Kurt Geiger Rainbow Handbag Shoot

In this masterclass, we’ll explore the intricacies of photographing a challenging multi-colored metallic Kurt Geiger handbag. Karl will lead you through a detailed step-by-step process.

Starting with composition, Karl positions the handbag upside down on layers of matte white acrylic to enhance depth, whilst adjusting the finer details such as the handbag straps.

You’ll also learn precise lighting techniques as Karl methodically adds one light at a time to address and overcome each challenge. Karl begins with a single light bouncing off a low ceiling to create gradients and prevent harsh direct light. Reflectors will also be incorporated to further refine and manipulate the lighting dynamics, ensuring optimal illumination for capturing the handbag’s essence.

Comments

  1. Hi Karl,
    why does the background (Perspex) get brighter and the handbag stays the same in brightness when the ceiling is moved closer?
    I thought that when a light source is moved closer, the light fall-off is stronger…
    I hope you know what I mean.
    See timeline…20:52

    Cheers

    1. Hi, because what we were dealing with is the image forming reflections in the gloss surface of the handbag. These image forming reflections will get darker in relation to the exposure on the surface if we move the light source closer which means we can increase the exposure to get the white surface brighter but without overexposing the image forming reflections on the handbags gloss surfaces. If you look at this old video I did with broncolor’s Urs Recher at around 4:24 it should give you a better understanding. I think I’ll make a new video just on this subject though for our platform although it is covered in some of our other product classes: https://youtu.be/OJfWtQqPer0?si=MID0BD0jL0lycubc

      1. Thank you very much karl

        But why these image forming reflections on the bag will get darker when the light gets stronger and the angle stays the same.
        I have watched the video with Urs but still can’t figure it out.
        do you have another example or theory for dummies like me to read up on?
        Cheers

        1. Hi, An image forming reflection always remains the same brightness no matter how far or close the light is but matt surfaces brightness change depending on how far or close the light is. Therefore if we want to make the image forming reflection darker we must move the light much closer so that we compensate for the matt surface exposure which then means the image forming reflection exposure will be reduced due to the the change in exposure settings or light power. If we moved the light further away the image forming reflection exposure would remain the same but the matt surface would be darker if we didn’t change any camera or light settings.

  3. filippo-72990

    It seems that the golden chain is not fully shiny as it could be. Do you think that the chain could have been shot separately using a translucent cone as in jewelry photography?

    1. SirFrogsworth

      I don’t think that is a gold colored chain, nor is it very shiny. Looks more like a duller brown color and I think Karl captured that well. If he made it shiny gold it would have looked like a different material than it is.

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