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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Questions

Photography Question 
Cheri M. Allison
BetterPhoto Member Since: 6/1/2004 		 

set-up for shooting mirrors for website/brochure


Hi-
I need to shoot some mirrors (23"x19" & 26"x20") for my business that will be individually uploaded to the web and also used in a brochure.
Each mirror will need to be shot straight on as this is the actually product that I'm trying to sell.
How do you keep the camera (as well as other items in the room)out of the mirror?
How would I do so without investing a ton of money in the project? Will I need to invest in one of those tent setups?
Perhaps there's a remedy in Photoshop (I have CS2) but I wanted to get good advice before I begin.
Thanks!
Cheri Allison


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8/6/2007 6:12:35 AM

 
Debby A. Tabb
BetterPhoto Member Since: 9/4/2004 		 
 
  The Grad
The Grad
Fuji S2, 200/200/f22 200mm lens 3 light sysytem
Untouched
© Debby A. Tabb
Fuji FinePix S2 Pr... 		 
 
In mirror shots I have done, I use a large amount of black material/making kind of a open box.
lights high, strech black material accross the front.
Camera is on a tripod behind the black screen.Shoot over the top, now this could give a prespective you don't want,
if you'd like put a small table with flowers ect. in front of black screen and a hole for lens in black screen.
This is how I did it for film, no photshop used.
I hope this helps,
Debby


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8/6/2007 6:27:39 AM

 
Gregory LaGrange
BetterPhoto Member Since: 11/11/2003
gregorylagrange.org 		  If you have to shoot it straight on, seems simple enough. Clone out the camera. have a plain wall behind the camera.


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8/6/2007 6:43:03 PM

 
Alan N. Marcus   Hi Cheri,

Some ideas:
1. Using white 4’x8’ sheets of in-the-wall insulator board or using other suitable material, construct a white wall between camera and mirror. Cut a hole in the wall just large enough for the camera lens. Shoot through this peep hole. You can use your editing software to clone out any trace of the hole.
2. An old trick when shooting glass or jewelry was to procure an old flint gun. You know the type used to spray insecticide. Fill the tank with a mixture of water and talcum power. Mask the frame area of the mirror and spray with this mixture. It will dry and this dry material will dull down the glass.
3. Purchase sheets of Plexiglas not clear but milk Cut to size and overlay over the glass. Maybe better is plastic sheeting from a graphic arts store. You can purchase Mylar drawing material that looks just like ground glass.
4. You can use hair spray. Acts like a flat clear lacquer but comes off with Windex.
5. You can experiment with other spray-on or paint-on materials. Check with a sign painter, they have nifty paints to apply to glass.

Hope this helps.

Alan Marcus (dispenser of marginal technical advice)


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8/6/2007 8:49:39 PM

 
Cheri M. Allison
BetterPhoto Member Since: 6/1/2004 		  Thanks guys & gals for all of the above information. I feel confident to do my shoot with the advice that you all have given me!!!
:0)


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8/17/2007 5:17:19 AM

 
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