Taking Polaroid's Pro Table Top Photo Studio for a Test Drive

Most of you know my love for this industry is about the business and marketing aspect of professional photography. I don't make a living as a photographer. However, after a lifetime in the industry and working with some of the finest artists in imaging, I know more than I let on. At the very least I'll match my passion with a camera in my hands against just about anybody.

My career in photography started at Polaroid. I was there for almost eighteen years, leaving to take over as president of Hasselblad USA. Even though Polaroid has changed dramatically from the 20,000+ employee powerhouse it was over thirty years ago; I still have a soft spot for the company. When I got a press release a few months ago about their portable softbox studio, I had to contact them for a test drive.

It arrived a few days later, and for an inexpensive product like this, it's pretty respectable. The upgraded pro version comes with: two daylight LED lights with small light stands, four colored backdrops, a tripod stand, the 20x20 softbox "tent" and its own nylon kit case. ​

It sets up in a minute or two, and the whole thing only weighs 6 pounds! I've got a good friend who sells estate jewelry online, and it's perfect for small-scale eCommerce projects. I've used it several times for blog posts and experimenting with a few items here at home.

Remember, I've got virtually no experience in tabletop work, and to a pro, I know it shows. But here's my point: I needed a shot of the GH4 with a lens for a blog post, the Polaroid softbox studio was perfect for the job. I set it up in my office and just shot it.

To do the job right, I really need to learn some of the techniques for solid table top work. However, we're talking about a $99 product​ ($89.99 at B&H this morning). 

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But the most fun experimenting was this ring of Sheila's. I shot it in the softbox with a LUMIX GX85 and the 30mm macro lens. The ring is on an upside down shot glass on Polaroid's black background. There's minimal manipulation. I brought down the exposure to darken the base of the glass and then cloned out the base's reflection.

Like everything in my life there's a story behind the ring that's fun to share. My Dad bought me the ring when I was twelve in New Mexico on a cross-country family trip. I thought I'd lost it over the years, and found it recently in a box of old photographs and letters.

Building a tree house with friends when I was a kid, I slipped off the ladder and caught my ring on a nail. I came close to losing a finger, and the ring had to be cut off. Fast forward fifty+ years later and I found it recently. Kay Jewelers cleaned it up and fixed it for me, and Sheila's having fun wearing it as a pinky ring.

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In terms of a more complete product review - There are only a couple of things I'm not crazy about - first, the background material is a lint magnet and you want to be careful how you store them. They need to be rolled to avoid creasing which will show in your final images. Also, I wanted the lights a little lower and for the ring shot I wound up laying them on their side. They're LEDs so there was nothing to worry about, but it would have been nice if I could have just lowered them on the stands. 

While I know many of you are working pros, and might look at this as a more amateur product, this little kit does the job. It's inexpensive with a lot of bang for the buck. It's perfect for photographing small objects and imagine how much better my images would look if I took the time to perfect my table top technique.

​Interesting in checking out other fun products from Polaroid?  Just click the thumbnail below: