Karl Taylor's High-End Product Shoot - Made Easy! 

Years later and this is still one of the greatest product photography tutorials ever.

A couple of people keep coming up with the same comment so here's an explanation: - There were no constant lights used for the actual photos. All studio 'flash' lights have what is called a 'modelling lamp' that is on all the time to let you see what you are doing and the effect of the light. Based on the camera settings these lights have no effect on the picture. When you push the camera button the flashes fire and that's what makes the picture. You may not see the flash every time in the video because the video frame rate doesn't always pick it up. But you can hear the flash go off every time. Cheers Karl.

Hidden reflective gold cards ! Genius idea !

This type pf informative videos can be rarely found on youtube Thank you

What I appreciate about your work Karl is how detail oriented your are with your photography. How methodical and calculated you are in composition. I'm trying to train myself to be more patient and thoughtful in my composition and photography. Thank you for sharing this. Blessings.

Thanks to this short tutorial I was finally able to shoot my bottle of Hennessy Paradis with a spectacular result. I can't thank you enough.

Every time when i watch your videos, i feel pretty much confident of achieving something very potential. Yes i mean it honestly ❤️❤️Thanks Karl

That Hasselblad is just the "=" button of a calculator when you do a calculation, which in this case is planning, organizing and being patient and above all enjoying the process. Thank you very much for sharing.

I've been taking photos of bottles for over 10 years (and getting better each year I hope!) but I still enjoy watching videos like this. I first saw this one years ago and it was one that helped me learn. What I love about this one in particular is the aim to do as much as possible in camera with a single shot rather than taking 50 different pics and comping them all. There's a time and place for some comping of course - product photography is about the final image not just the process - but too many photographers take too many photos and that tends to end up with a fake looking pic, not to mention the extra time. Nothing beats the satisfaction and the 'natural' look of a well-thought out and well-lit (almost) single shot! Nice one Karl.

Great work. I didn't realize how much was involved in getting a shot like that.

I love learning from Karl, this series and these photographers are treasures

Excellent tutorial video. I was looking to do the same for a product, but in video instead of photography. You kept me here for 16 min. You Sr. are a truly professional!

Karl, you are amazing and such a nice guy sharing all this stuff with us. Thank you very much!

This is one of the most informative and helpful videos I've seen. No fancy lingo or jargon. Just a simple breakdown. Thank you.

Karl , I think I've found the best tutorials on youtube about photography, thank you very much for sharing with passion and humility your knowledge , it is very difficult to find something like this for free , when I have money I will inscribe one of your workshops , greetings from Mexico .

Wow this is an awesome tutorial. I would have never thought of using techniques like putting cardboard behind the bottle and shining a light on the backdrop. Well done...

Fantastic video, amazing this content is available to anyone. As someone who often shoots whisky bottles (poorly), I may need to adopt this setup! Thanks again for putting this out and especially for showing the differences live as the lights were moved / removed / etc

Many thanks Karl for giving me the link to this video. Good to see that reflector cards are still in regular use. You say "This isn't magic, you know. This is basically physics, science, mixed with a bit of art". How very wise and true that is.

+ Karl Taylor this is an awesome setup, we tried it last year making a Christmas card which had a snow globe in it and we used it to light the snow globe and composite it back into the main picture. (of course we use white acrylic, silver card reflectors instead of gold and put a blue-ish tint on them as well for a colder look), the employees loved those cards!

Karl Taylor = A strikingly amazing artist and tutor (since always)!

I really appreciate that you put so much work and effort in this tutorial just to show us how it's done right!

Update to my last post. I've spent another 12 hours dialing in this shot. I absolutely nailed it. Beautiful. I added a blue filter for the horizon and wow the picture just jumps out! It's clear to me now that knowing how to set up for this shot and actually having the knowledge to produce the image are two completely different things. I couldn't figure out how you got the neck light so I used my own method and comped it in separate from the wrapper. Thank again Karl, you're a great teacher and I appreciate your sharing it!

Thank you for the great incite. Its the little touches that you show that most people would over look when trying to create a shot like this that make this tutorial great. I will definitely be getting your series.

The best explanation of product photography on RU-vid. I am an old Art Center College of Design grad and used to shoot this stuff with 4x5 and film. Just one tip always use Dustoff before shooting on a black surface.

WOW! This is awesome! I would have never guessed the setup looked like that. Very impressive sir. I need to watch more of your videos. You are very inspiring and take the time to show things nicely!

Thanks for taking the time to make such an amazingly detailed video. You can learn a lot about the properties of light even if you aren't interested in photography.

Excellent, stunning, perfect. Thank you for sharing!

Karl, great video and a simple and clear breakdown of how to achieve amazing results.

One of the best demonstration videos i've seen. Great job.

In fact you're right Karl. I have your pro series 'product and still life photography training DVDs' and i can say that this video is indeed a tiny fraction of what your quality videos are about. Great Work Karl. Thank You

Fantastic video! Tried it today with two flashes and umbrellas and paper in front for extra diffusion. Worked great.

ohhh...physics and art indeed....drool and just stunning!

karl, it was AWESOME to watch this. Well done the video and how you decompose all. Thanks.

Thank you, Karl for this amazing lesson! Much appreciated

I really appreciated this video. It's very enjoyable to see the thought and techniques that go into getting fine results.

This video is wonderful, and the way you explain everything, man, it's just perfect. Thank you very much.

thank you really helpful for the product photographers, your lighting technique classes are amazing man

This tutorial is great, thank you! Managed to get some really nice pictures thanks to this tutorial. Good job.

Hi Karl, great break down. I actually do my product shots in 3D but the tips you gave me, I can implement to create a more acurate result. I didn't know about the reflector panels behind the bottle. So I was getting "hollow" bottles. Thanks a bunch

Absolutely brilliant work! Thanks Mr Taylor…

I'm viewing this video in December 2020 and find it VERY informative. The fact that basics of light science and the manipulation of light combined with artistic vision will NEVER cease to be relevant. Thank you so very much for sharing your expertise. It's very much appreciated.

That was incredible! Thank you so much for sharing it!

Too amazing! I need to try this out. Thanks.

This video is pure gold thanks for sharing

Brilliant mate. Superb lighting!

Awesome!! Great teacher. This is good for a store, hobbyist, or contract work. Thanks.

Lots of videos I do watch. This is the second or third time for this one. Repetition is a good thing when doing good things and watching good things, and this video has been and is a good thing. I usually re-watch to allow Myself to assimilate that of which I did not recognize as important until I learned something previously by attempting to implementing some said suggested practice. A simple note to all is that My Daughter and I, both loving the learning of photography, are using the tools We have to and in whatever way that We can and that is necessary. Today it is a sub-hundred dollar flash and a light stand that is questionably stable as used in practice. What We both know is that the goal is a tomorrow four or five years down the road. Using what We now have to the maximum, with the guidance of those such as Karl Taylor, will make the "tomorrow's" equipment more valuable than any price paid. Photography, like being an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, is based heavily in physics and the scientific process though it is more than never called a science. However, in practice, photography and Industrial Maintenance (as well as some other jobs) are totally always dependent on science.

Karl, you are the King. Well done!!

A beautiful combination of artistic sensibility,imagination, and technical expertise. Really impressive. I am only an amateur who shoots outside above the ocean, normally at night or in storms. But recently, I tried to shoot some tall flowers in a tall, clear glass vase. Hard to do in a darkened space.

Karl, you are inspiring

You are the King Mr Taylor !!!

This is awesome advice ! Ithought I knew what you were up to until you revealed those two tiny cut-out golden reflectors behind the bottle and the tumbler. Makes such a difference. Good job, and a lot of inspiration,Thanks, mate.

Cheers Karl, look forward to future videos!

Karl, got to hand it to you mate this is absolutely fantastic. One of the few guys on youtube willing to put his money where his mouth is. Tempted to sign up to learn things like this, these sort of areas are hard to get into and I am wowed by this final image, I've also subscribed. Thank you.

This is like the pure science of creativity. Good stuff!

This is, as all Kar's stuff is, fantastic. People complaining about this and that - maybe come back when you are able to understand a few things more clearly. AND that is not at all a knock. This stuff takes time to grasp. I know in modern society everyone wants everything done yesterday, including learning photography and the high end post processing. Take your time and you will get there!! GREAT JOB KARL!

I agree great teacher, patient, and a great assistant. Very informative!

Truly stunning final image !

Beautifully done!

This is the most comprehensive breakdown of studio lighting i've come across on YT. The cover picture of the final shot caught my eye right away as I was browsing similar topics... I'm glad I clicked the video. I don't know how it has 29 dislikes... probably from other jealous photographers :P

Super excellent step by step tutorial for product shots. I really impressed and appreciate your efforts.

Thanks for making and sharing this great tutorial video. The secret from the cut-out shape of the bottle is great!

A nice presentation with detail of light. Thanks Karl.

Karl - this video is FANTASTIC! BIG thank you!!! You Are The Best!

Excellent tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing.

Your training must be awesome. This video is awesome. Appreciate it!

Thanks for the sharing, this is outstanding, I liked the way you used to take all the setup off to demonstrate us how things work, I've really appreciated that! Greetings from France

Amazing video!!! Thank you sooo much for it, it was very helpfull! And this stuff with gold reflectors behind the bottle and the glass, hah, so simple and cool hack!

Beautifully done. Great video.

Awesome work! Nicely done.

fantastic shot there Karl! Thanks!

I have watched many tutorials with product photography, but this one is the best so far! so much inside/detail information! keep on doing that Karl! p.s. the whisky is awesome!

Epic shot, epic tutorial, thanks!

best video on product photography and light I've seen on youtube

great tutorial and flawless execution! Every one of your videos I have watched has taught me something... ladies and gentlemen take notes, Karl Taylor is pulling the curtain waaay back for you to see the secrets of the industry...

Very very helpful. Really learned alot, and answered my questions to the key in lighting with liquids and glass.

This was by far the most informative and professional Video about product photography I have seen on youtube today. Great work, and I think I am thirsty now ;)

OMG you are a life saver. Stressing about a shoot I have been challenged with for a Whisky company. Many thanks

Am a big fan of you work. Thanks for sharing you knowledge. Even I wanna be in product photography. And I'm glad I found you videos. Thanks.

This is one of the best videos I have seen in a while, thank you so much for sharing.

Ohhh Man, fantástic work, congratulations !!! Very good

Great ideas. Thank you for sharing this with us

amazing! thank you karl

Complicated scenario made easy and explained very well. Love it! Awesome! thanks for the video!

Brilliant overview - super helpful, thanks. And The Balvenie is declicious!

Karl you are my hero, I really love how you do your videos and live how you talk! :)

Brillant. Thanks for sharing, Karl.

I m portrait photographer but new to product photography. I must say, your lighting is so professional. thanks for sharing

Really Great stuff, Loved the way you explained the each aspect of lighting. Way to go. Great work. Thanks for sharing.

i love all your works..

Woahh..you're genius! Amazing! Ty for share it on easy way to understand..xx

Hi Karl, just wanted to say thank you. Really great demonstration.

great tutorial! Thank you Karl Taylor

Brilliant tutorial. Thank you for imparting your knowledge.

Fantastic tutorial. One of the best that I've seen

you are an excellent teacher, awesome as simple and complete explanation

pretty awesome! Although im not really a photographer, im more of a retoucher i still enjoy watching photoshoots. Sometimes they help me with lighting issues or how to address them. good job karl!

Great stuff Karl.

as a 3D modeler this is really helpful for lighting my renders! thank you.

Absolutely amazing!