[mortimersnerd]

I'm going to be doing some simple product shots and need to get a lighting setup. I'll be photographing items 2ft^3 and smaller, planning on building a desk for it. My budget for lighting is around $500, what would you suggest?

Current Gear:
Nikon D5000
Nikkor 18-55mm VR f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 70-200mm VR I f/2.8

I have an old manual flash but nothing else. Would a set of speedlights, stands and diffusers be a good idea or should I look at a stationary lighting set?

 

[r31ncarnat3d]

I'm not exactly sure if this is what you want your photos to look like, but my product photos are shot with two desk lamps bouncing off of each side wall of my lightbox.

The last set however with my 28mm was shot with my point and shoot, so that might not be a good representation of what a DSLR does with that setup

 

[mortimersnerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by r31ncarnat3d I'm not exactly sure if this is what you want your photos to look like, but my product photos are shot with two desk lamps bouncing off of each side wall of my lightbox. The last set however with my 28mm was shot with my point and shoot, so that might not be a good representation of what a DSLR does with that setup

I've done some shots with messing with some work lamps but I'd be interested in trying strobes.

 

[mortimersnerd]

I was looking through some threads and saw this one: http://www.overclock.net/photography...ing-setup.html

Considering a kit like this: http://alienbees.com/digi.html

What size light should I look for? http://alienbees.com/flash.html

 

[robchaos]

If you are limiting yourself to 2'x3' and smaller, you can make a useable lightbox setup for < $100
Get a large carboard box, a roll of white paper, and 2 halogen work lights from home depot. 2x work lights to aim at the sides of the box, and use the cameras flash when taking photos. Adjust eposure and cropping in your editing program so that the background looks uniformly white, and the item looks like it is floating.

edit: If a light box is something you think will work for you, I can give you simple step by step instructions.

 

[mortimersnerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robchaos If you are limiting yourself to 2'x3' and smaller, you can make a useable lightbox setup for < $100 Get a large carboard box, a roll of white paper, and 2 halogen work lights from home depot. 2x work lights to aim at the sides of the box, and use the cameras flash when taking photos. Adjust eposure and cropping in your editing program so that the background looks uniformly white, and the item looks like it is floating. edit: If a light box is something you think will work for you, I can give you simple step by step instructions.

I have done something similar in the past but would like to try strobes. With continuous work lights, I can't seem to defuse the light the correct amount to get even lighting.

 

[mrwesth]

Check out strobist.com.
Hobby has posted a bunch of cheap creative light set-ups for product images in the past.

He is a lighting guru.

 

[dudemanppl]

Buy softboxes, they're the best.