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It’s true, photographers can achieve a lot with natural light! I do think, however, that artificial light is something every photographer should have a base level understanding of.
In this post, I’m going to show you the simple softbox set up for product photography that I use.
The key to mastering artificial light is simply having a better understanding of various lighting conditions so you can have the confidence to get the shot in any condition.
Softboxes are suitable for all types of photography, including product photography, and they can be a game-changer for your workflow!
Why I Love Softboxes for Product Photography:
Natural light can be tricky. It can change by the second and can make the consistency of images a challenge of their own. In the winter months in New York, where I am from, the sunset can set as early as 4 pm. This makes it crucial to have this skill set in your toolkit.
The first thing I grab, when soft window light isn鈥檛 available or I need to shoot a series of images is my softbox setup.
The best part of mastering artificial light is that it unlocks the ability to get the shot you want anytime you鈥檙e available to pick up your camera!
The Perks of Using a Softbox for Product Photography:
For my work, the bigger the softbox better. Below are my favourite reasons for using a softbox for product photography:
- Softboxes are an incredibly versatile tool to create artifical light in photoshoots as key or fill light.
- Most softboxes come with two layers of diffusion which reduces harsh shadows.
- Softboxes come in all sizes. My advice is you should choose the biggest one you can comfortably work within your space.
Softbox for Photography Gear List
This is a studio setup that requires a few lights (and some space!). Here are the key lighting pieces I used in this set up.
- Multiple Broncolor Siros 800 S lights for both key lights and fill lights.
- Broncolor Softbox 120 x 180 cm for the main key light.
- LEE Filters White Diffusion to create soft light
- Red Gel on the back Broncolor Siros 800 S
- Plexiglass used at the back of the shot for the ‘warm’ glow
Would love to hear about your experiences using artificial light and softboxes in the comments below!
Further reading: if you鈥檙e interested in reading more about Lighting tips –
Simple One Light Photography Setup: Moody Black Forest Cupcake
Create Dappled Light Using a Speedlite: How to Guide.
Photography Flags: Add Stunning Dimension & Contrast to Your Food Photos.
Natural Lighting Food Photo Tips You Need To Know For Chiaroscuro Effect.
How Learning Low Key Product Photography Improved My Creativity
This post was written by Justin Sisson. Thank you Justin for sharing your insights on lighting.
Justin Sisson
Commercial Photographer – Justin Sisson
Justin Sisson is a New-York based photographer specializing in food, beverage and portraiture. Justin draws inspiration from minimalism, quiet scenes, & everyday French living. His fine art and commercial work are often interlaced as he explores beauty in simple moments. Check out my website or come say hi on Instagram.
Two Loves Studio was not paid to write this post, however, it may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, we do get a commission on the sale which helps us run this site. Only affiliates for products/services we聽believe in appear on this site.
Alwin
Great article! Am still learning a lot and really wish I thought to gel my light and use plexiglass on a previous shoot. Now I have a new use for the big sheet of plexiglass I bought!
Rachel Korinek
Hey Alwin! Thanks for stopping by. Glad you loved this post from Justin. It’s a cool idea right? I love the look of it. I hope you can try it out in the future.
Jan
Thank you for sharing your experience with working with Plexiglas as back-/undergrounds! I read your article an immediately ordered a frosted acrylic. It works great, but I’m struggling with reflections, as soon as I use other strobes. Can you tell me, how do you prevent yourself from such reflections?
Greetings from Germany! 馃檪
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Great post! I’ve been struggling with lighting for my product photography and this breakdown of softboxes really helped. I didn’t realize how much difference the size and type of softbox can make. I’m definitely going to try using larger softboxes for more even lighting. Thanks for the tips!
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This post is super helpful! I鈥檝e always struggled with lighting in my product photography, and the tips on choosing the right softbox have really clarified my options. I especially appreciate the advice on size and diffusion materials鈥攄efinitely going to try some of these techniques for my next photoshoot! Thanks for sharing!
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Great post! I鈥檝e been looking to improve my product photography and your insights on softboxes are really helpful. The tips on size and placement made it much clearer for a beginner like me. Can鈥檛 wait to try out the suggestions!
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Great insights on softboxes! I never realized how much of a difference they can make in product photography. The tips on placement and lighting adjustments were particularly helpful. I can鈥檛 wait to try this out for my own shoots!
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Great insights on softboxes! I鈥檝e been looking to improve my product photography, and your tips about the different sizes and diffusion materials really helped clarify my choices. Thanks for sharing!
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Great insights on softboxes! I always struggled with lighting for my product shots, but your tips on size and placement really helped clarify what I need. Can’t wait to try out the recommendations!
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Great tips! I鈥檝e been looking into softboxes for my product photography and this post really helped clarify the different options available. I appreciate the details on sizing and placement鈥攄efinitely going to try those out!
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Great insights on using softboxes for product photography! I never realized how much the right lighting could enhance the quality of my photos. The tips on placement and diffusion were particularly helpful. Can’t wait to try them out with my next shoot!