Brooke Martin
Candles are a great photography subject due to their wide range of shapes, sizes, and colours. They are also easy to find and very affordable, making them accessible to anyone looking to practice their photography skills. However, taking pictures of candles can be challenging, especially when it comes to lighting. This is because candlelight is yellowish, and when mixed with other light sources, problems can arise. For example, taking photos of candles in full daylight can overpower the light from the candle's flame, making it virtually invisible and destroying the warm, intimate glow. Similarly, using a flash in low-light situations can ruin the ambient light in a shot. In this article, we will discuss some tips and tricks for taking professional-looking photos of candles.
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What You'll Learn
Use natural light
Natural light is an excellent source for photographing candles, providing the same look and feel that customers will experience with the product in their home environment. It gives an even, soft-looking light with gentle shadows.
When using natural light, avoid placing your candle in a "hot spot", where the sun is shining directly. Hot spots cause harsh shadows in your photos, which aren't aesthetically pleasing. Instead, look for photography-friendly lighting in near a window, on a covered porch, or in any shaded area outside.
A 45-degree angle is the recommended starting angle for positioning your candle facing the light source. However, feel free to experiment with different angles to find the look you prefer. If you find that the shadows are too strong, try reflecting the natural light back onto your candle by using a piece of white foam board or white paper placed next to your setup and angled toward the light source.
Natural light can be mixed with candlelight to create a warm and intimate glow. However, candlelight is yellowish, and problems can arise when other light sources are mixed into the scene. The orange light from candles can confuse your camera's automatic white balance, causing it to overcompensate and remove the warm feeling. Therefore, it is recommended to use manual mode when photographing candles.
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Avoid harsh shadows
Candlelight photography can be challenging due to the low light, but it can also produce stunning results with the warm glow of flickering flames. To avoid harsh shadows in your candle photography, consider the following techniques:
Firstly, avoid using a flash as it will destroy the ambient light and the warm glow of the candles. Instead, opt for a slower shutter speed to let more light into your camera. However, be mindful that decreasing shutter speed increases the chances of capturing movement, so ensure your environment and subject remain as still as possible.
Another way to avoid harsh shadows is to use multiple candles instead of a single candle. Spreading the candles out will create a more even spread of light, reducing harsh shadows. You can also experiment with positioning more candles on one side to create a side-lighting impact, but avoid uneven sides unless you're aiming for a dramatic effect.
When photographing candles, it's best to use a simple composition with a solid-coloured background, such as white, to minimise distractions. A white background can help to remove harsh shadows and enhance lighting on the candle. Additionally, you can use a light box or a reflective surface to eliminate harsh shadows and create softer lighting.
If you're shooting in natural light, avoid placing your candles directly in the hotspot as it will create strong shadows. Instead, place them in a shadowed area to diffuse the lighting, resulting in softer shadows. You can also use a sheer white curtain or sheet to help diffuse the light and reduce harsh shadows.
Finally, when dealing with shiny or reflective candle containers, use a large diffuser over the light source to spread the light softly and reduce harsh reflections. Additionally, a reflector can help evenly distribute light and create a truer-to-life image of your candle.
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Experiment with reflective surfaces
When photographing candles, it's important to remember that candlelight provides very little light, so you'll need to get creative to ensure your photos are well-lit. One way to do this is to experiment with reflective surfaces.
First, choose a table with a reflective surface, such as black glass or a white tablecloth, to create a slightly mirrored image. You can also use a piece of white foam board (or white paper) and place it next to your candles, facing towards your light source, to reflect light back onto your subject. If you're shooting near a window, you can use natural light, but be sure to avoid placing your candles in a "hot spot," where the sun is shining directly, as this will cause harsh shadows. Instead, opt for indirect natural light or bright, white artificial light to create a soft, even light with gentle shadows.
In addition to tables, other reflective objects can be used to create interesting effects. Try using transparent or coloured glass at different distances from the candles to reflect and refract light. You can also experiment with other transparent or reflective objects that you have on hand.
Remember that when shooting at low angles, you may capture two reflections off the upper and lower surfaces of the glass, which can make your photo look blurry. If you plan to shoot from a close-up angle, check your lens's minimum focusing distance, and consider using a lens that allows you to shoot from farther away to avoid a smoked-up front lens.
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Avoid using flash
Candlelight is yellowish, and cameras will naturally capture this. However, problems can arise when other light sources are mixed into the scene. The warm, intimate glow of candles is easily lost when photographing in full daylight, as the light from the candle flame becomes virtually invisible.
The same is true of flash photography. Using flash will destroy the ambient light in a shot, removing the warm glow of candles and the soft, yellowish hue. The exception to this is if you are using a flash to highlight a particular detail in the scene.
When shooting in low light, slower shutter speeds are required, which increase the impact of camera shake on your shots. To avoid this, use a tripod and a remote shutter release to minimise vibrations.
If you are shooting with a DSLR, choose the lens with the largest aperture to let more light into your camera. This will enable a faster shutter speed and lower ISO.
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Keep it simple
Candles are a great photography subject due to their simplicity. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colours, and they don't need any further scenery to make a compelling photo. The best way to photograph candles is to keep the composition simple, with no distracting background elements. This will help convey a strong sense of warmth and cosiness, which is what candle photos are all about.
When it comes to lighting, natural light is a great option for candle photography. It provides the same look and feel that customers will experience when using the candle in their own homes. To take advantage of natural light, avoid placing your candle in a "hot spot", where the sun is shining directly. This will cause harsh shadows in your photos. Instead, look for photography-friendly lighting near a window, on a covered porch, or in any shaded area outside.
If you're shooting indoors, try to reflect light back onto your candle by using a white foam board or piece of white paper. This will help reduce strong shadows and create a softer look. You can also experiment with different surfaces, such as a black-glass table, to create interesting reflections.
When it comes to camera settings, it's best to use manual mode instead of automatic exposure. Candlelight is yellowish, and mixing it with other light sources can confuse your camera's algorithms. By using manual mode, you can set up your camera to handle the unique lighting of candle photos and maintain a consistent exposure and brightness across your shots.
Finally, remember that less is more. A single candle can often be more impactful than a complex composition. Experiment with different candle arrangements, and don't be afraid to keep it simple.
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Frequently asked questions
Natural light is a great way to showcase your candles as it provides the same look and feel that customers will experience in their homes. You can find natural light anywhere the sunlight reaches, such as near a window, on a covered porch, or in any shaded area outside. Avoid placing your candle in a "hot spot", or an area where the sun is shining directly, as this will cause harsh shadows.
Candlelight photography is challenging because there is very little light to work with. To avoid blurry photos, use a tripod and a remote shutter release to minimise vibrations. You can also use a white tablecloth or white walls and ceilings to reflect light back onto your subject.
Candle photos usually benefit from a simple composition with no distracting background elements. However, adding other objects can help give context to the candle and tell a story. Arrange these objects so that they cast long, interesting shadows to add depth to your photo.
