photographing silver and shiny subjects still life technique

An advanced lesson on the technique of photographing silver, showing the importance of reflections containing black white and greys.
It's not always necessary to shine a light on a subject ,with shiny subjects like metal it's often better to light a photograph by bouncing light off of a white,grey or black card that reflects into the subject.
By careful placement of the light it allows studio a still life to look very professional.
This technique overcomes the usage of a lighting tent that often makes the subject look as if it has a matt finish.

[@photographybygeorge1]

Thank you for your great tutorials. I'm a product photographer since 1997. Guess what takes me a lots of effort and time! Convincing clients that you need to CONTROL, not ELIMINATE black shadows on shiny metallic objects or glass. In some cases i need to do crazy editing and remove the black surfaces to prove that now the object without any reflections looks like pained with white ceiling paint. Nothing like a metal.🤪

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Glad you enjoyed it, just remember a client often doesn't realise, what they need to make their product look good :)

[@katievandyck2270]

Have watched hundreds of videos on photography. Yours are far and away the best. Thank you for your immense generosity in sharing your skills.

[@RandellJohn]

Nice one Phil. I had to shoot a load of silver jewellery for a local company. I'd just say this - I didn't charge them enough. What a potch!

[@MrAnthonydawson]

Yet again another great video - helpful and informative. Thanks for all videos you've posted this year, hope you have a good Christmas and New Year. Ant

[@paulsara]

Great tutorial Phill. Really enjoy all your vids. Merry Christmas to you and your family and a happy new year, Paul.

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Photography was around before photoshop , so I'm afraid it's about good lighting.

[@musicman4655]

Thanks Phill ! I've learned much from you in a very short period of time.

[@BillieLo]

Coool ! Thanks for sharing !

[@qiranxu8388]

Thank you so much for creating this video, it really helped!

[@puma0065]

Thanks for all your videos and you and your family have a great Christmas and happy new year

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Studio flash with modeling lights is much better than constant, but constant is better than strobe without modeling lights.

[@PhillipMcCordall]

@puma0065 Thank you for that ,I hope you have a great time as well,all the best Phill

[@michaelbrind9222]

Nice and concise

[@broeraad]

Hi , just watched all your Videos and love all of them, can't wait to see more of them , all good stuff , love your approach , Regards Aad

[@PhillipMcCordall]

@MiniMe2193 Thanks Mini, glad you enjoyed the vid. Phill

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Thankyou so much Katie

[@PhillipMcCordall]

@MrAnthonydawson Thanks so much ,have a great time as well. Phill

[@BirdOfParadise777]

What do you do if a person wants a photo and they want to wear their glasses and shiny jewelry. Do you only deal with it in photoshop? Thank you for another wonderful video:)

[@CharlesWallerPhotographer]

Hi Phillip, Thoroughly enjoy your tutorials. I have recently been experimenting photographing objects on a piece of mirror finished black steel. The big problem is dust which shows up very clearly on the images. I am only using one light and have tried shooting through a grid and using a soft box. Some angles work better than others. Have you any suggestions apart from throwing the steel away ?

[@ng3man1]

Hi Phillip, thanks for the video. I'm currently trying to photograph shiny metal furniture studs. Have you got any recommendations please? I think the shape of them is causing all the issues because they're domed. regards Chris

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Hi Chris, glad you enjoyed it. There is nothing worse than a domed or curved piece of metal, that needs to look like silver, is it just one stud or a shot of a chair with many studs ?

[@ng3man1]

@@PhillipMcCordall Hi Phillip, Thanks for getting back to me. It's a row of three, on the corner of a footstool. Regards Chris

[@PhillipMcCordall]

@@ng3man1 I really don't know how to help, I presume the problem is caused by the studs are deep into the leather meaning you can't reflect dark or light into them, maybe covering the studs in black velvet then double expose the studs with a different lighting. Another way I have solved problems like this is with a small torch and light them one at a time with no other lights on.

[@ng3man1]

@@PhillipMcCordall Thanks, I will give that a try and I'm sure with a bit of perseverance I'll get there in the end. All the best

[@PhillipMcCordall]

You could always try setting a small mirror shining on each stud.

[@SergeyKardashev]

Thank you a lot. Very helpfull lessons.

[@TheMrRatzz]

Beautiful video

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Many thanks :)

[@PhillipMcCordall]

@paulsara Thanks Paul ,have a great one yourself. Phill

[@Zhovnirchyk]

MCCordall which light is the best to take object photography? Constant or strobe light? Thanks

[@OCphotography]

Thank you Phillip that was very helpful. Would you photograph a GOLD reflective object the same way? If not, how would you do it differently?

[@ThePhotophillMccordall]

I would do exactly the same, any reflective surface requires controlled reflections. :)

[@OCphotography]

@@ThePhotophillMccordall Thank you so much again. I have a flat reflective gold product and the photos have been coming out matte gold. I'll try your technique, thanks!

[@ThePhotophillMccordall]

@@OCphotography Without reflections in your product, it will look mat, with soft dark reflections it will look like it has a satin finish, then with hard reflections it will look shiny. The rest is down to your personal taste, believe me when I say that it's difficult to decide what type of reflection and how to place it or them. Think about using gold card or even objects to reflect into the subject, also don't forget that the reflection will change as you change the aperture.

[@OCphotography]

@@ThePhotophillMccordall Thank you so much again, I am going to try it now and hope it works!! This is a small electronic object, the upper part is reflective gold. The client wants it clean, so I don't think I can reflect other objects, but I will definitely try the hard reflection. I'll let you know if it worked!! Thank you so much again. I'll keep in mind the aperture tip.

[@fongkhengwai]

Thank you Sir for the great video =)

[@DK-ck6gy]

Hello, I need to photo coins, what inexpensive camera and macro lens would you recommend? Thank you

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Could you give me an idea of your experience and a budget please .

[@mzorgias]

Very nice lesson,but what happens if you have to take the picture completely straight ?!,How do you disappear your self ??

[@PhillipMcCordall]

I's not that difficult just a matter of organising to have a black reflection where the lens is, The camera and photographer wpould be hidden behind a black screen, making sure that no light is reflecting on to the lens :)

[@budstran2121]

Hi, how big is the softbox above? is it 6500k light bulb? Thanks

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Thats about 90cm x40 the color temp isn't important at all , just adjust the camera to whatever the bulb color temp is, or shoot with auto wb. That light is in fact a studio flash with a normal bulb inside the flash but it makes no difference.

[@Kotikjeff]

Very good

[@mauriciomelara1]

Hi Phillip I want to buy the same type of "clamp stand" you have holding the back card, but not sure whats it's called and can't find one online, could you point me in the right direction?

[@PhillipMcCordall]

I think this is what you mean, www.mccordall.com/photo/laboratory-retort-stand-set-medium-size/

[@PhillipMcCordall]

@broeraad Thanks Aad much appreciated. Phill

[@jaguarjj]

awesome and speaking of shooting cars i'd love to see a video of you shooting a car

[@PhillipMcCordall]

I'm afraid I'm retired so I don't get the opportunity any more but I'd love to do a tutorial on it, unfortunately it would be very expensive to do one now.

[@Zhovnirchyk]

thanks a lot

[@PhillipMcCordall]

@UmmNuwayra If I can help then I will with pleasure. Phill

[@UmmNuwayra]

I have a request. Do you do requests?

[@rodrigoferraoO]

Hello how are you? how to photograph jewels

[@sandpiperstudios]

Do you have any suggestions on how to light a ceramic coloured teapot? My results are showing all kinds of reflections. thanks.

[@ThePhotophillMccordall]

That's a difficult question without seeing the product :) all I can say is work with one soft light and work with white card reflectors. It shouldn't be any different than shooting anything that is shiny, If you don't have reflections it won't look shiny, so they just have to be nice reflections.

[@sandpiperstudios]

Thanks for a quick reply Phillip, can I send you a photo of my teapot and see what you think? Not sure how to do it on here but if you have an email, I would love to get your thoughts.