Soap Photo Tut?

[GreenScene]

I am the worst photographer in the world. Okay, maybe not the worst. I usually manage to keep everyone's head in the picture, and I don't usually snap when everyone's eyes are closed or mouths are agape, but still. I take the worst pictures of my soap. I am also pretty darned bad at forum searches. I can never seem to find the threads I'm looking for. Anyway, I could've sworn I saw a tutorial for taking better soap pics, and now I can't find it. I wanted to take a decent picture of this "Plain Jane" - no scent, no color - soap, and no matter what I do, there's a shadow or the color is bad or something. Links?

 

[GreenScene]

Good grief. I was going to include a picture of the thing, but apparently, I suck at including pics in posts, too! LOL Here's a thumbnail, maybe, since preview isn't working for me:



Or a link:

http://img248.imageshack.us/i/plainjane.jpg/

 

[NancyRogers]

Lovely soaps! The thing about outdoor photography is that natural light can be so much more accurate and flattering than flash. Still, there are some tricks. Overcast days are best, but baring that, take your photos before 9:00 am or after 4:00 (adjust for your area and time of year). You want the "sweet light", but not harsh mid-day light that will throw shadows. If you have to take pictures during mid-day light, find a shady place and do not face the sun while you shoot. You'll get glare, sunspots, and your subject will be backlit. Backlighting can create interesting silouettes during the late afternoon, but they won't highlight your soap very well. Also, consider your background (and anything that will be in your frame not just the subject). Remove clutter and perhaps stage your subject with an interesting prop that will accentuate the soap but not take center stage.

HTH!

 

[Deda]

I'm in my third week of the digital photography class I enrolled in this semester. I'm pretty happy with the professor. If I learn anything of value I'll be sure and pass it on.

 

[ToniD]

That is a nice soap. I don't think the picture is all that bad either. The backlighting shows off the textured tops really nicely, and you did not overexpose, which would be easy to do on a white soap. In that particular picture a bit of fill flash on the front of the soap would have taken it out of shadow. The trick is to balance your flash so that it does not overpower the picture. If you have a flash adjustment control on your camera you can raise or lower the power. You can also use a very light or filmy piece of material. If your flash head rotates you can bounce your flash which can soften the light. Another thing you can do is to take a white cardstock paper and use it to reflect some light back into your picture to soften your shadows.

I don't have any links to share specifically, but there is a lot on photography generally that you could pretty easily find.

My big trouble with soap pictues is doing the "posing" I have not found any help with that aspect, but I am sure that looking up product photography would help.

 

[Lynnz]

soap looks fantastic......I am just in the process of having all my soaps photographed for me as want to do a catalogue and one day a website so need good ones.........I just dont have the time for photography right now but oneday :0)

 

[GreenScene]

I don't have a decent camera, just a point and click kind of thing, so there's no rotating flash or anything like that. I think I will get some fabric or poster board to make a white backdrop and try to do shots outside during the morning hours, though. As you can see, I gave up on trying to take pictures in the house and snapped this one in the dead grass that is my back yard, just to get better light. If I ever get around to selling soap, I'll have my photography-hobbyist sister take all of my pictures, since I'm rather hopeless. I'll stick with making the soap!

 

[coco cooks]

I use the same principles as photographing food for my food blog. I'm no expert and have lots to learn , but I never use flash, ever. I place my objects against white backgrounds , plates, as I don't have a lot of windows for natural light and I photograph at night after work.
Various lens help and I use a macro lens on my Nikon D90( OK boyfriends camera ;-). Many say its not the camera but the person. I say a good camera sure does make a difference! I have seen a big difference. But you still need to know the basics. But the automatic setting with no flash is great.
But point and shoots work well too. Now many have food settings, and that will work for soap just fine.No brainer and decent pics.
Style your shoot. Check out thrift stores, dollar stores, craft stores, etc for props. Use textiles too.
And after that use a a photo editor like Picnic online, Picassa, etc. They are great for fixing up flaws or enhancing your photos.
And finally, make a light box/tent lined with white paper or buy one from a from a photo store. They are great to set your objects , provide white /light background and make your photos pop!

 

[coco cooks]

DIY Lightbox
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/0 ... t_box.html

 

[Deda]

I bought a lightbox, studio lights, backdrops and a new camera before christmas. I just need to finish learning how to set everything up

 

[coco cooks]

Taking a class would be so fun...but no time ;-(

 

[GreenScene]

Oh, I like the idea of a DIY light box. I'll have to add that to my project list.

 

[ToniD]

I bought a lightbox, studio lights, backdrops and a new camera before christmas. I just need to finish learning how to set everything up

the class and the new equipment sounds exciting. Wanna share what equipment you got? Are you happy with it?

 

[kellyincville]

Another DIY lightbox link:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/ho ... tudio.html

Everyone's different but I only use natural light for my pictures (no soap yet but lots and lots of pics of yarn ). If you have a lightbox with removed and tissue papered sides then you have the option to use natural or artifical light to see what works best for you.