Would you like to learn how to take beautiful, warm and crisp photos of your artwork? Would you like to sell and/ or proudly feature your crafts, photos, paintings and creations online on a blog or website? Then Product Photography 101 is the class for you! In this class you will learn how to adjust manual settings in your camera (aperture, exposure, shutter speed, focus), you will learn and review some of the principals of photography, you will practice lighting and styling, and you will also learn how to best convey the shape, size, color, texture and style of your product/brand in photographs. You will have a chance to experiment with natural lighting and you'll also make your own lightbox/softbox/tent to simulate studio lighting at home.
This is how our class will flow:
Part 1 - We will look at a variety of still life and product photography examples and review some principles of photography. Then, we will focus on techniques to best convey shape, size, color, texture and style, and explore props and styling.
Part 2 - We will learn how to adjust camera settings to shoot in MANUAL MODE. You will never want to shoot in AUTO again!
Part 3 - We will set up personal workspaces so each student can shoot his/ her own products and we will learn how to set up and take advantage of a tripod. We will work indoors and outdoors using natural light.
Part 4 - We will construct a lightbox/softbox/lighting tent and learn some lighting tricks to work with a compact flash, a desk lamp and harsh sunlight.
Part 5 - We will talk about other types of photos you’ll need to create a cohesive online image that best reflects and highlights your products.
Part 6 - We will review and discuss students work highlighting styles and strengths. This is not a critique, but a space for encouragement!
Please click here to read the wonderful reviews from her 2010 Makerie students.
Skill Level
No experience necessary
Material List
- digital camera (with battery and memory cards!) or polaroid camera (with film!) - You don't need a fancy camera! The average "point and shoot" camera with at least 5 megapixels will do a nice job.
- battery charger
- tripod (if you have one) - little tripods such as a Gorillapod work too!
- samples of the product you would like to shoot
- samples of the materials you use in your crafting/art process (thread, wool, needles, buttons, brushes, etc)
- props to style your shots. I will have some props available but I encourage you to bring your own ~ old cameras, fabrics, cups, bottles, buttons, hangers, vintage books… These all work great.
- notebook, pen
- water bottle!
Material Fee
$10 (I will bring all the materials needed for the lightbox/tent tutorial. We will work in teams to build the lightbox/tent, style and shoot)
Alessandra Cave
My name is Alessandra Cave and I’m a film producer and photographer with a gypsy heart. I can’t help but always have my hand on a variety of creative projects. Currently, I’m splitting my time between photography, teaching assignments, speaking gigs, penning and shooting books, as well as caring for my baby daughter, who is my biggest creative achievement to date! I’m also the creator of Gypsy Girls Guide, a resource for women interested in travel and a bohemian lifestyle, and I’m a regular contributor to Shutter Sisters, an inspiring community of women photographers. When I am not doing any of the above, I’m either on an adventure around the world or you can find me practicing yoga, walking on the beach, hiking among redwoods, enjoying sunshine, reading, napping (trying to do lots of that since I had a baby!) and roaming the streets of San Francisco with my camera.
Alessandra holds a Masters in Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design and she worked for over 10 years as a visual effects producer for feature films and commercials. In 2009 Alessandra kissed the cubicle goodbye to pursue her dream of working as a professional photographer. She is completely self taught, and she is passionate about inspiring and empowering women to follow their creative passion.
Contact
http://www.alessandracave.com
alessandracave@gmail.com
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