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By now, you know that quality product photography is an essential part of any e-commerce venture. I don’t need to make the case for that.
But what you may not know is that not all products can be photographed the same way. With some, all you need is a backdrop and a few strobes. But when it comes to reflective product photography, it’s a whole different ballgame.
This month, we worked with Aperçu Eyewear to revamp their storefront. They had been photographing their luxury sunglasses in-house for a while, and were ready for an upgrade. They also wanted to give themselves more time to do what they do best – sell sunglasses!
The thing about sunglasses is that every single surface is reflective. It was taking Aperçu staff days to photograph each new SKU, and I understood why. In order to photograph these products properly, we built a makeshift lightbox that surrounded the glasses with rounded white panels on all sides. We cut a hole into one of the panels to shoot through, and utilized polarizing filters to minimize reflections further.
Even after this, photoshop was required to add that final polish to the images.
Have a reflective product of your own to contend with? Here’s a quick guide we wrote up to set you up for success!
The Challenges of Reflective Product Photography
Photographing reflective surfaces is notoriously tricky. What may look sleek and glossy in person can become a nightmare when captured in a photo. Here’s why reflective product photography presents such unique challenges:
1. Unwanted Reflections
The most obvious challenge in reflective product photography is dealing with unwanted reflections. Shiny surfaces, like glass, metal, or plastic, can mirror light sources, surrounding objects, or even the photographer’s own gear. These reflections can result in distracting spots or ghostly images that take the focus away from the product itself. For example, photographing a polished smartphone might reflect the light stands, the photographer’s camera, or other equipment, creating a cluttered, unprofessional look.
2. Light Control
Lighting is a crucial element of all photography, but it’s even more important in reflective product photography. Light can bounce off reflective surfaces in multiple directions, often creating harsh glares or highlights that obscure important details. For example, capturing the reflective surface of a car part or a watch face might result in glaring spots where the light is too harsh, making it difficult to see the product clearly. Managing this light is key to ensuring that the product looks sharp without those distracting reflections.
3. Focus and Sharpness Issues
Another issue when photographing reflective products is the challenge of maintaining focus. The highly reflective surfaces can cause the light to bounce in unpredictable ways, which in turn can result in uneven focus across the product. Getting the image sharp and crisp on such surfaces requires precise control over the focus point. This becomes particularly tricky with products that have curves, like glassware or jewelry, where reflections can distort the focus.
4. Color Accuracy
Reflections in the product’s surface can also impact color accuracy in the photo. If the photographer or background elements are reflected in the surface, they can influence the color temperature, making the product appear unnaturally warm or cool. For example, photographing a silver necklace could result in a reflection of the photographer’s dark clothing, which could distort the overall hue. Maintaining true-to-life color in reflective product photography requires extra attention to detail to avoid color shifts.
How to Master Reflective Product Photography: Tips and Techniques
While reflective product photography can be difficult, it’s certainly not impossible. With the right techniques, you can minimize reflections, control light, and capture clear, compelling images of your shiny products. Here are some tips to help you get the best results:
1. Use Diffused Lighting
One of the most effective ways to control reflections in reflective product photography is by using diffused lighting. Harsh, direct lighting creates intense reflections and bright spots that can overwhelm the product. By diffusing the light with softboxes, umbrellas, or diffusion panels, you scatter the light more evenly across the surface. This reduces harsh reflections and produces a soft, flattering glow that reveals the product’s details without overexposing them.
Additionally, using multiple light sources at different angles helps eliminate shadows and provides more even lighting. For instance, placing one light above and one below the product at a 45-degree angle can minimize unwanted reflections from certain directions.
2. Control the Background and Environment
A clean, controlled environment is essential in reflective product photography. Reflective products tend to pick up not only the light but also the surrounding objects, which can create unwanted distractions in the reflection. To minimize this, use a neutral-colored background (like white, black, or grey) that contrasts with the product without introducing additional reflections. Avoid clutter or shiny items in the background that could reflect on the product's surface.
You can also use black cards or flags around the product to block or shape light, directing it only to the areas that you want to highlight and eliminating reflections from certain angles.
3. Experiment with Angles
The angle from which you shoot is critical in reflective product photography. Since reflective surfaces can easily mirror the surroundings, adjusting your shooting angle helps avoid picking up distracting reflections. Instead of shooting straight on, experiment with shooting from slightly above, below, or to the side. This allows you to capture the product’s key features while avoiding reflections of studio lights, camera gear, or even yourself.
Sometimes shooting through a piece of clear glass or acrylic at a slight angle can help minimize reflections while still offering a sharp, clear shot of the product. This approach also adds a creative touch to your photographs, which can be especially useful for lifestyle shots or product ads.
4. Utilize Polarizing Filters
A polarizing filter is an excellent tool for reflective product photography. These filters reduce reflections on glossy surfaces, like glass or metal, by blocking certain light waves from entering the lens. By attaching a polarizing filter to your camera, you can significantly reduce glare, allowing you to capture the product more clearly and accurately.
Polarizers also help to saturate colors and improve contrast, which can make the product appear more vibrant and true to life. However, be mindful that polarizing filters can affect the entire image, so it’s essential to test and adjust the filter for the best results.
5. Post-Processing
Even with the best techniques, some reflections might still sneak into your images. Fortunately, post-processing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom can be used to remove minor reflections and adjust color and contrast. Tools such as the healing brush or clone stamp can help erase distractions and perfect the image. You can also use adjustment layers to fine-tune exposure and balance the light in post-production.
In some cases, photographers will take multiple images from slightly different angles to capture different reflections and combine them in editing. This technique, known as focus stacking or image blending, ensures a flawless final shot.
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At the end of the day, nothing is better than hiring a professional. But we understand that’s not always in the budget! If you ever have any questions about taking your reflective product photography to the next level, the Flaire Studio team is here to answer your questions.
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