
Studio lighting for product photography enhances visual appeal
Using studio lighting helps your product photos look professional and polished. This builds trust in your brand and makes your products appear more high-end. It can also help explain higher prices by clearly showing details, textures, and key features that create a mood connecting with buyers. For example, great studio lighting highlights the glow of a moisturizer, the rich color of whiskey, or the sleek design of electronics.
It maintains consistent lighting across hundreds of product images
Studio lighting gives you full control and helps keep your product photos consistent. You can adjust the brightness, angle, and shape of the light, and use diffusers to soften it or change the color. This control makes sure your products look the same across all platforms. If a product looks different on Amazon and Instagram, customers may lose trust. That’s why studio lighting is key to building a strong brand image.
What lighting equipment do you need for studio product photography?
To get professional studio lighting for product photography, you need the right light source and modifier. Here, we’ll go over the key tools that help you control brightness, soften shadows, and highlight your product’s best features.
Studio lights for product photography
The best studio lights for product photography include strobes, continuous lights, LEDs, tungsten bulbs, speedlights, and ring lights. Your choice depends on experience, budget, and the type of product you shoot.
Strobe lights produce strong, quick bursts of light that help capture sharp, clear product images. They freeze motion and provide consistent, bright lighting. These gears save energy and work well with many camera systems and accessories.
Continuous lights for product photography like the COLBOR CL330 offer steady and constant illumination. They allow you to see how the product looks and adjust the lighting as you go. This makes them easy to set up and great for beginners or fast photo sessions. They also create a natural look and work well for moving products or videos.
LED lights provide flexible and energy-efficient illumination for product photography. They are lightweight, portable, and stay cool, suitable for many shooting environments. You can change their color tone to create warm or cool moods in your product images.
Tungsten bulbs emit a warm, natural glow that adds a cozy feel to product photos. They give continuous light but use more power and get hot, so careful handling is needed. Still, they are a classic choice for creating warm and timeless product images.
Speedlights are portable flashes that add versatility to product photography. With adjustable power and many accessories, they are perfect for shooting on location or in tight spaces.
Ring lights provide soft, even lighting that highlights product details. Their circular shape reduces shadows, making them great for close-up shots of small products like jewelry, cosmetics, or food.
Light modifiers for better product photos
In studio lighting for product photography, modifiers are essential to create more attractive images. Here are the main types you should know about.
Softboxes are important in studio product photography because they provide soft, even light that shows product details clearly. They work well for shiny or detailed items by cutting down strong reflections and bringing out textures.
Umbrellas and diffusers help soften strong studio lighting to make product photos look more natural. Umbrellas reflect light to create a wide, soft glow that fills in shadows, while diffusers are translucent panels placed in front of lights to scatter and soften the beam.
Reflectors can shape and control light in product photography. Usually made from silver or white fabric, they bounce light back onto the product to brighten shadowed areas and add highlights. You can choose different sizes and shapes based on your indoor or outdoor shoots.
Bounce cards are smaller, firm panels often in white or silver that reflect light onto precise parts of the product. They help add subtle fill light or highlight details, especially in close-up shots.
How to set up studio lighting for product photography?
You can use one, two, or three lights to set up studio lighting for product photography. As you include more gears, you gain better control over shadows, highlights, and the overall look. This also opens up more creative options for different styles and effects.
One studio light setup for product photography
The one-light setup is the simplest studio lighting technique for product photography. It offers precise control over brightness and shadows using just one light source and a reflector, ideal for creating dramatic and detailed product images.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Choose your light source. Use a studio strobe, continuous light, high-power LED, fluorescent lamp, or tungsten bulb based on your needs and budget.
- Position the light. Place it at eye level in front of the product for even illumination. For more depth and drama, move the studio light to the side or an angle to create soft shadows.
- Add a reflector. Place a white foam board or reflector opposite the light to bounce the light back onto the product. This softens shadows and balances the lighting.
- Adjust settings. Try different light intensity, camera exposure, and reflector placement until you achieve the desired look.
This basic product photography studio lighting is especially helpful for beginners or those with a limited budget. However, it may not handle reflections well on shiny products, so adding a second light can improve results.
Two-light studio setup to capture more creative product photos
A two-light setup in studio product photography improves lighting control and helps create a balanced, detailed image.
This setup uses two studio lights: one as the main light and the other as the fill light. The main light is typically placed opposite the camera to illuminate the product’s key features. The fill light is positioned above or below the subject to reduce shadows and enhance overall clarity.
By adjusting their positions and angles, you can achieve more creative and professional-looking product photos. Below are three creative two-light setups.
1. Rim lighting for reflective product shots
This two-light setup is ideal for photographing glass bottles or metallic products. Place the lights diagonally behind the product, at back-left and back-right positions, to create glowing edges and define the shape. If no front light is used, place a softbox behind the product and mark its center to help with positioning and achieve a balanced silhouette.
2. Lighting from below for dramatic product contrast
This setup adds a striking look by shining light upward from beneath the product. Use a glass or plexiglass surface and place one light underneath it to highlight the object at a 90-degree angle. The second light can be adjusted to soften the effect or fill in shadows. Add a diffuser or dimmer for smoother tones.
3. Gradient lighting for creative color effects
Gradient setups in studio lighting bring out color and depth in product photography. Use two lights with different color temperatures or attach color gels. Position one light high at a 45-degree angle and the other lower on the opposite side. You can also shoot through an umbrella or bounce light from behind for a smooth gradient across the product surface.
Three-point lighting for commercial product photography in a studio
A three-light setup offers the most complete lighting control in studio product photography. It is ideal for creating polished images with texture, depth, and contrast. This method uses a key light, fill light, and backlight to shape the product and separate it from the background.
Here's how to set it up:
- Position the key light: Place it at a 45-degree angle in front of the product. It serves as the main source, shaping the product and creating the primary highlights.
- Add the fill light: Set it on the opposite side or slightly off to the side. It reduces shadows caused by the key light and adds clarity to darker areas.
- Place the backlight: Position it behind the product to create a subtle rim. This outlines the product and separates it from the background.
- Use modifier to adjust lighting effect: Use diffusers, reflectors, or umbrellas to adjust brightness and softness based on the mood you want, from clean and soft to dramatic and bold.
Tips to improve product photography studio lighting
Here are 4 tips to improve studio lighting for product photography. They are easy to apply and can instantly improve the look, detail, and clarity of your images.
Adjust lighting distance and angle to minimize reflections on products
Reflective products like glass, metal, or jewelry can easily catch glare from studio lights. To get a clean shot, try changing the position and height of your studio lights until the reflections are minimized. Small adjustments in angle or distance can help you highlight the product’s features without distracting shine.
Combine natural light with studio lighting for product photography
Using sunlight as a secondary lighting source can add a natural softness to your studio product photography. You can place the product near a window so natural light acts as a key or fill light, and use a studio light to balance exposure on the other side. This approach helps soften shadows, reduce glare, and create more lifelike results. For best results, diffuse the sunlight with curtains and avoid shooting under direct midday sun.
Use soft or hard lighting to show different product features
Soft and hard lighting serves different purposes in studio product photography.
For shiny items like jewelry, soft, diffused lighting helps reduce harsh reflections and highlights details gently. Using a large overhead softbox works well here.
For textured products like leather or wood, combining hard side lighting with a softer front light can bring out surface details and create depth. Experiment with angles and light hardness to best showcase your product’s textures.
Choose the right background for studio product photography lighting
A good background can make your product stand out by providing a strong contrast with its color and shape. Avoid backgrounds that are too dark or too bright, as they can make the product less visible or dull. Instead, choose neutral or subtle colors that highlight your product without overpowering it. This helps draw attention to the product and improves the overall quality of your photos.
Conclusion
Studio lighting for product photography helps create detailed visuals and impacts your sales. By using various lighting equipment and experimenting with setups, you can enhance texture, depth, and mood to make your photos more engaging. Apply these tips to improve your shots and bring your products to life.