Studio photography gives you complete control over every element of an image, from the background to the lighting to the focal point. That control means you’re responsible for every decision, and small choices can make a big difference in the final result. Understanding how to shape light, adjust focus, and create a balanced composition can elevate your images beyond simple snapshots.
Coming to you from Camera Club Live, this detailed video walks through the process of creating a carefully crafted studio image. The subject is simple: a bunch of cherry tomatoes arranged on a tabletop. The goal is to use lighting, depth of field, and composition to turn an ordinary subject into something visually striking. The setup starts with a raised platform using a wooden base, which helps control the perspective and isolate the subject. A neutral gray mount board serves as the backdrop, providing a clean background that won’t compete with the subject. Every choice is intentional, designed to maximize control over the final image.
Lighting is where most of the control happens. The first step is to eliminate ambient light, ensuring that only the added light sources influence the shot. A small flash head provides the primary illumination, but the initial test shot shows harsh shadows and too much contrast. To soften the light, a diffusion panel is added, essentially turning the flash into a small softbox. This adjustment creates smoother highlights and more natural-looking shadows. A second light is introduced to create a subtle background glow, and a snoot is used to concentrate the effect behind the tomatoes. These adjustments shape the mood and depth of the final image, demonstrating how small changes in lighting direction and intensity can transform a scene.
Focus and depth of field are just as important. The goal is to keep the front of the tomatoes sharp while gradually fading the focus toward the back. An initial setting at f/8 results in too much blur, so the aperture is adjusted to f/11 for a better balance. Because closing the aperture reduces the amount of light hitting the sensor, the flash power is increased to compensate. Each decision—focal length, aperture, and lighting power—affects the overall look of the image, reinforcing the importance of balancing all elements.
Post-processing refines the image without overcomplicating it. Exposure adjustments darken the edges to draw attention to the subject, and a subtle crop finalizes the framing. The process isn’t about heavy editing but about fine-tuning the image to match the original vision. Every choice in-camera leads to less work in post, highlighting why control during shooting is so important. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
There's plenty of good information in this video. However, I'm guessing that the average amateur photographer is gonna take one look at all that gear and conclude it's well beyond the scope of what he can accomplish at home. You can place about any object on a kitchen counter though and control focus and depth of field. Lighting is obviously a bit trickier, and professional product photographers obviously need complete control and mastery of light sources. But for simple home projects without a pro studio, you can actually get decent results with ambient light and a handheld flashlight. Granted it's hard to get controlled light on both the subject and the backdrop with just two arms. But with a few seconds delay on the shutter, and a flashlight from the side, you can shape the light pretty well. You can also diffuse the light to your liking by splitting your fingers over the front of the flashlight. I prefer tighter compositions where the subject fills the frame, but for any background still showing you can prop a piece of black foam core behind the subject.
The greatest challenge for these type of projects, in my opinion, lies in the decision of what to include and how to arrange it. Are one or two pieces of a fruit or vegetable all that interesting? Should I add a third? Should I combine a tomato with a green pepper? How do I place them in relation to each other? Some of these sort of still-life projects can get really complicated. I've spent time at the grocery store simply looking through the produce department for interesting shapes and textures. And, of course, there are more subjects to be found at home besides food items. It's actually kind of fun prowling around the house on a winter's evening at home looking for something to photograph. It will most certainly test your creativity.