What is reflective surface photography?
Reflective surface photography is the art of capturing images of products that have reflective surfaces, such as glass, metal, and jewelry, without unwanted reflections. This type of photography is essential for ecommerce shops to showcase their products in a way that is appealing to potential customers.
What to avoid when shooting reflective objects
When shooting reflective objects, it’s important to avoid harsh lighting, cluttered backgrounds, and using the wrong camera settings. These can all lead to unwanted reflections and poor quality images.
🏆The goal: Minimize reflections and produce crisp, vibrant images
When shooting reflective objects, the ultimate goal is to minimize reflections and produce images that are crisp, vibrant, and showcase the product in the best possible way.
📸The technique: Find the right angles, focus on getting lighting right, and opt for sharp final images
To achieve this goal, it’s important to find the right angles, focus on getting the lighting right, and aim for sharp final images that highlight the details of the product.
How to choose the right gear
Choosing the right gear for reflective surface photography is crucial for achieving high-quality images without breaking the bank.
🏆The goal: Purchase the gear you need without going over budget
The goal is to purchase the necessary gear without exceeding your budget, allowing you to create stunning product images without unnecessary expenses.
📸The technique: You’ll use this gear to minimize reflections, control light, and create sharp images that show fine detail
The right gear will help you minimize reflections, control light, and create sharp images that showcase the fine details of the product.
1. Softbox (or other diffusion material)
2. Wireless/remote flash
3. Polarizing filter
How to photograph jewelry, sunglasses, and other detailed products
Emphasizing fine details when photographing jewelry, sunglasses, and other detailed products is essential for showcasing their quality and craftsmanship.
🏆The goal: Emphasize fine details
The goal is to emphasize the fine details of the products to attract potential customers and highlight the quality of the items.
📸The technique: Side lighting
Using side lighting, adjusting camera settings, and setting up the camera correctly are the key techniques for achieving this goal.
Step 1: Adjust your camera settings to get the clearest possible image
Step 2: Set up your camera
Step 3: Use side lighting to highlight detail
How to shoot glass, bottles, and other translucent products
When shooting glass, bottles, and other translucent products, the emphasis should be on highlighting their shape and form without unwanted reflections.
🏆The goal: Emphasize shape
The goal is to emphasize the shape of the products and showcase their transparency without unwanted reflections.
📸The technique: Box backlighting
The technique of box backlighting, positioning the light source, and setting up the boards correctly are essential for achieving this goal.
Step 1: Position your light source
Step 2: Create a box
Step 3: Position the boards
How to capture metal and other reflective objects
When capturing metal and other reflective objects, the focus should be on minimizing unwanted reflections and highlighting the details of the products.
🏆The goal: Minimize unwanted reflections
The goal is to minimize unwanted reflections to showcase the details of the products and their reflective surfaces.
📸The technique: Double overhead lighting
The technique of double overhead lighting is essential for achieving this goal and producing high-quality, reflection-free images of reflective objects.
When in doubt, edit it out in post processing
If you’re unsure about any unwanted reflections in your images, editing them out in post-processing is a viable solution for achieving the desired results.
Get started with reflective photography
Now that you have the knowledge and techniques for shooting reflective product photos, it’s time to get started and put your skills to the test.
Reflective surface photography FAQ
Why is it difficult to shoot reflective product photos?
What kinds of products are difficult to shoot without reflections?
How can I photograph shiny objects without reflection?
These frequently asked questions cover the challenges of shooting reflective product photos and provide tips for overcoming them to achieve stunning, reflection-free images.