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Tips and Lessons: Atlanta photographer Alex Koloskov and our team.

Almost everything we do as photography  is explained on my blog. I love to share my knowledge and experience, hoping it will be helpful for those who is going the same route. We really hope sharing the information is the only way to make our world better.  Information boosts people's knowledge,  makes us think and analyze more: meaning more smart people will be around us. Smart people won't live poor, can't be used as a zombied  weapon (think about suicide bombers) and they eventually will make OUR life better.

So, below are the list of how-to, tips,  lessons, behind -the-scene videos. We are trying to do our best to add more to this list every day, only wish we have at least 35 hour day:-)

 UPDATED: 08/12/2011

AKELstudio Blog:
Professional photography without professional equipment: myth and reality

Professional photography without professional equipment: myth and reality

Tabletop Photography Walkthrough or How to Create an Eye-Catching Product Shot

Tabletop Photography Walkthrough or How to Create an Eye-Catching Product Shot

Shooting at medical lab: time to add color to sterile environment!

“Mastering splash” masterclass e-videobook

From idea to implementation: Einstein 640 creative shot. Implementation

Canon 5d Mark II and PhaseOne P25+: Does a physical sensor size make a difference?

 

My new studio warrior: the charismatic camera with tough personality (do I say goodbye to Canon?)

 

Leica X1 vs Fuji X100: the final round. In-studio performance

Leica X1 vs Fuji X100: Two hi-end point and shoot cameras compared.

Leaf Aptus-II 12 80 megapixel digital back review: it is not only pixels that count.

 

Canon 1Ds Mark III v.s 5D Mark II: is there is any difference in image quality? In-studio test run.

Human's code exposed: Photographing DNA encoded jewelry

Studio product assignment: Few tricks on how to shoot high-glossy subject

 

Atlanta photographer jewelry tutorial diamond earrings

Jewelry photography: 3 lighting setups for your inspiration.

 

Trash can as a tool for a professional photographer: the end result all that matters?

Exploring new technique; DIY shooting cone made from a trash can.

First AKELstudio LIVE! masterclass: water, apple, flash duration test and one shot of scotch whiskey:-)

Light painting (lighting brush) technique in product photography.

Mastering jewelry photography: my experience with a shooting cone

How to get complete white background out from a camera: studio product photography tutorial

DIY shooting table for complete white background in product and jewelry photography

Routine job of a product photographer: kitchenware packaging for Walmart.

Routine job of a product photographer: kitchenware packaging for Walmart.

Lighting for small product photography: collection of lighting setups.

Lighting for small product photography: collection of lighting setups

Shooting glassware on white background: high-key in product photography

Shooting glassware on white background: high-key in product photography

Studio product photography tips&tricks: Shooting glassware on black background.

Shooting glassware on black background

Tabletop photography tips and tricks: a good use of a tilt-shift adapter for DSLR

Tabletop photography tips and tricks: a good use of a tilt-shift adapter for DSLR

Industrial tabletop photography: We gotta be creative!
 
Tabletop photography I like: creative shot for Anisa International, step by step.

Tabletop photography I like: creative shot for Anisa International, step by step.

 Focus stacking technique using Adobe Photoshop CS5  

Focus stacking technique using Adobe Photoshop CS5

Product photography behind the scene video

Product photography behind the scene video

Jewelry photography example tutorial: the diamond ring

Lighting for jewelry photography: the development process

 Post production video of a product photographer

Fruit splash photography: how much post-production it takes to get a perfect splash

Cosmetic brush set photography tutorial

Product photography lighting tips&tricks: working with reflective objects, part 4

Brush set photographed.

The magic of PLM (parabolic) umbrella

Article about our test shot with Einstein 640 monolight unit and large PLM umbrella on location

How to shoot glass: setting the lighting for tabletop product photography

How to shoot glass: setting the lighting for tabletop product photography

« Advise needed: Any good quality Lavalier/Headworn wireless microphone system for up to $200?     What equipment we use in our photography business: complete (to be:-) gear list. » Working with reflective objects: cosmetic brush set photographed.

Working with reflective objects: cosmetic brush set photographed.

Hasselblad H4D-50 against Canon 1Ds MarkIII: what do we get for the money?

Shooting cosmetic brushes: simple tips to help dealing with chrome finish

Shooting cosmetic brushes: simple tips to help dealing with chrome finish

softbox vs diffuser panels photographer tutorial example

Softbox v.s diffuser panels in small product photography: Cosmetic brushes shoot for Anisa International.

I was using various softboxes for most of our product photography, but about a half a year ago I discovered a perfect use of  translucent diffuser panels in product photography.  I am talking about usually small product with glossy reflective surface with inevitable  reflection form the lights on it.
atlanta product photgrapher macro image of a sexy boot

Sexy boot: Cover shot for the catalog.

This is what we shot for the catalog cover (the full catalog photo session are here and here), a close-up shot of one of the catalog boots. Customer wanted to show the boot on a cove and wanted to have the most rich, tasty and sexy  look possible. 
food photographer atlanta restaurant menu photoshot

Food photographer in Atlanta: chicken wings, photographer, stylist and a sauce:-)

Last week I had a great opportunity to work on a very interesting project: a food photoshoot for Jante Glen and his Wing City2City Take-Out Restaurant.
Jante  has this great idea of very simple and inexpensive Take-Out restaurant with more money spent on the quality of the food instead of workers, the building and silverware. Therefore the photography should be the same: simple, but showing the best of the product for each menu item.
lighting the lights tabletop photography tutorail: atlanta photographer

Lighting the lights: Designer's tabletop lamp product photography tutorial

In this article I’ll  show our recent photoshot for Doug James (StudioDoug.com). He brought very interesting and unusual products of his studio to be photographed: LED tabletop lamps along  with other cool stuff.

Water in advertisiemt and product photography tutorail

Water in product and advertisement photography: episode two released


This is a second episode (the first one is here) from the “Water in product and advertisement photography” series. This time we used the same tank and mix of distilled and sparkling water.

The idea was simple: pouring objects into a water and shooting through the water tank, positioning camera strictly horizontal. Because we have used carbonated water, the tank must be 100% clean inside: every little piece of dirt on the glass will attract bubbles build-up.
DIY portable battery power pack for monolights

DIY portable power system for Paul C. Buff monolights

Lighting setup diagram water product photography

 

Water in product and advertisement photography: episode two

 

Water in still life and advertisement photography: Episode one

As promised, here is the tutorial for what I call “underwater” product photography (not sure what the right name for this). We shoot several products, from fruits to a shampoo bottles, and now I am glad to show you the result...

Studio lighting setup for a uniform catalog: Refrigiwear photo-shoot

After we have successfully done a boots catalog photography for Refrigiwear, they decided to go with us on the rest of their 2010 catalog. This time we had a uniform 7+ hours photo-shoot with 4 models,  about 30-40 outfits and four people (not counting  photographer ) helping  in a studio...

Product photography lighting: It is simple when you know how.

Working on our latest assignment, a catalog shoot for Refrigiwear, I decided to show how proper lighting can make a big difference by using one of the boots from the catalog as an example...
 workshop_small.jpg

Atlanta photography workshop: lighting techniques, setup and video.

product_photographer_small.jpg

Photography for packaging: simple steps on how to have it done right

Simple tips and rules on how to make product look best on a package.
product_photogrpahy.png

5 Tips for Successful Product Photography,

or What Every Photographer Needs to Know to Make a Perfect Product Photo
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Why Photos Taken by a Professional Photographer Look Professional and Yours Do Not?

atlanta photographer jewelry example

Photographing jewelry: the lighting setup, tips and tricks plus bonus video

 Sekonic flash meter: why not to use?

Why I do not use flash meter.. Do you?

 Studio in the hands: atlanta photographer advise

Studio in your hands: portable lighting setup for event photography

 tilt shift adapter DIY from alex koloskov, atlanta photographer

Developing tilt/shift system for 35mm digital camera based on 4x5 large format view camera

 Tilt shift adapter fro DSLR, advantages

Watch photography: advantages of tilt-shift camera adapter