Lisa’s five steps for shooting glassware
Select a backdrop
Keep it simple and let the products do the talking. While a white wall is easy, and great for a clean look, sometimes the glass can ‘disappear’ if you aren’t clued up in lighting techniques. I use a dark grey seamless paper roll, which works really well for defining the shape and detail in the glass. A piece of coloured card will do the trick, too, and will often be your best friend for product shoots.
Gather your props
This is the fun bit for me. Before I start, I hunt and gather around my house, so everything is to hand while I’m playing around with composition. Books, plants, candles, bottles, fairy lights, chopping boards, tablecloths – whatever feels like a good match with the product is nearby. I’ll even use the paper wrapping the glasses came in. Don’t forget to raid your recycling bin: empty bottles are an easy win, and an obvious prop for glassware.
Natural and artificial light
For the majority of my work I favour natural light, but occasionally you need some artificial lighting. On a bright day, natural light can be harsh, so my top recommendation here is to diffuse your window light as much as possible – an old white sheet will do. When the sun goes down, I reach for a strobe to light the glass, usually from the side: this creates a moodier ‘cocktail bar’ look that works perfectly with glassware and drinks.
Experiment with angles
No two ways about it: you have to move. Move yourself, move the glass, move the props. Shoot from above, below, and everywhere else besides. Without a hand model or someone to assist, it can feel like a mini-workout,with your camera in one hand, a glass of bubbly in the other and your own reflection to battle with. Glass is notoriously challenging, but sometimes an unexpected angle can give you fantastic results.
Don’t get overwhelmed
If you are working to a brief and have a lot of items to shoot, it can take time to get through prop set-ups, light changes, glass-filling, cleaning, polishing, not to mention working around those pesky reflections. If you’re just shooting for yourself, there’s much less pressure. But either way, give yourself time and space to be reactive and creative with the glass and props, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful images.