Lighting Techniques and Setups Flashcards
7 cards from real Product Photography practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Lighting Techniques and Setups flashcards as text
What is 'high-key' lighting in product photography?
Answer: A brightly lit setup with a white or very light background and minimal shadows, conveying a clean, airy feel
High-key lighting uses bright, even illumination and a light background to create an upbeat, clean aesthetic commonly used in e-commerce and beauty products.
Which approach best prevents hot spots (overexposed specular reflections) when shooting glossy packaged products?
Answer: Using a large diffused light source or diffusion tent and angling the light to avoid direct reflection toward the lens
Large, diffused light sources spread specular reflections into smooth gradients rather than concentrated hot spots, and angling prevents them from reflecting directly into the lens.
In product photography, what does a 'gobo' refer to?
Answer: An opaque or translucent panel used to block, flag, or diffuse light in specific areas
A gobo (go-between) is a general term for any panel used to control light, whether to block spill, create shadow, or diffuse a light source.
Why might a photographer use a grid on a softbox when shooting product photography?
Answer: To narrow the beam angle and prevent light from spilling onto the background or other areas
A grid attachment restricts light to a more forward-directed beam, giving the photographer control over exactly where the soft light falls without spilling.
What is the key advantage of using continuous LED lighting over strobe lighting for product photography beginners?
Answer: LEDs allow photographers to see exactly how the light looks in real time before shooting, making setup easier
Continuous lights show the effect of positioning and modifiers in real time through the viewfinder, removing guesswork compared to strobes that fire only at the moment of exposure.
When using a white seamless sweep background, which type of light placement causes unwanted shadow from the product to appear on the background?
Answer: A front light placed too low and close to the product, projecting the product's shadow backward
A low front light casts the product's shadow rearward onto the background sweep; raising the light or increasing the distance between product and background eliminates this.
What is 'color spill' in product photography and how is it typically corrected?
Answer: Unwanted color cast reflected onto the product from nearby colored surfaces or backgrounds; corrected by moving the product away or using neutral-colored surroundings
Color spill occurs when colored walls, backgrounds, or props reflect their hue onto the product; using neutral gray or white surroundings and increasing product-to-background distance minimizes it.