Tips for product photography!
With the new SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN
as part of our Online Fototage
In this article, photographer Mike Lipp shows you how to take great product photos with the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN. He is a full-time numbers man with a great passion for architecture and landscapes. He has been traveling the world for several years to capture the architectural highlights of major cities and to convey the experience of nature.
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN - ProductProduct photography - how does that actually work?
I'm usually out and about with my camera to capture the beauty of the landscape, mountains and forests. But due to the current situation, this is unfortunately only possible to a limited extent, so this time also offers a little space for a few new areas of photography, such as product photography. This is where the new SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary came into play, which is also ideal for this discipline.
But one thing at a time. You can photograph anything in product photography. From stamps to cars. However, I would like to limit myself here to watches and accessories that almost everyone has at home so that you can copy a few of the tips directly. Tip: As with photography in general, you also need good light for product photography. But you don't need professional studio equipment right away. For all the photos here, I simply used a small LED continuous light with a tripod, which can be individually adjusted in terms of brightness and warmth.
Which Lens is suitable for product photography?
This article is all about the 28-70mm, but there are other suitable lenses.
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN - AmbiencePerfect companion: the Sigma 28-70mm
Thanks to its large aperture, the SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary is ideal for bringing the subject into focus or cropping it with great bokeh. Thanks to the relatively small focusing distance of 19-38 cm, there is also plenty of scope for composition. In addition, the Lens is very compact, especially on the SIGMA fp or fp L and is also a real lightweight at only 470g. Ok, that's not crucial for product photography, but for a day-by-day Lens, which I also use for landscape and architectural photography, this is of course welcome, because you practically always have it with you. And every gram counts.
Tip:
One thing is super important in product photography and especially with small objects. And that is cleaning the objects. Unfortunately, product photography does not forgive mistakes such as fluff, lint, fingerprints or similar. Therefore, try to clean the object as well as possible before taking the photo. This will save you a lot of work afterwards.
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN - Close upCombine cleverly!
In my product or lifestyle photos, I always try to somehow put the actual product, i.e. the main motif, into context with the product's area of use. This can be the photo backpack or other photo equipment, for example, if I want to photograph a camera. However, the context can also be completely different, as in the example of the watch pictures. In this case, I deliberately chose coffee equipment to increase the contrast and make the product the center of attention.
Tip:
To be able to crop the product well, especially with top-down shots like this, you should position the product slightly above the ground. You can use anything here, as long as it is not visible later in the photo. In this example, the watch is resting on a small cork.
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN - foreground and backgroundThe ambience
The classic division of an image with foreground and background also applies to product photography. I usually use objects for the foreground, which are then blurred due to the large aperture. The same applies to the background. If possible, this should also appear calm and homogeneous. Thanks to the large aperture of the SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary, this is achieved almost automatically. Reflective surfaces, such as a simple kitchen knife, can also be held flat in front of the Lens during the shot to create light reflections or blurring and give the image more dynamism. Just give it a try.
Tipp:
I often use the option of tethering for my pictures, i.e. connecting the camera to a laptop, PC or tablet, so that I can assess the whole photo much better beforehand and, above all, set the focus as precisely as possible. Almost all camera manufacturers offer the corresponding software for download.
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN - classic surroundingsMinimalist image composition
Product and lifestyle images thrive on a beautiful but also minimalist image composition that sets the scene for the main subject and attracts attention. To achieve this, you can use almost anything you can find at home for the set, as mentioned above. From electronic accessories to cardboard boxes, vases and the like. Experimenting with perspective also helps to make different arrangements look significantly different, but otherwise there are no limits to product photography. You can let your creativity run wild here. Of course, a good and flexible zoom lens like the SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary is an enormous advantage. Because you don't have to keep changing the lens. Especially when the camera is mounted on a tripod, this can be a bit annoying. That's why I often only use one lens for such a photo session to avoid this. This not only saves time but also relaxes your nerves.
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN - BokehTip:
When editing images, don't focus on the color or brightness settings first. Instead, focus on the right image section and retouching distracting foreign objects. It is just as important to straighten the image or the subject. Even if the weather is currently getting better and better and you might want to be out and about - no problem. Product photography works everywhere. Try it out, experiment and, above all, have fun!
See you next time
Maik Lipp
You can find more information about the photographer on his website or via Instagram!
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN - Wristwatch
