High-End Product Photography Using V-Flats with Kyle Brown

We recently had the pleasure of hanging out with Kyle Brown, an amazing food and beverage photographer from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Kyle joined us for a day of shooting high-end products, and let’s just say, his skills with a camera – and some V-Flats – left us seriously impressed. Here’s a peek at how he made some everyday items look absolutely stunning.

Chilling with a Beer Bottle

Kyle started off by tackling a beer bottle, aiming for that icy, frosty look that makes you want to crack one open immediately. He prepped the bottle with care, stripping off the rear label to avoid any pesky shadows and using a clever mix of crystal ice and glycerin to create those perfect condensation beads.

Lighting was key to this setup. Kyle used three lights: one behind the bottle for a soft, glowing effect, another overhead to highlight the bottle cap, and a third to evenly light the front label. But the real magic happened with the V-Flats. By sliding black-sided V-Flats on either side, he created sharp, defined black lines down the bottle’s edges, giving the shot a crisp, professional finish.

Turning a Plate of Food into a Feast for the Eyes

Next up was a gorgeous plate of food, courtesy of a local chef. Kyle kept the setup simple but effective, using a large octabox for soft, backlit lighting. On the opposite side, he placed a V-Flat to bounce some light back onto the plate, giving it just the right amount of fill.

What made this shoot stand out was the simplicity. Instead of fussing with multiple lights, Kyle used the V-Flat to control the fill light, adjusting it with ease to get the perfect balance. A few carefully chosen props – a napkin, fork, knife, and cutting board – added a touch of lifestyle to the scene, making the food look even more appetizing.

Playing with Light and Shadow in a Cosmetics Shoot

For the final setup, Kyle switched gears and focused on cosmetics, opting for a bold, high-contrast look. He used a single light source with a reflector to create sharp, dramatic shadows that made the products pop. Managing those shadows was crucial, and once again, V-Flats played a starring role.

Kyle set up multiple V-Flats on their white sides to soften the light and control shadow intensity. The white surface also made for a clean, simple backdrop, ensuring the cosmetics stood out without any distractions. The result was a striking image that captured the essence of the products.

Why V-Flats Are a Game-Changer

Throughout the shoot, V-Flats proved to be incredibly versatile. Whether creating sharp edges on a bottle, adding subtle fill to a food shot, or managing shadows in a cosmetics layout, these simple tools allowed Kyle to fine-tune the lighting with ease. There are many ways to use V-Flats, as they’re compact, easy to use, and, as Kyle demonstrated, perfect for getting that pro-level look without complicating things.

Kyle’s talent and creativity made this photoshoot a breeze, and the results were nothing short of fantastic. If you’re looking to elevate your product photography, taking a page from Kyle’s book – along with a few V-Flats – might be just what you need.

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