What lights would be a good match for product shots with my EOS 5D Mk III?

Chris Pig, London

Brian Says… Any basic studio lights will be more than sufficient. The key is to have a good range of power level control, plus a range of light shapers and diffusers, so almost all studio flash lights would work. You’ll need a softbox and maybe a reflector with a honeycomb grid as in the article. It is also beneficial to have the use of large diffusion panels. You can make them yourself, or get ready-made ones. It is worth looking for some rolls of Savage Translum paper too – an incredible reusable material that makes excellent large diffusers.

If you use Live View to compose your shots, on the camera LCD or with EOS Utility, then make sure to set the ‘Silent LV shoot’ to disable, or the studio flashes won’t trigger.

You can use Speedlite flashes for product photography, but they lack a modelling light. You can briefly press the depth of field button to create a modelling flash with Canon Speedlites.

Just two flashes were used, one for the white background, the other to illuminate a large diffuser to light the front of the can