Setting up Your Camera

• Be sure to take your time setting the camera up.
  
  Almost all table top style photography shoots will involve the use of a tripod. Due to the precision required to set up all the pieces, a tripod can help keep the picture steady and eliminate some degree of headache. You may also want to turn the aperture on your camera down so that all the areas of your small objects can come into focus. Try not to use a flash. The amount of light generated by the sudden flash can cause large unsightly shadows to appear over your subject.
  
  

Setting Up Your Lights

• Try different light set ups and be sure to use diffused light.
  
  Generally speaking, natural light alone will not be enough to adequately create the correct amount of light. Small objects have very tiny details that can be lost in natural light alone. However, you also want to make sure that you do not flood the table top with too much light. This can cause details to be lost as the highlights of the object become glaring spots of bright color. One way to avoid this is to use diffused light. Many camera stores sell table top "tents" that allow you to shine lights through the tent where they are automatically diffused. Some of these tents also have a special material on the front of the tent that cuts down on reflection and glare so that your shots are only picking up the correct details.
  
  Try and place the loosely around the set up and check the object for any strange shadows. You want to see all of the areas of your subject in appropriate detail. You will usually only want shadows where you cannot avoid them, such as underneath the subject.
  
  

Making Use of the Surface Material

• Make use of the texture and reflection of your surfaces.
  
  It is important to also consider your background and surface material as an important part of the photography project as well. Making good use of background materials is key to pulling off a great table top photography session. After you have placed your lights and framed the shot so that the details of your subject are in focus and well lit, consider how the background plays into the shot.
  
  If the background is reflective, see if this is helping to add some beauty to the composition. Make sure that none of the lights, camera or set-up are being reflected into your shot.
  
  Maybe the background has a unique texture that you can highlight by changing the angle of the camera slightly to show off the texture. If the background is made of a cloth material like velvet, try to make the folds of the material contribute to the overall composition. For instance, a folded piece of cloth at an angle can help direct the viewer's attention more directly on the subject.