Beginner camera&kit&advice needed for newbie

[atto2121]

Hi All

I have 0% experience in photography and i am in need of taking product photos for my new website. I will be taking shots of products that i have which are beauty item related.

So currently these items will include things such as:

Cosmetics
Ponytails
Hair extensions
Accessories
Hair dyes
Etc etc

examples of photos here:


https://hairsisters.com/product/SEN...?backToShopping=/category/Entry-Point/0?page=


All of the above items i presume can fit within the studio lighting kit which i found online here:

http://www.photosel.co.uk/studio-li...tography-kits/product-photography-kit-ppc158/

It has a 120cm tent and lights.



However, since i am brand new to this:

1 - are the lighting type correct for taking good quality product photos?


Secondly, i will also be taking photos of wigs that are placed on a mannequin (which i dont think will fit into the 120cm tent), see link below for example

https://hairsisters.com/product/FRE...=/category/Synthetic-Hair-Lace-Wigs/276?page=

So for this i presume i need a backdrop? If so, can the same lightning be used? Or shall i get a total different studio kit in in order to shoot all the different types of products?


Thirdly - I need a camera, but I have no idea what type of camera i will need in order to take similar photos like the links above?

I don't need to take very close photos and the images do no need to be blown up into massive sizes, its only for the website, but still has to look the same as the link above

With that in mind, can i use the latest Iphone6, will that do the same job for the type of photos i need? If not, what camera is best suitable for the photos i need?
Please note that i will only be taking product photos and probably will not require any camera that offers more than this.

The final point is, once the photos have been taken, will i need to edit them also? To remove imperfections in a photo editing software etc?

Many Thanks
atto40

 

[rob-nikon]

I hope you don't take this the wrong way but for a professional look get a pro to do it for you. Once you have bought all the bits you need, spent time trying it would be more cost effective to get a pro to do it for you and they would do it well. By your own admission you have no photograph experience. Have you thought about white balance and colour monitoring/setup to ensure the colour of the images you take are the same as the wigs. I would think this would be very important to your customers, they will want the images on your website to reflect the actual colour of the wigs. It easy to accidentally add a colour cast to an image by having the wrong white balance and changes you make during editing/processing.

I'm sure someone can advise you on equipment and technique but there is unfortunately no quick fix for experience and skill, it takes time to learn those.

To answer your question about the iPhone6, of course it can take photos. If they are good enough for you only can say. Product photography is a specialist aspect of photography, there are plenty of pros out there who do it well.

 

[Wissel]

I'd agree with the above. If it's your livelihood to sell these products use a pro.

I run online shops and I'm a fairly reasonable photographer. However, I'm no product photographer and wouldn't photograph my own products. I use a professional.

EDIT - I did give it a go a few years ago, bought lighting and backdrops etc. My results were nowhere near good enough to risk the reputation of my business. I learned my lesson then.

 

[Alastair]

I'd suggest not buying any kit just yet. Instead, if you want to do this yourself, find a "product photography" training course from a provider that will let you use their equipment to do the course. You gain experience and knowledge, and you can then buy similar kit to that you've learned with - providing it got you the results you wanted during the course. Make sure the course includes everything from setting up the shot to taking the shot and then processing the file to a point it's ready for upload to your website. Make sure it also includes colour management to address the points Rob has already mentioned.

In the short term you may be better off paying someone to do this. If you can find a professional photographer locally who has their own studio and understands product photography the cost is probably cheaper then you think, and better value than doing it yourself if you're starting from the "haven't a clue" position and need high quality results.

 

[Phil V]

What they said.