The Low Budget Photo Shoot!

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been doing a great deal of baking, trying to come up with a small collection of things – a menu if you will – of treats that I’ve got confidence in telling people I can make. Of course, it’s one thing to tell someone how great my brownies are, and quite another to show them.

The next best thing to actually eating some sweets is looking at delicious sweets. So in order to visually document my baking “line” I set up a little make-shift photo shoot – seriously low budget, and have gotten some decent results. A couple of friends have asked me how I’m putting these shots together, so here’s what’s up!

What you’ll need:

1. A camera. Any camera really. I’m using my point and shoot Nikon Coolpix that’s like 5 years old and totally user-friendly. Sure, I know how to manipulate it because I know my way around a more advanced camera, but my point is that you don’t have to go overboard here. Don’t go and buy a new camera, and don’t think you’ve got to have any special skills (unless you consider focusing a skill). A film camera will even work just as well, but be prepared to use up a lot of film and wait to get your prints back (who has that kind of patience anymore!?). $0

2. At least 1 spot light. I picked up a 150watt portable clamping flood lamp from home depot because I can clip it on to just about anything and it puts out some serious wattage. You will need a second light source to light the other side of your set-up, but consider using a floor lamp or a desk lamp that you can angle towards your set. $15

3. A large flat table. I’ve been using my dining room table (contrary to the boyf’s wishes – see above), but a desk, folding table, or counter are all fine too. Just make sure it’s wide enough to spread out a little on and high enough so you aren’t hovering above your shots. Free!

4. Backdrop paper. Actual photographer’s backdrops can be REALLY expensive (and usually very large). Unless you’re lucky enough to find someone trying to give them away on Craigslist – chances are you’ll need to settle for something cheaper. I’m using Fadeless Art Paper Rolls (24″ wide by 12′ – more than that isn’t necessary unless you think you need it) and hanging (taping) them up behind my table set up as a colorful backdrop. NOTE: while white backdrops seem like a good idea, white is a hard color to light properly and shoot, and will often turn out grey in the background or mess your light meter up. Instead, consider a color or lighter neutral backdrop to take the edge off. $2.50 each (I bought 3 for variety)

5. OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: Accent Fabric. I went to Wal-Mart and picked out a couple of fabrics with simple patterns that I knew would match my backdrop papers and would coordinate with the vibe of the foods I want to snap photos of. I bought a yard of each to cover the table I’d be setting up the photo shoot on. Each yard was about $4 each, and I picked up 3 or 4 yards, again for variety.

The Other Stuff:

- Iron & Ironing Board for making sure that accent fabric is super flat and photo ready.
- Tape (masking is good, scotch not so much) for securing the backdrop paper to the wall/bookshelf/whatever & accent fabric/paper to the table.
- Plates/glasses/silverware if you’re shooting food. If you’ve got presentable pieces then that’s great! Work with what you’ve got! You can also find cheap presentation platters at thrift stores and Ikea-type places.
- Stands/props/background objects if you’re shooting crafts & handmade goods (flat artwork is a completely different beast).

Now start taking some photos! Don’t be afraid to take 100 photos of the same thing. Switch up the angles, reorganize the set-up, switch out props and try different backgrounds. Go high, go low, zoom in and out. If you’re using a little point and shoot camera experiment with all of the different settings. Go macro and zoom way in and try out the low light settings to see if they help the final image. I take at least 50 photos every time I set something up, so keep taking pictures until you’re sure you’ve gotten at least one good photo.