Soft, directional light
A north-facing window, a diffusion panel, or a light tent reduces hard reflections on glossy surfaces and keeps shadows readable.
Still-life photography at home
Photographing small objects on a kitchen table
Reference notes on lighting, backgrounds and composition for small-object and still-life photography, written for the rooms, daylight and gear available in a typical German apartment.
Three working areas
What changes the result most
For tabletop subjects the outcome is decided by a few controllable factors. These three areas cover most of what a home setup can influence.
Clean, neutral surfaces
A seamless sweep, matte board, or a plain textile keeps attention on the object and avoids colour casts that are hard to correct later.
Stable framing
A tripod, a fixed angle and consistent margins let you repeat a shot and build a coherent set of images for the same object.
Articles
Detailed walkthroughs
Lighting small objects at home
Working with window light, diffusion and an improvised light tent to control highlights on reflective subjects.
Open article
Backgrounds and surfaces
Choosing seamless sweeps, boards and textiles, and avoiding colour casts when shooting on a budget at home.
Open article
Composition and framing
Camera angle, focal length, depth of field and repeatable framing for a consistent series of product images.
Open article
Contact
Send a question or correction
Use the form below for questions about the notes on this site. Fields are validated in the browser; nothing is sent to a server.