Taking Jewelry Photographs

If you want to start an online jewelry busy, or sell on eBay, one of the most frustrating things can be getting accurate pictures of jewelry & gemstones.  While it’s easy to get artistic photos, it’s very difficult to get the genuine color of a gemstone on film, so the buyer knows what they are paying for.  This is partly due to the nature of gemstones.  Here are some tips that I use to get an accurate & beautiful photo.

1.  I take lots of pictures.  Even though my subject is perfectly still, I like to have tons of pictures, taken at different sessions to find the perfect photo.

2.  Learn about lighting.  This isn’t always fun.  Ok, so it is never fun.  However, it is the most important factor in getting an accurate image.  Experiment with sunlight or even flash.  I don’t think I have ever gotten accurate picture with flash, so I can only take pictures during the day.  However, you will need to experiment & see what works best for you.

3.  Use zoom.  My digital camera has a feature especially to magnify objects, check to see if your camera has one as well.

4.  Learn how to use zoom well.  A lot of my pictures didn’t turn out at first, because for the close up shots, I was holding the camera too close to the subject.  For a clearer picture, that will actually show more detail, try backing up just a little.

5.  Use a nice background.  I like the way that gemstones pop off a black background.  I have a ring box that works well for most photos.  The pictures will be taken very close up, so it’s a good idea to clean off even the most miniscule pieces of lint.  I love shiny fabric like satin, but I’ve never gotten a good photo with it.  I think velvet works well because it is subtle, & provides a look of elegance.

How do you get good pictures of jewelry?  Leave a comment & let me know!

Tags: , , , ,

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb

Leave a Comment