I need help please :)

[masmba]

I sell little girls hair accessories and I'm in the process of building a website for this. My big problem is pictures. I'm not a pro by any means of the word. I've been trying to learn a little at a time.

My problem is lighting. I want the colors to be as close to true life as possible. I've been taking pictures of my products outside in the shade. They just look too dark to me. I could brighten them in Photoshop, but that seems to throw the colors off. I've tried all kinds of settings on my camera and it doesn't seem to help. I've even used the flash, and they are still too dark. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

I'll attach a few examples. The first picture is one that is already edited for my website. I included the original of that one too. It didn't need too much lightening up. The rest are originals other than resizing.

[CaptainTom]

1- don't use AWB.
2- learn to do a custom white balance
3- use a grey card to determine exposure.
4- make sure your monitor is calibrated.
5- call back when you get all this sorted out, or ask specific questions about each point as needed.

[Ahh!]

I took one as an example while talking with a client. Let me know if this is too much.

[masmba]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

1- don't use AWB.
2- learn to do a custom white balance
3- use a grey card to determine exposure.
4- make sure your monitor is calibrated.
5- call back when you get all this sorted out, or ask specific questions about each point as needed.

Thanks for replying. :)
1-I already don't use AWB. That seems to make it worse.
2-I've been using the Shade setting. I guess I need to read my manual and figure out how to do a custom white balance.
3- I have no idea what a grey card is. Off to use Google.
4- I'll ask DH about that when he gets home from work.
:D

[masmba]

Originally Posted by Ahh!

I took one as an example while talking with a client. Let me know if this is too much.

Thank you. :)
This is exactly what happens when I lighten it in Photoshop. It looks brighter, but the colors aren't right. The green is a darker evergreen color in real life. Or maybe it's just my monitor throwing it off for me?

[CaptainTom]

some reading for ya to get an idea of how to get the color and exposure right.

http://www.digitalartsphotography.com/instructions.htm

[masmba]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

some reading for ya to get an idea of how to get the color and exposure right.

http://www.digitalartsphotography.com/instructions.htm

Thank you! I don't have time right now, but I'm saving this to read later. :)

[venchka]

Macro lens. Your items are lost in space.
Contrasting, neutral, textureless background. Some of your items are blending too much with the background. They get lost. They should stand out. In fact, figure out a way to suspend the items away from the background. Without the support showing.
Tripod. I assume you have one. If not, get one.

Kodak Gray Card

[masmba]

Originally Posted by venchka

Macro lens. Your items are lost in space.
Contrasting, neutral, textureless background. Some of your items are blending too much with the background. They get lost. They should stand out. In fact, figure out a way to suspend the items away from the background. Without the support showing.
Tripod. I assume you have one. If not, get one.

Kodak Gray Card

Thank you for the tips. :)
Unfortunately, a new lense isn't in my budget right now. Hopefully by next year.

I know there is a lot of space around my items, but I will be Photoshopping out the background to look like the first picture. My new website has a white background and so will the pictures of my items. I wanted a simple clean look so my items would stand out.

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't have a tripod. I'll be getting one in the very near future.

Thanks for the link to the grey card too. :) I read the above link that CaptainTom posted, so now I know what it is and how to use one.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by masmba

My new website has a white background and so will the pictures of my items. I wanted a simple clean look so my items would stand out

Why don't you shoot it on a white background?
That will make the editing much easier.

[Freedbaby]

Originally Posted by MicWayWal

Why don't you shoot it on a white background?
That will make the editing much easier.

Ditto....go to Wal Mart or a crafts store like Hobby Lobby and buy some thin sheets of foam paper. They make it in plenty of colors, I would recommend white though. It is non-reflective and it has no texture. I think the last time I bought it, it was around $0.79 a sheet.

You gotta learn how to set your custom white balance using a gray card.....That's the only way your colors will be right. I would also suggest making a do it yourself light box so that all the pictures are the same each time. It seems relying on a shady day is a big variable.

For what its worth...

freedbaby

[HotHolly]

Foam paper would work and its not a pain to store. If you use a white board, you'll get a nice little reflection under the bow (aka foam core).

You can do a batch WB in PS when you do your PP if you shoot in RAW. You can do it in jpg too depending on which version of PS you have. Very fast and easy. And you can use your whiteboard as the reference point since ribbons tend to range from pure white to ivory.

As for the light, if its already been said please ignore, but what about a continual light source? You can get a hot light on the cheap, plug it in and always get the same lighting results.

[venchka]

Extension tubes are cheaper than macro lenses and serve the same purpose.

Photoshop is ok, but there is no substitute for getting the photo right in the camera.

[Nikonguy]

I agree with everything that's been said prior to my post. However, since hair accessories are usually small, have you also thought about using a lightbox? These simple setups can be made (as was described earlier) or purchased at a very reasonable cost. This will provide uniform, diffused lighting and provide a neutral background.