Lighting Products

[Luke]

I really enjoy lighting people. I know exactly what to do and it usually comes out the way I want. But lighting products for video is a whole new ballgame.
Scenario:
I have to shoot 4 white plastic canisters about 1 foot tall each. They have pink writing on the labels. Next to them is a white cardboard box about the same hight. The gear I have available to me: 2 Arri 300 Fresnel's and 1 Arri 650 Fresnel with a few scrims and a large assortment of gels.
I would love to hear some suggestions for a good setup. What would be a good base and background? Best way to light?
Thank you
Luke

 

[ProfessorU]

Generally product lighting is a lot like people lighting. Soft light is often more flattering, low contrast ratio is usually more flattering. Reflections make things difficult. Transparency often looks best with backlighting. My favorite results from product work are with a soft source that is bigger than the subject. Can you use some sort of large diffusion?

Can you just use a black background? Something nondistracting is almost always preferred for product photography.

 

[Luke]

Thank you for the response. Yeah, I was thinking about shooting threw a sheet or something and perhaps using black felt for the base and background.
Luke