How to create a home studio and use artificial lighting
Artificial lights
Continuous LED lights: These lights provide a consistent and even light source, making them a good choice for beginners. They are also energy-efficient and can be easily adjusted to suit different lighting conditions.
Ring lights: These lights are circular in shape and provide a soft and even light that is ideal for product photography. They are also portable and easy to use, making them a great choice for beginners who are just starting out.
Softboxes: Softboxes are a type of light modifier that diffuses the light and creates a softer, more natural-looking light. This is useful for product photography as it helps to reduce harsh shadows and highlights.
Reflectors: Reflectors are an affordable and easy-to-use tool that can be used to control the direction of light and fill in shadows. They can be used in conjunction with other lighting equipment to create a more professional-looking product photo.
Daylight-balanced bulbs: These bulbs are designed to mimic natural daylight and are great for product photography as they are less likely to cause color casting.
It's worth noting that even though the iPhone cameras have improved a lot, they still lack some features and capabilities of a professional camera. Therefore, investing in artificial lighting equipment can help to improve the quality of your product photos and make them look more professional.
How to create a home studio and use artificial lighting
Here is a very simple set up that you could try at home if you’d like to try creating a home studio with artificial light.
Choose a space in your home that has a neutral background and plenty of natural light. This can be a spare room or even a corner of a larger room.
Set up a background, such as a seamless paper roll, or a plain white or colored wall, that will be used as the background of your product photos.
Invest in some basic artificial lighting equipment, such as studio lights or continuous LED lights. These will provide the primary light source for your product photos.
Experiment with different lighting setups to find the best way to illuminate your products. A common technique used by professional photographers is to use three-point lighting, which involves using a key light, a fill light, and a back light.
Use diffusers, reflectors, and other light-shaping tools to control the direction and intensity of the light on your products.
Use a tripod or other stabilizing device to keep your camera steady while taking photos. This will help to ensure that your photos are sharp and in focus.
Take test shots and adjust your lighting and camera settings as needed to get the best results.