I love reading informative and insightful photo articles like this.. Gets my blood flowing until I realize I can’t duplicate the process because I need a lot more equipment to do it. I would imagine a reflector or two instead of all thsoe lights could bring similar results. There must be some inexpensive strobes out there specifically for table top & product lighting that would allow us to get these great results without spending too much cash. Since I already have two powerful strobes, can anyone suggest what inexpensive strobes are out there? Thanks.

Jim

Although the result is good from a technical standpoint, it is extremely sterile and “cold” from an emotive standpoint – and I grant that this might be what the client wanted.

I like to see evidence of the “unseen user” in product shots. Perhaps some car keys, a classy pen or watch and sunglasses, to say that the product is being used by someone who came home and docked it. I’d also give more thought to what’s depicted on the phone’s screen, which again is quite sterile in this shot.

I’m sure it’s a matter of personal preference, but product shots these days seem to be following what I call the “eBay model” – just the product, and nothing but the product.

http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/professional-photography-without-professional-equipment-myth-and-reality/

I too have played around with different lighting affects, using various poster style paper (from heavy texture, metallic, to color) underneath and behind the subject for interest. All while adding degrees of lighting to each material. I’m still leaning the proper technique to remove unwanted light using flags, but over all the results have been exciting especially with metallic paper and bending the light. I have a ways to go still! Thanks for taking us through the steps.