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How to Light for a Product Shot

Creating shadows in photography often produces an artistically dramatic effect. However, in lighting for a product shot, shadows are undesirable as they obscure the subject -- and signify the work of an amateur photographer. Avoiding shadows in studio work is a simple matter of proper light placement. Professional results are easily accomplished with a technique known as light cancellation -- arranging three lights so the beams cast by any two cancel out the shadows produced by the other.

Things You'll Need

Main light
Fill light
Background light

Instructions

- 1
  Set the main, or "key," light at a 35-degree angle above the subject and at a 45-degree angle to camera side of the subject. As a rule of thumb, place the key light four feet to the side of the subject; distance can vary slightly based of the strength of the light.
- 2
  Arrange the fill and backlight. Set the fill light directly in front of and level with the subject. Position an overhead backlight one foot behind the subject.
- 3
  Set a 3:1 distance ratio for the fill and backlight to the main light. For example, working with a key light four feet from the subject requires the fill and backlights be placed 12 feet away from the subject -- 4 x 3 = 12.

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