photographing mugs

[sarahjayne]

I've a friend that does craft markets who is going to take orders for mugs for me and rather than load her down with hundreds of samples I thought I'd get a pop up banner printed with 6/7 large mug close ups. Any ideas of how to set them up and get good photos? I also need photos for a web page and I just can't get the essence of the mugs they look flat and non descript - struggling to "show them off".
Any hints or ideas?
Thanks in advance

[Justin]

On of our Suppliers can provide stock photographs, marketing assistance etc. This is something I'm talking to them about at the moment as I have no idea where photography is concerned. Paul has taken some excellent product shots so will probably be along soon to offer useful advice :-)

[JSR]

I would recommend one important aspect - and that is to ensure you use your own photos rather than stock ones. Stock ones, by their nature, look the same - and, as consequence, one seller of printed mugs will look the same as every other seller of printed mugs if everyone uses the same photos.

You want to stand out from the crowd, attract attention, and encourage people to look at your product. If your product looks just like everyone else's, then the potential customer has no reason to look any closer at you - they've seen it all before.

Be bold, and stand out. Don't be part of the crowd.

[harlequeen]

I have taken some of my mug photos outside in good all round sun and then photoshoped the background out. It's a good start I think

[Renniwano]

I used to use my bath to take photos of my craft stuff.. crisp clear and white background.. (only issue is that you look like a tool sitting in an empty bath)

[JSR]

I have taken some of my mug photos outside in good all round sun and then photoshoped the background out. It's a good start I think
Excellent advice. Using natural daylight is much better than taking the photograph on a Winter's evening with the camera flash going off all over the place.

[Paul]

It all depend what camera settings you got set and what flash do you use. Als white balance is one of the most important things to look at.

[Paul]

www.dyesubforum.co.uk/vbforum/showthread.php?2883-Images-of-Sublimated-items&highlight=product+photography

[Listawood]

We could probably help you with this kind of thing if you wanted. The best person for you to get in touch with would be Becky White who's our marketing manager.

The pics were professionally taken and are available high res for the kind of thing you're describing, or lower resolution for use in web pages.

Alex.

[ptholt]

lighting is importnant when getting proper depth and feel, you could easily make a single coloured lined (cloth, paint or vinyl) display box for photographing mugs, lit from the say 4 position on a clock (assuming mug is straight ahead at 12, and photographer at 6) this should give a nice shadow and depth which can be played with in photoshop and easily removed during post processing.

[Paul]

cheap but efective ;)
http://thadallender.com/wp-content/uploads/lightbox.jpg

then photoshop: ctrl+M
rest can be done there.

[Andrew]

You can buy a cheap light box from places like Maplins..... less than a tenner. A tripod is also of great help for a crisp image. One of the key things to make the images look proffesional is to keep a constant angle from where the shots are taken. If you are taking just one photo of several mugs then that doesn't apply. We usually set up the mug with handle left and right then a centre shot to show the full wrap. I've got quite a few images if you need any examples/ideas.

[Paul]

i must say i never used tripod for my tent work. I got one but dont like to use it. everything i want to show is different and it need diferent angle. but i do agree if you photographing mugs you should stick to one angle for more pro look ;)

[sarahjayne]

thanks everyone - lots of food for thought. I've been meaning to make one of those DIY boxes for ages Paul but I was going to light it from the top - not sure why, but perhaps indirect light would be best.
I am hopeless with photoshop, so need to get it pretty good straight from camera - I do have a tripod, so will dig that out. Bidding on some pop up banner stands and then it's mugs away.
And thanks for the offer of photographic help listawood but I'm rather far away.

[sarahjayne]

thanks - will try this.

lighting is importnant when getting proper depth and feel, you could easily make a single coloured lined (cloth, paint or vinyl) display box for photographing mugs, lit from the say 4 position on a clock (assuming mug is straight ahead at 12, and photographer at 6) this should give a nice shadow and depth which can be played with in photoshop and easily removed during post processing.

[Paul]

Sarah! get in touch with Justin! he may have a pro tent for sale ;)
and you are right. Light from above is better ;)

regards to your PS skills unfortunatly you wll need some basic ones as i dont think you can get pro results stright from the camera.

[sarahjayne]

Sarah! get in touch with Justin! he may have a pro tent for sale ;)
and you are right. Light from above is better ;)

regards to your PS skills unfortunatly you wll need some basic ones as i dont think you can get pro results stright from the camera.
Have PM'd Justin and by chance the local "deal of the day" was a 2 hour photography course in Galway, so treated myself, as I depend on auto setting far too much. I have photoshop cs3 but never got to grips with it much - I have the how to book as well, so I guess I just need to find the time to knuckle down and learn - I tend to use photofiltre and publisher for everything, I tried drawing in PS once and just got nowhere. Anyhow, here's hoping I am on the way to my own professional DIY mug shots!

[smitch6]

there was talk once that Paul would give us lessons on PS ;)

[Paul]

Iam not best in ps but if i can help then i will. Better then book i think.... Book cover far to muh. Is great for somone want to edit photos etc but for simple things youtube is better. Or jist give me a shoit and i will try help.

[Martinx]

For a bit of inspiration, check out the link below!

Scroll down and check out the poster. LOVE IT!

www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/26/the-smashing-coffee-mug-photo-contest-best-entries/


(http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/26/the-smashing-coffee-mug-photo-contest-best-entries/)

[John G]

Love the broken mug photo.

[sarahjayne]

For a bit of inspiration, check out the link below!

Scroll down and check out the poster. LOVE IT!

www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/26/the-smashing-coffee-mug-photo-contest-best-entries/


(http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/10/26/the-smashing-coffee-mug-photo-contest-best-entries/)

Love that poster. Great share. Thanks

[chizzy]

just get a black tshirt and sit the mug on it so the tshirt covers the surface that the megs on and put a hard back book behind and drape the tshirt over it.
(cheap green room) well black room.

[AdamB]

FAO Paul:

would you say this is a good set up for taking snaps of the smaller items? (tent is 40 x 40 x 40 cm).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Camera-Photo-Studio-KIT-TENT-LIGHT-BOX-TRIPOD-/320638084872?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item4aa784e708

The above seller is selling it at £34.99 with free postage.

The same one is at the link below at £23.74 with £4.98 postage saving £6.27

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORTABLE-PHOTO-STUDIO-SOFT-LIGHT-BOX-TENT-TRIPOD-LIGHTS-/260746212207?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item3cb5af736f

[Paul]

Perfect for small items! Worh to have a goo.

[mugstar]

FAO Paul:

would you say this is a good set up for taking snaps of the smaller items? (tent is 40 x 40 x 40 cm).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Camera-Photo-Studio-KIT-TENT-LIGHT-BOX-TRIPOD-/320638084872?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item4aa784e708

The above seller is selling it at £34.99 with free postage.

The same one is at the link below at £23.74 with £4.98 postage saving £6.27

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORTABLE-PHOTO-STUDIO-SOFT-LIGHT-BOX-TENT-TRIPOD-LIGHTS-/260746212207?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item3cb5af736f

I've got one of these but it came with a blue & grey background-the white will obviously be better!!

It's ok though-does what it says on the (light)box!

[FlyingAl]

Hi all,

Just posted this in the member to member forum

http://www.dyesubforum.co.uk/vbforum/showthread.php?3401-Custom-mug-marketing-images

Just throwing an idea out there, may be of interest to viewers of this thread.

Cheers
Al

[Paul]

Had this done myself. :-) you can see my on my site. Love the idea and o think it gain some interest.

[debbie678]

I purchased a cheap photo tent of ebay for only £20 with the mini pop up studio and the daylight lights so pleased it works a treat for me

[JSR]

I purchased a cheap photo tent of ebay for only £20 with the mini pop up studio and the daylight lights so pleased it works a treat for me
Have you got a link to that? I've been looking for one myself. Thanks.

[Paul]

light tent it's a great idea! I got one myself ;)

[Paul]

I used to use my bath to take photos of my craft stuff.. crisp clear and white background.. (only issue is that you look like a tool sitting in an empty bath)

looks like not only you like this way of photographing things :biggrin:



http://www.dennis-and-fiona.co.uk/photos/2011/ducks01/data/images/20110503-033.jpg



and the set up :biggrin:




http://www.dennis-and-fiona.co.uk/photos/2011/ducks01/data/images/20110503-041.jpg

[Justin]

Like this?


647

[Paul]

shame on you Justin :) in your age photographing youself like that... shame on you :P

[Renniwano]

Love the set up.. looks more professional that me n my bath lol

[debbie678]

They have all slightly gone up since I bought mine but here is a few links that will help

Photo Tents/cubes (No Lights included)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-50-50cm-Photo-Soft-Box-Light-Tent-Cube-w-Case-Q06-/180748352603?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item2a1570fc5b

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32-80CM-PHOTO-STUDIO-BOX-LIGHT-CUBE-TENT-4-BACKDROP-/330596858678?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item4cf91bbb36



Mini mobile Studio this is the one I have with the large 50x50 cube as well

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORTABLE-PHOTO-STUDIO-SOFT-LIGHT-BOX-TENT-TRIPOD-LIGHTS-/260746212207?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item3cb5af736f

http://www.amazon.co.uk/studio-including-Lights-stands-tripod/dp/B000NHBN7E

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-Product-Photo-Soft-studio/dp/B001A3Z7OK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_4

I hope these help if you need any more help please shout

[JSR]

Thanks for the links. I was hoping that there'd still be a £20 one including lights (wishful thinking, I guess!).

The most frequent things I photograph are mugs (for customer approval prior to printing), so I only need a small tent - not one that takes up the whole floor - so I may look at one of the <£10 tents that measure about 12", and then hunt out a table spotlight (if I can find some reasonably priced) or something. Not sure yet.

[Paul]

I dont recomend this kind of pop up tents.
http://www.biggerbids.com/members/images/20748/public/2424290_1-113.jpg
fabric on them most of the time is very thin and you can almast see trough.

those squere ones are great. got one myself and working fine for my needs.

[JSR]

Thanks, Paul.

I was looking at one of the square ones with lights, but some of the reviews on Amazon said (i) the lights get too hot very quickly, and (ii) the camera tripod is flimsy.

It's very difficult to know which ones to consider. There are so many, many of which look the same. Ultimately, I just want to have a better set up than just standing my mugs in a cocoon of A3 white card! :biggrin:

[Paul]

to be honest JOnathan I would NOT go for any set up with those kind of ligts :)
those lights are sinple LED tourch. that will give you wrong white balance anyway so no need to pay for them if you not going to use them :)
tripod??? who want a tripod :) mug is not moving so tere is no chance for blured photo :)

if you look on the coralgraph website now and they new item photogrpahs... I phtogrpahed them all and never used any tripod :)



http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2410/screen3bxd.jpg







May I know what camera you going to use?? Or what flash if any?

[JSR]

May I know what camera you going to use?? Or what flash if any?
I tend to use my trusty old Nikon Coolpix 5700. I try to avoid using the flash whenever possible because it reflects back off the mug and sometimes causes the white of the mug to wash out.

My current set-up usually involves putting the camera on my "proper" tripod, then placing the mug on a sheet of paper with additional paper/card behind it. I use the tripod because I take the photo from all three sides of the mug and it looks better if the positioning remains the same.

During summer months, there is no issue at all. I sometimes take the photos in the garden for proper lighting. But, this time of the year, there just isn't enough daylight (it doesn't help that the country's practically been banned from using lightbulbs that actually give out a bit of light). If I'm not ready to take the photo spot on midday, then it's too dark to get a good photo without lots of faffing about.

A simple "pop it on the table" tent with some kind of decent lighting is all I want - and I don't want to spend much to achieve it.

[Justin]

Great reduction on these Photo Studios if anyone's still looking

http://www.ebuyer.com/240299-ebuyer-photo-studio-kit-photostud (http://www.ebuyer.com/240299-ebuyer-photo-studio-kit-photostud)