Although the trend for microstock photography is moving slightly away from the isolated objects on a white background, there is still a call for shots of this nature, not only in microstock and traditional stock, but in commercial photography, this is still a widely used format. Designer's and advertisers can easily insert this type of image into their advertising campaigns, so learning how to do this quickly and get results that don't require much editing can be an important part of your photographic education.
Shooting isolated objects on a white background isn't all that difficult, once you figure out how to light it 
properly. As with most photography, lighting is the key factor here and for the most part, good focus is essential. Lighting can be extensive (studio lights, light boxes, etc.) or, it can be simple. Even a light bulb can be used to light objects if you know the correct way to use the light.
This tutorial explains how to make a simple, inexpensive "mini-studio" in your kitchen (or any other room in your house) that will have you shooting images like this without having to edit them extensively to get the background white. Depending on your lighting and exposure, some will require no editing, and some might require no more than a small tweak of the curves at the high end to get the back white. The trick here is to get not only proper exposure and lighting, but to ensure you have the correct white balance for the light you are using.
In the case of this tutorial, as long as you've got the camera, the speedlight and a tripod already, the additional equipment will cost around $30 to $40.
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