May 26th, 2010 | 
After we have successfully done a boots catalog photography for Refrigiwear, they decided to go with us on the rest of their 2010 catalog. This time we had a uniform 7+ hours photo-shoot with 4 models, about 30-40 outfits and four people (not counting photographer helping in a studio.
It was fun: Four ladies from Refrigiwear was helping Elite models to get dressed on heavy fireproof jackets, Mylène Farmer with her sexy music videos on a TV, humor, laugh and funny model’s faces at the end of each set.
The uniform we were shooting are made for work in a refrigerators and freezers, with temperature down to zero Fahrenheit. I was trying to keep studio cold, but guys still had a tough time wearing them. Modeling light was off for the most of the flashes, helping to minimize a heat in a studio. Several thousand watt-seconds of strobe flash every second or two did not help to stay models cool either:-)
At the and of the day we’ve got over 1100 images for a proofs gallery, I was tired and happy: I love this feeling after tough, but well done job.
Ok, now the studio lighting setup:
I was using excessive amount of strobes, this is what I always like to do: more lights gives me better control over the whole scene.
For example, I prefer to have a shoot-through light instead of only reflector, when possible: it works like a reflector on low power, but easily can go beyond that, when needed.
Studio lighting setup:
studio lighting setup for commercial photoshoot
Total of seven strobes used: two for a white paper backdrop, one main light on the left, assisted by a Beauty Dish from a front-top, translucent reflector on the right, hair light on the right behind. The last light was around a camera lens, Alienbees Ringflash, used as a fill light for some of the shoots. Why not for all? I have to turn it off when jacket has a reflective paint, same as used on a road signs; it reflects a lot of lite, make it extremely reflective under direct light.
Real life setup look:
catalog photography studio lighting setup
So, why to use that many lights? If you look at the photo below, you’ll see why: this is how I get nice, non-flat look for the face, but still almost shadowless and a good textured jacket. Like I said before, I better dim light rather to take it our from the scene.
The setup works very well when you know how to balance lights: add little bit ore form a top while reducing main light (left) and you get sharper, more dramatic look. Add more from the left, little bit more from the right, reduce top light, softer, more plain look is what you’ll get.
studio lighting setup example for catalog photography
To make he shoot easier and more entertaining , I always encourage models to play little wild 
by shooting them when they just getting prepared or dressing:-) As you see on the photo below, Mike got the idea and we were getting funny poses from him at the end of every set.
Atlanta product catalog photographer funny photo
Again, about the lighting: look at the model’s face on the photo below. Do you see the shadow form his nose and eye socket on the right? It it visible, face has very detail non-flat look, but there is no shadow from a nose, despite the fact he turned face front. This is what was a BeautyDish for, it worked mostly on the model’s face, leaving outfit lighting almost unchanged.
A little accent form the hair light on right gives more volume to the whole thing. And remember, this images was not touched in post production: I have to shoot them right, there is no budget for fixing several hundred final photos later in a darkroom.
Catalog example photo
Equipment and shooting spec:
Camera gear:
- Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III DSLR
- No tripod, camera was mounted on a Alien Bee ring flash on a noname light stand
- Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch
- Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS L
Lighting, light modifiers and accessories:
- Paul C. Buff Lighting: 2×1600WS, 2×800WS, 2×400WS, 1x Alien Bees Ring flash
- AlienBees Beauty dish, Westcott traslusent reflector, various softboxes.
- LG4X 4 channel remote control for flash units
- CyberSync™ CST Trigger Transmitter and CyberSync™ AC Powered Trigger Receiver
- Adobe Lightroom 3 Beta 2 as a remote capture solution for tethered shooting
All shots were done with: shutter speed 1/250 sec, F10, ISO 100, Custom WB 6100K
Hope this will be helpful to fellow photographers, potential clients will know how I work:-).
As always, I would be glad to hear your opinion.
About The Author: Alex Koloskov
The lighting magician, owner of AKELstudio, Inc.
From the perspective of someone who uses the end result of your labors, a good product picture makes our job of selling it so much easier. Too many suppliers overlook this aspect, and as our in-house photographer, I can tell you that distributors usually don’t have access to a good photo studio!
Austin,
I glad when my work does help to sell the product.
BTW, I was asked few times by the readers where they can buy such shoes… it was international readers:-)
I would be glad to help you with any other product you have, just let me know.
Great lighting setup for light absrb. dresses.thanks
v.v good setup
Wow, great setup. That gives me ideas for a studio we have been considering. Great job.