Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras-Tabletop Photos: Tips for Indoor Close-up Still Photography

For those thinking about posting pictures on eBay or illustrating a blog or articles with their own photos, but thought they needed fancy equipment and an expensive set up, here are some tips for budget professional home photography.

Using a small and fairly lightweight point-and-shoot digital camera is perfectly acceptable when producing high-quality indoor shots of inanimate objects. Usually these are done using a light tent with additional lighting, a seamless background, and a tripod to hold the camera. It is not necessary to have a SLR with expensive lenses and a fancy studio to take photos of things like jewelry or collectibles, objects that are smaller than 24″ in height and width.

It’s Not Necessary to Spend a Lot of Money

Most point-and-shoot cameras today come with settings for indoor and close-up shots, instructions for manual exposures, etc. Following the camera instruction booklet’s directions for shooting indoors in a controlled lighting situation, adjust the camera appropriately.

A tabletop studio consists of a tent or box-like structure, usually collapsible for storage. It is commonly available in sizes up to 36″ in cubic measurements, although larger ones are also available for those with greater size needs. The box or tent has sides that are translucent, made of polyester fabric through which bright lights can be shined with diffused and non-glare effect.

A basic kit can be purchased for under $100 in local camera stores, and online at a number of sources. Larger, more sophisticated or more substantial set-ups can also be assembled, using hardware store components or professional suppliers. In that case, expenses will vary considerably.

The interior of the studio, in most kits, will have a mechanism (clips or a Velcro© strip) to attach long pieces of heavy paper or fabric – often black or white – to provide a seamless and wrinkle-free background for the photos. Some kits have more colors than black and white, and it’s possible to make them inexpensively.

Types of Portable Lighting for Tabletop Photography

Lighting can be either incandescent or “cool-light” compact fluorescent. Some kits come with small lamps, with collapsible extended feet for stability, in various wattages. Halogen bulbs are heat-producing and may become too hot to work with. “Daylight” bulbs are recommended. Using regular light bulbs will cast a yellow light and should be avoided. Any full spectrum light, that mimics daylight, will do.

A desk work light whose height can be adjusted is very useful, as well as a clamp-on light if the work surface will allow.

Photographers may want to experiment with daylight coming into a room from nearby windows. In this case the photographer might want to add a reflector to fill in light where needed on the subject. The camera’s flash is unlikely to produce professional results.

Readers should follow the lighting instructions in the manual for the camera to turn off the flash.

Other Needed Equipment

Using a tripod is essential. Mounting the camera on a tripod eliminates the possibility of shake/vibration when the shutter is squeezed. Tripods are a matter of preference, and most kits will come with a tripod of one kind or another.

However, if the tripod raises the camera several inches above the subject, it will only be possible to get shots from a top-looking-down perspective. The photographer should look for a tripod that is not only sturdy but whose height can be adjusted from a couple of inches to 12″ or more.

The higher the height, the more stability the tripod must have, so making sure that the legs or base of the tripod can be adjusted to provide proper balance is a good idea. The connector for the camera to the top of the tripod should also be adjustable, so that the camera can be pivoted from left to right and both up and down.

The other equipment that will be needed to complete the set-up, will be extension cords for the lights (with on/off switches on the cord, if possible), spare bulbs/batteries for both camera and lights, and a good storage system.

The tent itself probably arrived in a portable case with room for the lights and tripod. For those with extra lights, a variety of backdrops, and extension cords, a lightweight plastic storage bin with a secure lid and handles is a good idea. Readers may want to acquire clear acrylic stands for raising the object a few inches off the floor of the tent, small props for perspective, etc.