Best way to photograph bags?

Hattysattic

Hattysattic

VFG Member
Now that may sound like a very silly question - but I hardly ever list small things!

I have just been trying to photograph a black 50s pocketbook and I am finding it really hard work. Any really obvious tips that you guys can share?

Backgrounds, propping up, propping open, lighting - all that stuff I seem to be really bad it. Give me a dress and a mannequin and I've got it fairly well sussed.. but this is why I have no accessories listed on my website, lol :BAGUSE:
 
:D

Black is difficult and black AND small - YEESH. I look forward to what others have to say, I have to settle for a greyish charcoal in order to get any definition.
 
I could go on for hours on this subject here is a few pointers,I do use a web cam for very small items this has a smaller focal length the most digital cameras and can come up with some good detail.
I always use a white background A1 sheet of card, It is sometimes worth taking it outside into natural light not sunlight just good daylight. and also the white balance on the camera can be out a little.
It really is trail and error in the main.


Just added:- proping up/open
Pop down to the toyshop and get some Plastersene. You can mould this to any shape and put it behind the item giving it support.
 
Thanks Paul!

I'm going to pary for no rain tomorrow and head outside.
This was my indoor attempt but it isn't really that great - I shall post a picture of my outdoor attmpts tomorrow and see how they compare!

 
Try a lighter creme background or a very light pastel color.

Also I take all my black and white items photos at dusk. Then I download them to photoshop and mess with them there. Most of the time I dont really have to mess with the lightening on the picture.

I don't really use much to hold it up. For small things I use hanger pins to give something an angle. And sometimes I use my cookbook stand too.

I hope that helps some....
 
The shadow is also my bug and I have never found a way around it well , you need a lot of artificial light etc like pro photographs have which goes I think onto the background and not the item.
but if you go outside with no sun that should limit a lot.


Also black cotton can be tied onto a item and will not show up especially on black items.
For me it's paint shop pro and as Jamie says you can do a lot with imaging programs
Have fun...
 
Originally posted by chezmov
I'm wondering if anyone uses a photographic tent for smaller items and if they produce the results that some say they do?
Click to expand...

I have never done , but I know some one who has one and they did say it is good. but like every thing they will be good and bad ones... no help really.. if no one here can give a definative answer then I can ask them about it sometime!
 
Harriet, I love photographing bags & would rather do 5 bags than 1 dress on a manni!

I would use a very light blue, ivory, or grey background (I use a light blue bed sheet tacked up on the wall, then spread out over my tabletop). I use one or two lamps (depending on the size of the purse) pointed--at an angle, not directly--at the backdrop to reduce shadows and also place the bag at the front of the table, which helps to avoid shadows as well. I then light it from the sides and the front. If it doesn't stand up on its own, I use any number of things to prop it against--a large gum eraser, child's wooden or plastic block, or, and this is my favorite for the larger bags--a roll of packing tape laid flat. If the bag slides off this, I put something small & sturdy on top of the tape roll for more support. This works better than anything I've tried, as it doesn't show behind the bag and will prop up a good-sized bag quite nicely.

I do have to work at not getting too much glare off the surface from the lights, but find that a bit of reflection off the bag adds interest to the photo. With black bags, I normally get the sharpest shot I can with some detail but then also either shoot with more light or just lighten up the picture considerably in retouching to show the detail. Usually if your lighting was good, there will be detail even in the shadow areas when you lighten it up!

HTH!
 
Anne that's a great help -I thought of your ag pictures actually as being some I wanted to emulate, lol! Isn't it funny how we all prefer photographing different things.

I actually remembered about those pop up photography cube tent affairs as I was trying to get to sleep (OT: I think it must be freshers week here at the university as there was a lot of merriment at 2am on the main road.. why do I live in town?! anyway..) and wondered if anyone used them

I have a white pop up laundry bag, wonder how that would work as a cheapy option!
 
Harriet, if the laundry bag is not a stark naked white, it might work. Bright whites are not the best for backdrops (while I'm no expert on photography, I had classes in it in school, and used to assist at photo shoots, and the photogs never used white backdrops!). A muted, soft white would probably work... My other "backdrop" is an old white sheet that has lost its freshness, so is better for photography than it is for beds.

And thanks for your comments on my shots--I almost never get them quite exactly as I want them, but I've gotten it to the point where it doesn't take me very long to shoot them!
 
whenever possible l take my pics outside, as the detail and texture is best picked up like that l find.....

l love that bag hatty!! have you sold it? is it corde? do tell
 
I don't think your photo is as bad as you think Harriet. I like the texture of the fabric and you can see the details of the bag pretty well.
 
I think your photo is excellent, Harriet. The only thing I would improve is the shadow, which you already mentioned. The backdrop is an unusual color (since most people use white, gray or blue) but I don't think it's bad at all.

I think if you add a light to the side of the purse, and aim the light toward the backdrop, you'll find that the shadows are almost eliminated.

Laura
 
Thank you Laura and Chris (the impromtu backdrop is my ikea curtains in the study resting on a kickstool, lol)!

I'm going to try again with an extra light Laura, thanks for that!
 
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