How to Use Continuous LED Lighting for Packshot Photography

In this 'How To' video with broncolor's Urs Recher, you'll not only learn how to use continuous LED lighting for packshots but also how to photograph a white on white product packshot using continuous lighting.

One of the main challenges of photographing white on white is achieving defined edges on the product. Together Karl and Urs show you how to overcome this using a simple three-light setup using broncolor’s LED F160 lights (Karl also shows how you can simplify this to a two-light setup). This setup is ideal for photographing multiple products quickly and easily and can even be used for video.

In addition to being well suited for filming, continuous lights such as these also allow the photographer to instantly see the result, which can often seem far less intimidating than using flash, especially for new photographers. These lights also offer a robust and durable light that, when coupled with the right modifiers, allows you to enhance your creativity and achieve the exact results you envisaged.

Topics covered in this class:

  • Packshot photography using continuous LED lighting
  • Photographing white background product shots
  • How to create separation when shooting white products on a white background
  • LED lighting setups for product photography and video
  • Product photography tips

To learn more about packshot photography, take a look at our in-depth article on how to shoot e-commerce photography in 5 simple steps.

Further product photography classes you may enjoy include:

If you have any questions about this class please post in the comment section below.

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Comments

  1. Hello Karl,
    Thank you for the insight provided in this class.

    To replicate this, I tried using a Godox SL60W continuous light with a Godox 70cm x 100cm softbox for the white background but I could not achieve the “full” white background as you did, mine was at 91%. I tried also 80cm x 120 cm softbox, I got the same result.

    What would you suggest I change in the setup? Could the light be the culprit? The light color temperature is 5600K like the one used here.

    1. Hi, the only reason that you couldn’t achieve a full white background if you had a neutral light is that your exposure wasn’t bright enough. If your 70x100cm softbox was your background light how is it possible that you couldn’t achieve white if you have the option to increase your exposure time (longer shutter speed) as it was a still life?

      1. It is still (product) photography. I was able to get full white with a longer shutter speed but it caused the object to be too bright.
        One important thing I forgot to mention (which is different from your setup here) is that I only used continuous light for the background to get that white background. I had a flash with a softbox (80cm x 120 cm) on the left and a reflector on the right.
        Thanks.

        1. Hi, if you increased your shutter speed to get your background light brighter (the continuous one) then great but why and how would that have had much of an impact on the your product? If it was flagged correctly and the correct distance, your product would have been a silhouette (or close to it). Did you leave the modelling lights on on your flash lighting or not adjust your flash lighting? Did you test your set up with just your background light first to check you have pure white and a silhouetted subject?

          1. Thanks for the probing questions. I got it figured out now.

  2. Hi , Please I wanna Know what is the minimum power of the led light which is mounted on the softbox in background ?
    Thanks

  3. Hey Karl, thanks for this course, really high quality content. Would it be possible to switch from softboxes to scrims in order to create some gradients if shooting jewelry? I find that they became quite dull and flat without gradients and sharp reflections. Thanks!

  4. How much brighter are those LED lights than the modeling lamps on your strobes? Could you have used your modeling lamps instead?

    1. Hi Tim, I think they are about the same level as 650w modelling lamps, maybe a little brighter. But yes I could have done something similar with modelling lamps but then I find flash much more versatile that LED.

    2. Hi, I am using the Product Photography Box for capturing the images for e-commerce stores. What kind of setting should I use to get sharpest image

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