Need some help with a product shoot

[roncgizmo]

I’ve never done this before aside from my own ebay shots
But they do come out well if I don’t say so myself..

Anyway, I have this opportunity to possibly do a catalog shoot.
The job will consist of about 100 products shot at 5 angles each
Shoot will need to be cutout in Photoshop for ad’s (no background at all)
Now what I’m not sure about is the background and the pricing.
All the product is electronics MP3 players, DJ gear and some semi pro gear
Most being black .. The problem I have here is cutting all the backgrounds
Out. Will it be easier to use a blue or green background or will it work just as good using a white background.

What about pricing and timelines? Any suggestions?

[roncgizmo]

Thanks Phill, I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying about using a black card lying on the background "but still leaving a little white between the card and the subject." can you explain that a little more? Thanks

[RocketRick]

Originally Posted by roncgizmo

All the product is electronics MP3 players, DJ gear and some semi pro gear
Most being black .. The problem I have here is cutting all the backgrounds
Out. Will it be easier to use a blue or green background or will it work just as good using a white background.

If your products are glossy or reflective at all (which it sounds like they will be), then you need to realize one important fact when you photograph them: you're not photographing the item, you're photographing what the item reflects (usually, your light sources).

If you use a colored background, you *will* have difficulties with odd color casts on the items. The reflections of the background *will* show up.

To avoid weird color casts, you'll need to shoot on either a pure white or a black surface. My suggestion is to build & set up (or purchase) a "light tent". This is a translucent white fabric cube. You place your item inside it, and shoot through a hole in the front cover. Your lights go outside, which lets you get very clean white reflections on your items, with no reflections of anything you don't want to have reflected. You can place your item on whatever sort of surface you need: black, white, matte, shiny, etc.

- Rick