Lighting is everything in photography. If you’ve ever struggled to capture the perfect shot of a piece of furniture, no matter how well you angle the camera, the secret might lie in how you light it. For furniture photography, the number of panels of light you use isn’t just a number—it’s the difference between an eye-catching product shot and a lifeless image that doesn’t do justice to the craftsmanship of the piece. So, how many panels of light do you need for furniture photography? Let’s break it down.
Why Lighting Panels Are Key in Furniture Photography
Furniture is tricky. It’s bulky, textured, and has multiple angles, curves, and surfaces that interact with light in unique ways. Getting a great shot isn’t just about the type of camera or lens; it’s about how you shape and control the light. That’s where lighting panels come into play, especially in automated photography machines.
Panels of light create soft, even illumination, reducing shadows and highlighting the furniture’s best features—whether it's the sleekness of a modern sofa or the intricate carvings of an antique table. One or two lights may seem like enough, but to really capture every detail, multiple panels are essential.
Benefits of Using Multiple Lighting Panels:
- Balanced Lighting: More panels mean better distribution of light, which is crucial for avoiding harsh shadows.
- Texture Enhancement: Wood grain, fabric weave, metal sheen—all these textures pop when the light hits them just right.
- 360° Coverage: Furniture isn’t flat! Multiple panels let you cover all angles, showcasing the piece in its full form.
- Improved Depth: With controlled lighting, you can create a sense of depth, giving viewers the feeling that they can almost reach out and touch the item.
How Many Lights Panels Are Enough?
The simple answer is: it depends. The size of your furniture, the aesthetic you’re aiming for, and your studio setup all play a role in determining how many panels you need.
Here’s a rough guide to help you:
- For small items like chairs or side tables: 3-5 panels of light will usually do the trick.
- For medium-sized items like couches or beds: Aim for 6-8 panels to ensure you’re getting even coverage from multiple angles.
- For large pieces or full-room setups: 10 to 20 panels give you the flexibility to cover every nook and cranny, eliminating shadows and showing off every texture.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to flood the space with light. It’s about control. You want to strategically place and adjust each panel to highlight your furniture’s best features. Too few lights can leave you with unflattering shadows, while too many can wash out the details.
Enter the Orbitvu Furniture Studio
Now, if controlling all these lights sounds like a hassle, this is where technology steps in to make your life easier. Imagine being able to control over 20 panels of light with just a few clicks. That’s exactly what the Orbitvu Furniture Studio offers.
It’s designed for heavy-duty photography, specifically for industries like furniture, large appliances, and even industrial machinery. With Orbitvu’s fully automated studio, the lighting isn’t just an afterthought—it’s built into the entire system, giving you complete control over how each piece is illuminated.
Let me tell you about a few of its standout features:
- Enormous Platform: This studio can handle products weighing up to 4 tons! Yes, you read that right—4 tons. Perfect for heavy furniture, large appliances, and industrial equipment.
- 360° Rotating Turntable: Need a full 360° view of that bulky sofa or an industrial piece of equipment? No problem. With the huge turntable, you can rotate heavy items effortlessly, ensuring every angle is captured.
- Integrated Lighting Control: With over 20 panels of light at your command, you can adjust the intensity, angle, and even the temperature of the lighting, all through a few clicks. This flexibility allows you to create web-ready photos, 360° spins, and product videos that truly showcase your item.
- Camera Positioning Control: Orbitvu’s system lets you adjust camera positioning with ease, making shooting large, heavy objects a breeze.
What does all this mean for you? In minutes, you can create high-quality images that are ready for online listing or print catalogues, saving you hours of setup and editing time. Whether you’re photographing a delicate dining set or a massive industrial machine, Orbitvu’s Furniture Studio ensures that every detail is captured with precision.
Features of Fully Equipped Photo Studios
When you're working in the furniture industry, your photography needs are different. You’re not just snapping a quick pic of a chair—you’re trying to show the fine craftsmanship, the materials, the design. This requires a fully equipped studio designed for large-scale, high-quality content production.
A comprehensive studio setup will offer:
- Control over 20 panels of light: To balance shadows, emphasize textures, and ensure even illumination across the product.
- A huge turntable: Rotate large, heavy furniture and appliances smoothly to capture every angle.
- Integrated software: Control camera positioning, lighting, and rotation from a single interface, making it easy to get the perfect shot without manual adjustments.
- Enormous platform: Able to handle products up to 4 tons, covering the needs of the furniture and heavy equipment industries.
- Quick output: Get web-ready images, 360° spins, and videos with minimal editing.
This kind of setup isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity if you’re serious about capturing high-quality, professional product images that resonate with your audience.
Ready to Elevate Your Furniture Photography? Partner with SnappyFly!
If you’re in the business of photographing large furniture, heavy machinery, or appliances, you know how challenging it can be. The lighting, the angles, the sheer size of the items—it all adds up to a complex process. But it doesn’t have to be. With the right equipment, you can streamline your workflow and produce stunning results every time.
That’s where SnappyFly comes in. Our range of automated photography machines, including the Orbitvu Furniture Studio, are designed to make your job easier. Whether you need multiple panels of light, a turntable that can rotate a 4-ton object, or integrated software that puts full control at your fingertips, we’ve got you covered.
Want to see how our machines can transform your photography process? Check out our full range today and discover the power of automation!