Pictures

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Permalink Reply by Mary Tafoya on August 25, 2008 at 4:34am

I wouldn't use a flash. It can wash out your colors and leave really strong shadows.

I use natural light from my patio door, a macro lens on a digital camera, and for backdrops I use 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper.

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Permalink Reply by Teri Baskett on December 9, 2008 at 2:49pm

The light tent is really a great help.....I first tried to take pics in natural sunlight (what could be better) and ran into BIG shadows and glare. There are lots and lots of instructions on the web on how to make one for basically free, using boxes and muslin. Do a search for making a light box. It will really help minimize things and let you get fairly close up. I have wanted to try some of the scrapbook papers mentioned earlier, or a wash of one color---dark on the bottom and getting lighter and lighter going up to the top.

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Permalink Reply by Kirsten Slichter on August 26, 2008 at 2:46pm

Hi! I have a blog that is relevant to this topic. It covers different aspects of product photography, digital editing, and online presentation. http://onlineimagesolutions.blogspot.com.
I hope it will be useful to you! :-)
Kind Regards,
Kirsten Slichter
winipoo jewelry

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Permalink Reply by Beverly Ludlow on September 11, 2008 at 11:41pm

Taking good pictures seems to be right there with setting the right price for your work for "difficulty" factor. My best discovery is white gloss photo paper as a background. That and 3 gooseneck lamps with halogen lights, and a Cannon SD850 IS camera have vastly improved my images.

You should not be using the flash on your camera. That is just about the worst for jewelry images because it causes a hot spot rather than good overall lighting. Using the right lighting is almost more important than the camera.

For photo tips, here are 3 links (I have more if you want)
3 free lessons at: http://www.webphotoschool.com/all_lessons/free_lessons/index.html
Rita Klingenberg's site with tons of info: http://tinyurl.com/6scrh
Tabletop studio: http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/jewelry_photography.htm

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Permalink Reply by Gabi Lenhard on September 14, 2008 at 12:49am

I just set up by a window and cover a table with a sheet for natural lighting, but you could also edit the pictures on photoshop or iphoto to make the lighting the way you want it. Another option I have done is to ask a friend with an interest in photography who has all the necessary equipment to take them, if they want you to you pay them a small fee.

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Permalink Reply by Regal Beads on September 23, 2008 at 3:31pm

my preference is natural lighting, sun or shade depends on the piece itself really. But,in my trial and error (my first pictures were awful!) I learned to NEVER use a flash!

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Hedrick on October 13, 2008 at 3:10am

Something no one has mentioned that I find very important for true colors especially indoors with digital cameras is the white balance setting. Some of the cheaper cameras only have various light type settings for this ie: incandescent, daylight, fluorescent, etc. But if you invest in a slightly better camera it will have a custom white balance option. This is the best choice. You set it first before your photo session by placing a plain white matte object (piece of paper) in front of the camera in the lighting you are going to be using and click the appropriate button. Then your photos will usually come out very close to perfect colors regardless of the sort of light. It is also helpful to have a small piece of that same white in the photo somewhere (I put it off on the side of the frame where it can be cut off) Also using something less than really high contrast backgrounds make for easier work of really great photos. I use a variety of things for backgrounds. A sky blue piece of foam core makes a nice one, I also use a tan piece of leather, sometimes black fabric. Although black is probably my least favorite. It tends to collect dust speckles and is usually too high contrast with the jewelry making it difficult to get really good looking photos.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Spears on August 1, 2009 at 11:05am

for under $30 harbor freight has a light kit..and once you see it you might be able to find your own cube.

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Permalink Reply by Agnes Shapiro on August 14, 2009 at 1:16pm

Hi Jilly - like Barbara just said, the macro makes a difference. I do not have an expensive camera and when I started some of my pictures just didnt make it. I also found not using the flash helps and as for background I picked up this bit of advice - use scrapbook paper as background...which I tried and it makes a world of difference. Just a few hints to help...

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Arthur on August 15, 2009 at 4:41am

I prefer photographing outdoors. Unfortunately, where I live, that isn't always possible. I've yet to come up with a suitable indoor solution, tho. Hopefully you will! :)

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Permalink Reply by Arlene Steinberg on August 17, 2009 at 1:13pm

I had to photograph artwork for my book and photographing jewelry isn't much different. First the best thing is to photograph on a plain, neutral background. (Plain light grey or white is usually best) It is never a good idea to use a flash because it 1. flattens out the jewelry and 2. creates hot spots. The best way is to get two moveable flood lights. With today's camera's you don't have to get photo floods as most cameras will compensate with it's white balance. Try the different white balance settings to figure out which one creates the truest color of your jewelry. Set the flood lights equal distance from the jewelry and angle them so they light up the jewelry without creating hot spots. The best way to do that is to turn out all ambient light and then first set one flood, turn that one off, and then set the other.

Next set your camera to manual settings, the macro setting and TURN OFF THE FLASH setting. Put your camera on a tripod. Do not try and shoot using it handheld. If you don't have a tripod, balance it on a ledge. Set your ISO setting to 100. Set your F stop (your camera's manual will explain what this all means) to 8. Set your shutter speed to whatever will get the light meter needle in the center. (Remember it doesn't matter what it is, because you're using a tripod). Then focus, and take the picture as close as possible. Next lower your F stop to whatever is the next lowest number, usually 7.1. Then take one at 9. This way you have three shots, one exposed "correctly" according to your camera, one slightly underexposed, and one slightly overexposed.

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Permalink Reply by De Charme on March 11, 2010 at 2:12am

Hi Arlene
Thanks, very informative. Will try your method in my next photo session. =)

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