 Junelle Rhodes |
Fuji Finepix S5800 and Radio Slave
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-PRO-PHOTOGRAPHY-600W-STROBE-FLASH-LIGHT-SET-1-NR_W0QQitemZ310017231504QQihZ021QQcategoryZ30088QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem for lighting but it has a radio slave and I have no idea if it will attach to my camera. I would love some advice if this is worth it or if not what someone recommends! I can't go over $500.00.
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Junelle, Yes a radio slave will probably attach to your camera, but that does not mean it will work with your camera. I can’t find any info on the Fuji S5800, so I can’t be sure. Radio slaves fit into hot shoes; most cameras have these. The problem is that you will need to be able to control the camera manually, and you will need to turn off any pre flash that the camera might use for focus or red-eye reduction. The strobe system you picked is very cheap and so probably not reliable. If you are going to do a lot of product photography it might make sense to invest in good equipment and education, but if you need one or two images hire someone with skills in this specialty. If you have never done product photography just buying strobe gear will not give you quality photography. Thanks, John Siskin
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Junelle Rhodes |
HI John, Thanks for your quick reply. The fuji finepix doesn't havea hot shoe. It can be set to manual to stop the internal flash. We can't afford to pay someone for product photography, I have to figure this out! What equipment would you recomend and then what course! (Including another camera if need be!) A lot of the product photography courses are for small items, the balloon in the picture is your typical sized foil balloon! So it wont fit in a photo cube! I would prefer to have the right equipment before I do a course. Also Obviously I can't afford expensive equipment, so budget ideas will be appreciated!
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Junelle, You’re going to drop a couple of grand on lights and camera, and take weeks learning how to do this well, but you can’t afford a professional? I just finished a three day catalog shoot with close to 3000 items, and I probably didn’t charge more than you are going to spend on equipment. Anyway here’s a list: Nikon D80 with a fixed 50 mm lens. I Alien Bee B1600 and 2 B400. Stands, light panels ( see my article here about building light panels) and umbrellas. There are camera specific classes here at BetterPhoto, and I teach a class called Understanding the Tools of Lighting. The real question is how do you want your product represented, you can have it done professionally or have someone who is just learning do the work. Your choice.
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Junelle Rhodes |
HI John, I hear you, but the difficulty is that I have been quoted around $25 AUD per shot over 2 days and the stock comes in in dribs and drabs, so I would have to accumulate a pile of it to send for a 2 day shoot. Plus I would be needed to infalte the balloons as well.
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Junelle, All of these are common problems for a start up business. I have had some clients who tried to do it themselves; the result is usually a going out of business sale. With all respect I probably understand what you want pretty well. I have done product photography for about a quarter of a century. I understand what you need to get there, for the same reason. $25 AUD would be a very good deal in Los Angeles for product that came in one piece at a time. I think you would do better to put pressure on your suppliers to provide samples in a more timely manner, after all you hope to give large orders, don’t you? I am sure if you had a hundred shots to do at one time you could negotiate a better deal with a photographer. One of the biggest problems that a start-up business has is limited capital. This makes it difficult to buy in bulk and to advertise. This gives any competitors, with significant business capital, a real business advantage. I don’t know of a way to get top quality photos for your adds without a significant investment, at least a couple of thousand dollars for equipment if you do it your self. I should also point out that Mylar balloons see reflections in all directions, this makes them very difficult to light. Thanks, John Siskin
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Junelle Rhodes |
Hi John, Yes I was a bit worried abuot the Mylar Balloon! $25 is not for one shot at a time but rather for each shot over 2 days! So I need all of the stock available. Do you not think it is an investment in the long run to learn to do it myself? We do get the odd individual things as well. Junelle
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Junelle, Well it certainly is an investment. The question is will you be able to achieve the quality you need to represent your product? All the manufacturer’s websites say they you can shoot anything with their product, but that isn’t true much of the time. One thing you might want to do is have the photographer do a shoot for you. Most of my clients are at the shoot, and you should be too. Certainly you will know a lot about the methods and equipment needed after you have watched someone do the work. I have to say, as a product photographer, many of my clients disparage my talents until they try to do it themselves. Honestly, it will take you at least a couple of months to get good at this. It will be, at least occasionally, frustrating. You will probably spend more money than the first shoot would cost you. Given that you are up for that, you will save money in the long run and have greater control over the presentation of your product. In addition you will be able to take a day for one shot (a single shot comes with set-up and clean-up) when you need that one shot. Thanks, John Siskin
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