Soap Photos

[Laura Lane]

Hey!
We are putting together a recipe book of NZ homeschoolers’ recipes, and this afternoon I decided to photograph homemade soap, as the recipe is in the book. How could I improve my photos? I took them on one of the bookshelf shelves, and was shooting in ‘natural’.
Thank you for any advice!!
Laura😊

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[Laura Lane]

Oops, sorry, just saw that I should only upload two photos on this forum… Also, my camera is away being fixed, so I was using a small FinePix S 5800 “bridge” camera🙂

[James Staddon]

What a great way to put your photography skills to practical use, @laura-aome!

Got the window light going there, it looks like! Fantastic.

My main thought would be see what you can do to make one element front and center, the main subject. Then the other elements surrounding, and supporting it. Probably the soap bars?

Good choice of colors. That helps simplify things. Keep simplifying, like only the stocks of lavender and not smaller pieces scattered around.

Also, I’d be curious to know where it instructions to only upload 2 photos to the forum?

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by James Staddon.

[Laura Lane]

Thank you very much for the critique, @jamesstaddon!

I found the ‘two photos only’ instruction in the forums guidelines: “You can only upload a maximum of 2 images per Topic or Reply. (The maximum is 10 on the Shoot to Serve forum.)” Not sure, though, whether it may have been talking about the Photography Q&A Forum? 😀

[James Staddon]

Thanks @laura-aome. Yes, that stipulation is there to help folks be conscientious about not posting too many photos at a time. Since your photos all relate to each other (different variations on the same thing) then that’s fine that you posted more than 2. 🙂

[Laura Lane]

Thanks! That’s good to know😀

[Lydia Bennett]

Yes, completely agree with simplifying things, like James said. You might want to also get a little lower to shoot straight on for a little bit of a more artistic approach!

You’ve got all the elements for a very picturesque little setup there, so keep working at it! Looking at the photos from this past assignment might give you some additional inspiration on shooting natural products like this. 🙂

[Laura Lane]

Thank you, @lenspirationlydia!

[Warrior Princess]

Those are lovely soaps, @laura-lane! If I had any suggestions, I would probably say that the soaps should be the focal point with the other items surrounding- thus creating a perfect composition (Like James said).

I love the lighting and colors- lavender makes a great element for a still life.

P.S. I am new here, and my name is Brieanna. I have loved photography since I was little, but never took an official course ’til now! I am excited to learn with you and everyone else. 🙂

[Laura Lane]

Thank you so much, @warrior-princess! I wonder if it would look good to have the soaps stacked, like three high in the front of the picture? I think I might try it next time!

And welcome to Lenspiration!! I am fairly new here, too, as I joined up in June😀. I am doing the photography course with my younger sister, Jemima🙂

[Warrior Princess]

You’re welcome, @laura-lane! Yes, that would be lovely- possibly each at a different angle to give it that graceful homemade look. (If you know what I mean by that.)

Thanks so much, a happy welcome to you and your sister as well. 😀

[Laura Lane]

Yes, @warrior-princess, I think I do know what you mean by having “each at different angle”, and it is definitely a good idea!!

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