New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
p.1 #1New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
Hi folks,
I figured it was time to stop lurking and actually introduce myself. My name is Phil and I’ve been getting more serious about photography lately and right now I’m mainly focusing on product photography.
Most of what I’m interested in working on is small tabletop stuff. Things like guitar effects pedals, small kitchen products, various types of packaged items, that sort of thing. I’m trying to get to the point where I can consistently shoot clean commercial quality product photos. Eventually I want to start learning food photography as well.
I’m still very much in the learning phase and trying to really understand the fundamentals. Exposure, depth of field, lighting, reflections, all the things that make product shots look clean instead of amateur.
My current gear setup is:
Camera: Nikon D5300
Nikon 40mm Micro-Nikkor f/2.8
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Nikon 18-55 kit lens
Most of my shooting right now is tripod-based tabletop setups while I experiment with lighting and camera settings.
Speaking of lighting, that’s probably the area I’m trying to improve the most right now. If anyone here has recommendations for solid but reasonably affordable lighting for product photography, I’d really love to hear what’s worked for you. Right now I’m using some cheap lighting that’s pretty amateurish that I got from Amazon.
So I’m curious - If you were starting over today and wanted a good but inexpensive lighting setup, what would you buy first?
Anyway, glad to be here and looking forward to learning from the community.
Phil
I figured it was time to stop lurking and actually introduce myself. My name is Phil and I’ve been getting more serious about photography lately and right now I’m mainly focusing on product photography.
Most of what I’m interested in working on is small tabletop stuff. Things like guitar effects pedals, small kitchen products, various types of packaged items, that sort of thing. I’m trying to get to the point where I can consistently shoot clean commercial quality product photos. Eventually I want to start learning food photography as well.
I’m still very much in the learning phase and trying to really understand the fundamentals. Exposure, depth of field, lighting, reflections, all the things that make product shots look clean instead of amateur.
My current gear setup is:
Camera: Nikon D5300
Nikon 40mm Micro-Nikkor f/2.8
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Nikon 18-55 kit lens
Most of my shooting right now is tripod-based tabletop setups while I experiment with lighting and camera settings.
Speaking of lighting, that’s probably the area I’m trying to improve the most right now. If anyone here has recommendations for solid but reasonably affordable lighting for product photography, I’d really love to hear what’s worked for you. Right now I’m using some cheap lighting that’s pretty amateurish that I got from Amazon.
So I’m curious - If you were starting over today and wanted a good but inexpensive lighting setup, what would you buy first?
Anyway, glad to be here and looking forward to learning from the community.
Phil
Mar 12, 2026 at 01:57 AM
p.1 #2New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
You might try posting this in the Lighting and Studio Techniques forum. This is really for forum related questions and is probably the least viewed forum on the site.
Mar 12, 2026 at 12:34 PM
p.1 #3New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
Welcome to the sandbox, Phil.
I would direct you to the "Macro & Still Life" section. That seems to be the designated landing zone for product and still life photography.
I happen to use Canon gear, but you might find the Nikon forum to be helpful. Also, there is a lighting forum that might provide some helpful answers.
As far as lighting goes, I would encourage you to look at the Godox line of flash units. They are quite popular, reasonably priced, and there are plenty of modifiers available to fit them. You will find battery powered as well as 120v powered units ranging in intensity from 100ws up to 1200ws.
©¿©
LB
I would direct you to the "Macro & Still Life" section. That seems to be the designated landing zone for product and still life photography.
I happen to use Canon gear, but you might find the Nikon forum to be helpful. Also, there is a lighting forum that might provide some helpful answers.
As far as lighting goes, I would encourage you to look at the Godox line of flash units. They are quite popular, reasonably priced, and there are plenty of modifiers available to fit them. You will find battery powered as well as 120v powered units ranging in intensity from 100ws up to 1200ws.
©¿©
LB
Mar 12, 2026 at 12:48 PM
p.1 #4New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
Yes WELCOME Phil!
The above suggestions will help you navigate thru the forums until you get a "handle" on what forum to get the most "looks".
Dan
The above suggestions will help you navigate thru the forums until you get a "handle" on what forum to get the most "looks".
Dan
Mar 13, 2026 at 05:43 AM
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p.1 #5New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it.
Mar 13, 2026 at 11:42 PM
p.1 #6New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
Bondservant wrote:
Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it.
I forgot to add that you can also "cross post" to another forum also. Multiple looks from different forums.
Good luck!
Dan
Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it.
I forgot to add that you can also "cross post" to another forum also. Multiple looks from different forums.
Good luck!
Dan
Mar 14, 2026 at 09:35 AM
p.1 #7New Member – Learning Product Photography and Looking for Lighting Advice
Danpbphoto wrote:
I forgot to add that you can also "cross post" to another forum also
Interesting! Most forums actually frown on cross posting.
I forgot to add that you can also "cross post" to another forum also
Interesting! Most forums actually frown on cross posting.
Mar 14, 2026 at 05:33 PM