"Fancy" soap pictures

[honeysuds]

"Fancy" soap pictures-Updated new pics!

Ok, after all the great advice you all gave me, I decided to try taking pictures again today. Lucky for me the weather is beautiful, plenty of sun so I got to take these shots out in my yard. Again, feedback is appreciated!


In lieu of the fact that I am not so great at setting up my soap for "fancy" shots, I decided to work on it today. After working up a light sweat (anxiety induced) and taking many shots, I think these are as good as it gets for now :crazy: Feedback is appreciated!

 

[eyeroll]

I like them both. They're a lot prettier than my pics. I prefer the arrangement of the first best; the towel is a cleaner, less busy background to show off your soaps and I like the soap placement better. I think it would look even nicer with a lighter color towel.

 

[honeysuds]

I realized in hindsight that yes, a lighter colored towel would have made the soap pop more, but unfortunately I don't have a plain white bath towel. At least not one that hasn't been used for years and looks the part So I am going to buy one just for soap pictures, and maybe an off white towel as well so I have options depending on the soap colors.

 

[NurseEmily]

did you try with the soap directly on that pretty wood stand? Or does that drown the color out? I really have no idea... but I do like the top picture better and I like the rolled towel look too.
Can you mash the two pictures together to help with my ADD?

 

[honeysuds]

Lol, I could take more pictures with different set ups, and I guess I could find a nice basket for the soaps, the rolled towel, pitcher, and lotion bottle as props and have a whole new picture. I guess I was trying to keep it as simple as possible without making it obviously amateur :shifty: I like the water pitcher as a prop, it makes it feel old world, and the beat up antique trunk seems to work well with that theme.

 

[Relle]

Love your soaps, but I don't think you need props. Have a look at others in the photo gallery and they don't add anything.

 

[kikajess]

Your soaps are GORGEOUS. They don't need props at all. A nice bright white background (like a bath or kitchen towel, or a white plate) would really show off the colors and creaminess of them. And photos without flash taken using sunlight (outdoors maybe?) would make them look even better.

You are on the right track. Keep experimenting. Photography is a fun, fun hobby, especially when the subject is as beautiful as your soaps are.

 

[honeysuds]

Thanks for the feedback and compliments :mrgreen: I do realize that natural light works so much better than flash for my soap pictures, and the camera itself isn't great, just a point and shoot. But that's what I have so just playing around with that for now.

I was just trying out different places in the house, the antique trunks seemed like the only kid free clutter free zone so I started there. I'm thinking maybe I'll hit up goodwill and similar stores locally and look for some plates or cake stands that will add character but not outshine the soaps themselves. Heck maybe even the dollar store, never know what they have! And I'll move outdoors and look around for some spots to use as natural backdrops. I'm definitely feeling inspired!

 

[DeeAnna]

Keep your background simple and clean, and don't overdo the props or accessories. Your dark rustic bench is very nice with the neutrals and browns of your soaps, and I think it's a great prop for those soaps.

I agree with NurseEmily and Kikajess that less is more. I find the pouf and white pump bottle distracting -- they are too bright and too modern looking to fit with your other antique-y props. The pitcher somewhat fits your theme, but it should be closer in color to your soaps or just a simple white or ivory. If you have blue soap someday, by all means use this pitcher with that soap!

Make the soaps the focus of your picture -- not the entire composition of soap, bench, pitcher, etc. If you only show enough of the pitcher to clue the viewer "ah, that's a pitcher next to the soaps", that's plenty good. The picture I've attached is an example of what I mean, although it's not about soap. I wanted the Santa belt to be the centerpiece of the picture. I show just a little greenery to the right of the belt to suggest a holiday theme.

Try shooting your soaps more from the side rather than down at them. The Santa belt is shot from the side. We normally look at things from the side rather than looking down, so it seems more natural to compose a photo that way too.

Try stacking or propping your soaps in different ways rather than lay them out flat in a regular pattern. Your soaps are truly lovely -- rustic and artful -- so try making your arrangement of them just as rustic and artful.

As you learn more about lighting, work toward being able to light your soap from 2 or 3 directions, not just one direction straight at the soap (your camera's flash?). Natural lighting -- morning or afternoon -- is a plus. Having light from multiple directions will give a better sense of the texture and 3 dimensional nature of the soap.

http://www.handmadeology.com/taking-pictures-of-your-ceramic-pottery/
http://www.handmadeology.com/studio-quality-product-photography-with-a-12-set-up/

 

[lsg]

Very pretty soap and nice presentation.

 

[ourwolfden]

I realized in hindsight that yes, a lighter colored towel would have made the soap pop more, but unfortunately I don't have a plain white bath towel. At least not one that hasn't been used for years and looks the part So I am going to buy one just for soap pictures, and maybe an off white towel as well so I have options depending on the soap colors.

Looks good. I'd recommend check out the fabric section. A lot of times you can buy a yard of fabric pretty cheap and then you can have different background, more often then not you can buy remnants cheaper to have a ton of options - plus you can rip then up for ribbon as decoration when you give the soap way!

 

[judymoody]

I usually photograph mine in a plain white light box. Boring but the soap is easy to see.

I found your first photo a little busy. The eye is drawn to the pretty pitcher first and the soap second. It kind of is in the shadow and blends with your towel. Because the pitcher is so large it tends to dwarf the soap.

I agree, it is so pretty, your soap doesn't need embellishment.

 

[Lildlege1]

Love all those pretty soap

 

[My Mountain Soaps]

Photography is a hobby of mine, DeeAnna and Judymoody gave some great tips. Whether or not you choose to use props, lighting is essential, and shooting from eye level like they suggested is more relate-able to the buyer. But they are cute shots

 

[honeysuds]

Wonderful, those are the things I wanted to know! If I have time I'll try some more shots today using some of the suggestions, in the meantime I am taking notes! Thanks you all so much, I love this site!