Pure white backgrounds in product photography gray card

How to get a pure white background in product photography

If you do a lot of product photography, either for stock or ebay listings, you’d have probably realised by now that items that sell the most, are those that have a pure white background. Many photographers new to this style of photography, start off by placing a white background such as a sheet behind the object they are shooting, then change the exposure until they achieve the look they are after.

However, this isn’t always very effective. For example, recently I tried photographing a shiny tin bucket using the method explained above. After each shot, I viewed the image in the LCD screen then overexposed the photo one stop at a time until I had a completely white background. Unfortunately, after viewing it on my computer monitor, I found this method also took away the edges of the bucket.

It was then that I came across this video on Utube, that explains nicely how using a gray card (grey card, exposure card) can help product photographers to achieve a pure white background. Note: The video presumes you already know how to use a gray card. For those that have never used one before, I have some quick tips explaining how to use them further down this page.

How to use a photographers gray card (sometimes spelt grey card or called an exposure card)

Using a gray card is easy. First set your camera to spot or partial metering, then place the gray card near the object you are going to photograph and look through your viewfinder as if you are going to take a photograph of it. Get in close enough to fill the frame with the grey card, then lock the exposure (check your camera’s manual). Remove the card and take the image.

Wish you had more control over your camera?
Discover how your DSLR camera works and start taking better photos today!
Get your copy of 'SLR Photography Guide' for the iPhone