Positive Results In Negative Space Product Photography

Negative space is a familiar element for many commercial photographers. Usually in the form of a stark white background, the purpose of negative space is to draw attention toward the subject of the photograph or to add a dramatic effect. Thus, negative space is an indispensable part of commercial photography, especially when products are involved.

Although negative space can come in many colors (either by utilizing a bare sky or utilizing the out-of-focus bokeh in the background), most of the negative space in product photography involves white or black backgrounds within a studio, all of which are meant to both highlight the product in full and make it easy for the design team to crop out.

Image source: bigcommerce.com

Some products can easily be photographed in a small white background, which can be economically set up by amateurs. Others, such as clothing that needs to be worn, may require a larger white background and a complex, room-sized setup.

Capturing a solid color background can be challenging for the novice photographer. Lighting must be of the correct intensity and diffusion, low enough to prevent needless reflections and bright enough to make the entire product visible. Especially for images meant to be cropped and edited, care should be taken to minimize shadows and reflections. The camera’s ISO must match with the Kelvin temperature of the lights used.

Image source: petapixel.com

Because white is the standard for negative space in advertisements, it could pose a challenge when photographing white-colored objects. Carefully lighting both the backdrop and the object can create sufficient contrast between the two spaces to showcase the product in its natural color while creating a distinction with its background.

Charles Nucci is a professional photographer with extensive experience in product photography. Visit his website for more on him and his work.