Product photography is an art that demands both technical prowess and a discerning eye to capture images that truly reflect the essence of the product. The key player in this process is undoubtedly lighting.
The right lighting not only accentuates the beauty and details of your products but also shapes the perception of the viewers. Regardless of the product you are photographing, understanding lighting techniques is crucial for creating breathtaking photos.
No matter what type of product you are photographing, having knowledge of lighting techniques is essential for producing stunning photos.
In this article, we delve into the essential elements and strategies for effective product photography lighting, including the use of both artificial and natural light sources, various types of light modifiers, and common lighting challenges encountered in product photography.
Artificial Lighting for Product Photography
Using artificial lighting for product photography is the most common approach in the industry. Artificial light sources provide you with the ability to control the intensity, direction, and color temperature of your light source. This gives you greater flexibility when photographing products, as you can adjust these elements to create a specific look or effect.
When it comes to choosing a lighting company for product photography, there are a few key aspects to consider. First, you should look for companies that specialize in lighting equipment specifically designed for product photography. This will ensure that their products meet the needs of your specific shooting style and budget . Another important factor is customer service and support. It’s essential that you get help from the company should any issues arise with your equipment.
Here are our top picks that will help you get the most out of your product images.
Aputure Lighting
Aputure is a leading name in the realm of lighting products designed specifically for product photography and product videos. Their products are well-crafted and reliable, making them a top choice for photographers at all levels.
Aputure offers a broad range of lighting products, from softboxes and umbrellas to LED panels and more. They also provide studio lighting kits equipped with everything you need for your product photography and product video requirements.
Aputure offers a wide range of lighting products, from softboxes and umbrellas to LED panels and more. They also offer studio lighting kits with everything you need for your product photography and product video needs. Whether you’re shooting in a small studio or on location, Aputure’s lights provide bright, even illumination that will make your photos stand out. Aputure lights are easy to set up and use, making them great for both studio and outdoor shoots.
Aputure also offers accessories that can help you get the most out of your lighting setup. These include diffusers, reflectors, grids, gels, and more. With these accessories you can get creative with your light shaping.
Pros and Cons of Aputure lighting
Pros:
-Easy to set up and use
-Offers a wide range of lighting products
-Excellent customer service and support
-Reliable and well-designed lights
-Bright, even illumination for your photos
-Accessories available to help you get creative with your light shaping
Cons:
-Expensive compared to other lighting brands
-Not as many options for accessories as some of the more popular brands.
Overall, Aputure provides a great range of lights and accessories that make it ideal for product photography. Their customer service and support also makes them a great choice for beginners and professionals alike. The prices may be higher than some other brands, but the quality and reliability of their products make them worth the investment.
Godox Lighting
Godox is another prominent name in the lighting industry, offering a wide range of products specifically designed for product photography. Like Aputure, Godox also provides excellent customer service and support, making them an ideal choice for photographers at all levels. Godox lights are well-designed and reliable, ensuring that your photos will always look their best.
Godox lights are well-designed and reliable, so you can be sure that your photos will look great every time.
Pros and Cons of Godox Lighting
Pros:
-Easy to set up and use
-Great customer service and support
-Reliable and well-designed lights
-Bright, even illumination for your photos
-Competitively priced compared to other brands
Cons:
-Limited range of products in comparison to Aputure.
-Producing more heat in comparison to other light companies
Godox lights are also reliable and well-designed, providing bright and even illumination that will make your photos look amazing every time. If you’re looking for an affordable yet high-quality lighting option for your product photography, Godox is a great choice if you are on a budget!
ProPhoto Lighting
Profoto Lighting is a pioneer in professional lighting solutions for product photography and videos. With their innovative technology, Profoto has transformed the way products are seen in pictures and videos.
From the portability of their strobe lights to the accuracy of their color rendering, Profoto’s products offer a comprehensive solution that simplifies the process of capturing product photography and videos. profoto’s products offer an all-in-one solution that makes capturing product photography and videos easier than ever before.
The profoto product range includes strobe lights, softboxes, reflectors, and other accessories. Their lighting solutions are designed to be used in a variety of settings, from studios to outdoor locations. With profoto’s lightweight design, they can be quickly moved around and set up with ease.
Pros and Cons of ProPhoto Lighting
Pros:
– Professional quality lighting, with accurate color rendering
– Lightweight and portable design makes set-up easy
– Variety of accessories available to customize your lighting solution
– Long lasting LED bulbs provide reliable illumination over extended periods of time.
Cons:
– Expensive compared to other professional lighting options
– Bulbs can be delicate and require careful handling
– Limited range of strobe lights and accessories available compared to other brands.
Overall, profoto lighting is a good choice for photographers and videographers looking for professional quality lighting solutions. With their lightweight design and reliable illumination, profoto products make it easy to capture great product photos.
Broncolor Lighting
Broncolor is the epitome of excellence in lighting equipment. Broncolor products are not only easy to use and reliable, but they also withstand even the most challenging production environments.
With their innovative range of light modifiers, Broncolor has pushed the boundaries of photography even further.
Broncolor’s commitment to quality and their portfolio of award-winning lighting equipment make them one of the most trusted names in the industry. Whether you’re a professional photographer or an amateur enthusiast, Broncolor has something for everyone—so don’t wait any longer to take your photography to the next level.
Broncolor pros and cons
Pros:
-Broncolor products are more expensive than those of competitors, but the quality and reliability of Broncolor’s products is unparalleled.
-Broncolor also offers a wide range of lighting modifiers and accessories, making them ideal for any kind of shoot. The company also provides excellent customer support and service.
Cons:
-Broncolor products can be difficult to set up and take down, which can be a real challenge for photographers who are just starting out.
-Broncolor products require a certain level of technical knowledge in order to operate them properly.
-Broncolor does not offer any low-cost starter kits, so photographers who are just getting into the business may find Broncolor to be a bit out of their budget.
Overall, Broncolor is an excellent choice for photographers who want top-notch lighting equipment.
Paul C buff Lighting
Paul C Buff is a globally recognized lighting manufacturer and retailer, offering photographers and filmmakers the highest quality products for all of their needs.
Their extensive range of professional lighting equipment covers everything from fluorescent ring lights and softboxes to studio lights strobes and battery power systems – you’re sure to find something that fits your project’s needs.
The company has earned a reputation for producing incredibly reliable and robust products that have become popular among professional photographers and filmmakers alike. The broad range of lighting options available from Paul C Buff allows you to get creative while also ensuring that your photos look crisp and high-quality. Whether you’re shooting stills or video, the right lighting can make all the difference.
On the downside, Paul C Buff lighting can be quite expensive compared to other brands on the market. However, if you are willing to invest in quality lighting then you will find that it pays off in the long-run. Not only will you get beautiful results every time but also the satisfaction of knowing that your lighting is reliable and built to last.
Paul C buff lights Pros and Cons
Pros:
– High quality and reliable products
– Durable materials
– Comprehensive warranty
– Excellent customer service
Cons:
– Expensive compared to other brands on the market.
– Limited accessories that will wotk with Paul C buff lights
Overall, Paul C Buff lighting is a great choice for photographers and filmmakers who are looking for high-quality equipment that they can rely on. With their extensive range of products and generous warranty.
So why choose Paul C Buff’s lighting solutions? Well, if you’re looking for professional quality products that are built to last, then this brand is a great choice. With their comprehensive warranty and excellent customer service, you can be sure of consistent results and peace of mind. Whether you’re shooting stills or video, the right lighting can make all the difference – so why not choose Paul C Buff?
Final Words
The choice of lighting company for your product photography depends on your budget and desired photography results. If you are just starting out, Godox may be a good choice as they offer more affordable lighting options that work with third-party accessories. Their lights also feature Bowen mount compatibility to ensure the best of both worlds.
For professionals, Aputure lighting comes highly recommended. Despite the higher price tag compared to other brands, it offers superior features in some aspects and has been beneficial to many professionals in the field.
Remember, the right lighting can make all the difference in your product photography. Choose wisely and let your photos speak for themselves.
As a professional, I can confidently recommend Aputure lighting. With my own experience using it, I know that though the price is higher than other brands, it offers superior features in some aspects and has been beneficial to me.
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2 thoughts on “The best Lighting Company for your Product Photography”
There are speed ring adapters that enable third party manufacturers of soft boxes (FJ Westcott, Fotodiox, etc…) to fit PCB lights with no problem. Along with PCB soft boxes, I use the Westcott Switch soft boxes find them to be excellent. PCB Einsteins are renowned for having one of the shortest flash duration t.1 times, if not the fastest, for action-stopping speed in comparison to other mono lights.
I tested an Einstein E640 ($512) against a Broncolor Siros 800 S ($1,297), and the Einstein surprised me. It considerably beat the Siros for freezing action (water splash).
I did work with PCB for a while, I do like them, but they are a little dated I feel compare to new lights. You are right about the accessories ( converter) I’ll edit that part.