Studio lighting has many qualities but natural light creates a better product image.

*The shots above are both created with natural light using creative props and everyday backgrounds. If you look at the cap of the image on the right you can see the setup in the reflection.*

I’ve been photographing products for clients for about 30 years now. While my equipment has evolved over that time, one thing has stayed the same, my love of shooting with natural light.

When I first started shooting products professionally, I was working with jewelry clients, trying to invoke a sense of romance with my shots. I was shooting using a film based dslr Canon camera, along with some other older cameras like a 4x5 Mamiya, and an amazing vintage Yashica that had a lens like I’ve never seen on any other camera.

I was convinced I needed to pair these amazing cameras with a serious light set up, and started collecting equipment. Then the owner of one of the bigger film developing labs in San Francisco suggested I try shooting with natural light. The goal was to invoke more depth and mystery into the shots. He gave me ideas about angles, time of day, bouncing light, and propping other colors around the subject to create incredible shots. I’ve been hooked on natural light ever since.

Shooting products with natural light offers a lot of advantages - especially to amateur photographers, and those who need to produce loads of material in a short amount of time.

Studio Light vs. Natural Light

The differences between natural daylight and artificial light for a photographer lie mostly in the spectrum of the light as it falls on your subject.

The full light spectrum can only be found in natural sunlight, and this reads in the photographs you take. An dreary overcast day offers a better spectrum of light than bright studio lighting. Actually, a dreary overcast day is the ideal time to shoot products outdoors, as long as you’re careful with shadows.

This is an incredible distinction when shooting beauty products and cosmetics in particular when it’s crucial that you capture tones and hues for online selling.

Natural light creates a soft flattering look for portraits and products alike. Because it’s gentler and more diffused than artificial lighting it showcases true colors and textures more accurately.

Natural light imparts a more authentic and inviting atmosphere in product photos. It helps give that “true life feel” which consumers crave.

Natural light is a more budget friendly choice for creators and small businesses looking to create lots of images for their social feeds and websites.

Studio light allows for complete control over shadows and helps to invoke a more theatrical feel when shooting products. It’s the preferred go-to lighting for pros with studio space who need to create for a wide range of looks without needing to stop and change setups. Most studio shots are heavily Photoshopped after the fact to fix problems like shine and flares, color aberrations, and to remove unwanted tones. With AI tools this process is becoming much quicker to manage and tones can be corrected in seconds, rather than the laborious hours of editing that have been required in the past.

There’s no need to choose one over the other!
The best choice of all is to incorporate both into your photography scenario. That way you offer a rich, on-trend experience for your clients and followers that gives a brand texture and dynamic.