Taking Indoor Photos for Online Selling

[johannielscom]

Something I find extremely irritating is shallow DOF on product photos where someone is trying to sell a used product. I want to see every detail clearly. I figure the people shooting shallow DOF are trying to cover flaws.

Seeing that my image is the only one in this thread that has shallow DOF, I'll answer that.

If you can't trust the seller, don't buy the product. Your remark says more about you than it does about the seller.

 

[JoeLopez]

What megapixels is recommended for online sales photo taking?

You won't need a lot of pixels. Probably 6 is more than enough.

Agreed. MP aren't an issue in product photography for online selling.

 

[JoeLopez]

Something I find extremely irritating is shallow DOF on product photos where someone is trying to sell a used product. I want to see every detail clearly. I figure the people shooting shallow DOF are trying to cover flaws.

I disagree. Shallow DOF mixed in with other detail shots emphasizes particular details.

 

[Dwig]

Thanks.

Bought a Craphy. Here's a sample. Any comments?

It's quite underexposed.

This is a common issue with this type of lighting situation. The bright white background "fools" the meter, whether shooting in manual or an automatic mode. With most modern cameras it's an easy matter to simply adjust the EV compensation control until the subject is properly exposed and the background becomes more of a blank white.

Also, in this shot the lighting is a bit uneven top to bottom.

I have a similar unit (sold under the "Cowboy Studio" brand) that has worked well. At times, I've placed it on top of a light box (a flat color accurate box that I used to use for slide sorting) to provide additional lighting from the bottom to achieve a good blank white. At other times I put a "sweep" of heavy watercolor paper inside the "tent", covering the floor and back and light from the two side and from the top.

 

[JoyF]

Thanks! I'll be working to improve!

 

[x-ray]

Seeing that my image is the only one in this thread that has shallow DOF, I'll answer that.

If you can't trust the seller, don't buy the product. Your remark says more about you than it does about the seller.

Your comment says a lot about you too, making it personal. When I buy something I want to see every bit of detail I can. I don't want it distorted, no shallow DOF and want all the information I can get. It not a personal remark about you or an attack. I wasn't even looking at your photo.

Buy what you want and shoot your images as you like. I don't really care.

 

[x-ray]

I disagree. Shallow DOF mixed in with other detail shots emphasizes particular details.

Fine, do it your way and I'll do it my way. It's not an issue is it?

 

[jonmanjiro]

I think Jonmanjiro will be a good adviser. He is gear pornographer. His product photos make all the things he sells look great! 😀

Hahaha 😀 thanks Vincent. Don't know how I missed this comment until now 😎

My setup is pretty basic really. I use a 105mm macro lens and a Nikon D700 on a tripod, a light box, and 1 or 2 lights on the outside of the light box shining into the light box - usually one from the top and one from one side. I adjust the positions of the lights for the best lighting for whatever I'm photographing. I never use flash and always stop the lens down to f16-22 for good depth of field.

When I buy something I want to see every bit of detail I can. I don't want it distorted, no shallow DOF and want all the information I can get.

I take my product shots with the intention of showing as much detail as possible to a prospective buyer, so this is my line of thinking too. Shallow DOF can be great for emphasizing gear porn shots, but I avoid it for product shots of items I intend selling.