It is more difficult but still possible to obtain good results with conventional photographic equipment.

Equipment

1. Use an SLR camera with close up lenses or extension tubes
2. TTL (through the lense) metering is a must
3. extension tubes work better than close up lenses but both are acceptable
4. Flash MUST be separae from the camera to light eggs and small larvae corectly
5. Attach a piece of foam to the flask to diffuse and reduce the light
6. Use a dark green background (matting from a photo shop works well)

Techniques

1. shoot a test role with the backdrop to determine exposure setting
2. USE ASA 100 FILM!
3. shoot prints if you want to scan photos to a computer(very time consuming)
4. Remove feeding larvae (foodplant and all) from their containers and photograph them against the green background
5. Photograph butterflies on their foodplants in the laboratory setting
6. Do not chill butterflies except as a last resort, as often they will flop about on the ground as they warm-up damaging their wings and ruining the photo

A Good Trick to know
When a larvae is ready to pupate place it on a fresh piece of foodplant, then cover with a vacuum jar lid arching the plant around the the top of the lid.

Note: Release all butterflies in a suitable habitat after rearing and photographing