Unify Photo Shoot—behind the scenes

Monday, January 14, 2013

Hi everyone! It’s Monday once again and today I’d love to share a behind the scenes look at how I go about prepping for a photo shoot. I always strive to take beautiful pictures of new items I've created for my shop; namely, because great item pictures are like first impressions when it comes to selling on the web. This year one of my goals is to always take great pictures for my shop and I’d like to show you how I make my settings looks like a million bucks but at cost of someone on a budget—like myself.
Firstly, I’m doing this whole photo shoot for new wedding theme cupcake toppers I made. So I needed cupcakes; and, I really enjoy making them myself. It always feels wrong to go to the market buy a cupcake, stick one of my cupcake toppers in it, and claim it as my own—I’m just weird that way. I tried it once and just threw it away because you could kind of tell I didn't make it, haha. So for this session I just went over to my local dollar store and bought a box cake mix—which is PERFECT because it only makes 12. Next I used a piping bag, and jumbo piping tips—you can find some here.
Next I referred to my trust icing color chart and choose the color: Rose water. It’s so pretty and sweet. The icing color chart can be found inside the awesome pages of the Food Network Magazine, 2012 May issue, Volume 5, Number 4. You can download the issue by clicking here (not too sure if it’s free).
Next I added some pretty pearls and the cupcakes were ready for their close up! 
The behind the scenes star of this shoot was going to be these awesome lights I purchased from Walmart. I was so obsessed, this year, with taking pictures of things in front of my Christmas tree—because of the blurred light effect—so I thought I’d try to recreate that effect for this shoot. You can find them at Walmart, in the wedding section for under $6.00.
After I set up the lights were I wanted them, I grabbed any ol’ mini table I could find and I placed a piece of 12 x 12 pattern paper over it to cover the unwanted design. 
I placed that mini table a few feet away from the lights in order to create more depth of field. Once the cupcake toppers were inserted I was ready to shoot and here are the results!
What do you think? I also used natural lighting because I don’t have a flash (nor do I like using it) but when I noticed I was starting to get some shadow I simply fixed that by placing a white board near the side of the cupcakes that were producing an ugly shadow. It worked out ok :-p
I was pretty happy with the over results. It was super fun for me and it was super easy on my wallet. I love that taking pretty pictures doesn't have to cost much. Have a great day!

11 comments:

  1. Beautiful! Your photos are always great, and this behind-the-scenes is really helpful to a trying-to-be-at-least-amateur picture-taker like me! I couldn't even use the word "photographer" for myself! LOL
    Today on my blog I posted the first pics I took with my new camera...Far cry from your beauties here.
    ~Kim
    http://2justByou.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Kim! Glad these helped :-D I can't wait to see the pictures you're getting with your new camera. I'm heading over to your blog now to check it out :-D

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  2. Wow, these are beautiful pictures!! I love the fairy lights in the background; so magical and so pretty! I can see why you went out and bought those lights! Definitely worth it!

    Now I'm hungry for a cupcake! lol
    ~Sara

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  3. Oh my word...your pictures are amazing!!!! Not to mention the cupcakes look delicious! New follower, found you through the Blogging Buddies Team. Looking forward to following your blog!
    Megan
    http://jbcountrycouture.blogspot.com/

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  4. love your tips - natural light always looks sooo much better. I love the fairy lights tip... makes it look soo pretty!
    xo Emily @ Hungry Delights

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  5. nice tips. I think your photos are great!

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  6. Oh my goodness, these are gorgeous! I am totally craving cupcakes now. :)

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  7. This is awesome and your cupcakes are gorgeous. I always wondered if you always baked a batch everytime to take pictures... and I'd be like.. uhh that's a lot of cupcake models. :D I hope your new wedding cupcake toppers are a smash!

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  8. super cute blog
    follow back, if you like :)

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  9. looks so good and yummy!!!
    the photos are amazing!!

    Click me for my NEW BLOG

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  10. The cupcakes look adorable and I like the lights backdrop! =)

    Ergo-Blog

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