Photo essential #2 for great pictures (specifically pictures that are going to be edited), is a proper backdrop.  A backdrop does achieves two major goals for us in product shots.  First, it provides a nice consistent background color which will make it easier for the computer to pick up and single out.  Second, it give a nice area to serve as a minor backlight for your shot reflecting your keylight from behind.  This will result in that awesome heavenly glow, that will make your product pics look glorious.

You have many options in the backdrop department.  There are tons of commercially available backdrops at a broad range of price points.  From what I’ve read online, muslin is the fabric of choice for photography backdrops.  I actually bought such a backdrop for our videos.  Muslin is a very canvasy fabric which in my eperience is quite resistant to wrinkles.  It’s pretty nice and seems to be the backdrop of preference for professionals.  Of course, for cheaper you might consider a cotton beadsheet.  You might have more luck folding the sheet so that it’s thicker, and reflects more light.  Even just a solid colored wall will increase your consistency and give you an easier job editing them later.

Then there’s the question of coloring.  I would recommend a WHITE background.  This will give you optimal backlighting and also provide the most forgiving environment for photoshopping.  Another strong choice for a computing perspective is a blue or green backdrop.  Filmographers use blue and green backdrops for bluescreening because neither of these hues are present in human skintones and can therefore be separated from said skintones with a computer most easily.  Another choice obviously is a dark background.  This background choice is sub-optimal but does have some redeeming qualities.  For one, dark backgrounds absorb a maximum amount of light reducing glare, but also reducing backlighting.  However, a black background can, as it does on our site at TatStore.com, inspire a bit of a trademarking effect, distinguishing your pictures from your competitors’.

At this point in our survey, I would be silly not to suggest to you a lightbox.  A lightbox is a nice comercial solution that will take care of both lighting and backdrop for you.  In the words of Ron Popeil, “just set it… and forget it.”  These boxes, like the ones seen here, basically allow you to simply put your product in them, light them from both sides, and snap perfect pictures everytime.

Next week, I’ll be back with our final photo essential for great pics.