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There Is No Perfect Product Photography Setup

Martin Hallik argues against searching for a single perfect product-lighting setup, showing how the right rig changes with the product's material and shape.

Martin Hallik · 9 min · Intermediate · LGT · Lighting · 2026

What you take away

Ask what the surface is made of before you decide where a single light goes.

Watch it

Filed under

Films to study for light

Books on lighting

Kit for this lesson

Aputure Light Dome Mini III — The Dome for small rooms and small fixtures
Aputure Light Dome III — The softbox most Bowens fixtures wear
Aputure Lantern 90 — Soft from every direction — ambience in one piece
DoPchoice Snapbag Octa — Opens like an umbrella — the rental standard softbox
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art — The reportage prime
Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D — Ultra wide with no barrel distortion

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