Jewelry photography is a type of product photography that involves taking photographs of jewelry. You can do this to jewelry you wish to sell online on an ecommerce website or advertise on fashion magazines. The entire mission of jewelry photography is to take pictures of jewelry that will get people’s attention and make them very interested in your product.
However, if you do not do it correctly, you are not going to get the desired result. Jewelry photography involves the use of very detailed photography procedures that should be done with utmost care to get the best results. Most photoshoots for jewelry should be done by professionals and experts in the field of photography. However, if you can’t afford to have professional photographers take your jewelry photos for you, then there are some tips you should know that will help you get your desired results.
In this article, we will go through some of the tips and techniques you can use in jewelry photography to give your jewelry photos the best results and make them attractive to your potential customers.
Tip #1: Choose the right equipment for shooting
The equipment you choose to take your jewelry photos can make or break your shoot. For jewelry photography, there are a number of equipment you should have. The first one is a camera. It helps to use a professional camera and not smartphone cameras, but if a smartphone camera is all you can afford, you can make it work by manually adjusting the aperture and shutter speed so that you get your desired result. However, if you can afford it, try to get a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
In addition to a camera, you should consider getting a macro lens for your jewelry photoshoot. This is important as it helps you take good close up photographs of your jewelry, and it is also a necessary equipment for all kinds of photoshoots. A good lens with focal length in the range of f/1.8 to f/4 is the best option for these kinds of shoots.
Also, you want to decide what kind of lighting is good for your photoshoot. The two options you have are: natural lighting and artificial lighting. Natural lighting is good, but you must work at certain times when the sun is not too bright or not present at all. For artificial lighting, aim to use warm colors and control the color temperature.
Tip #2: Prepare your jewelry before shooting
You have one chance, one opportunity to get the attention of your audience, so use it well. It is important that you choose the jewelry you want to snap and confirm that it looks impeccable. Ensure there are no stones missing and there is not blemish or scratch on it. Remove strings, cut out tags and unnecessary additions to your jewelry and clean it properly.
Your audience will notice if there is any blemish on the jewelry and that can put them off before they even decide to consider your product. Many jewelers don’t take this tip seriously. Don’t be one of them. Spend time cleaning your jewelry from blemishes and stains, dusting it and searching for any defect on it before you shoot.
Editing the picture after it has been taken can also take care of all these issues, but it would take more time to do so, time that would have been spent on marketing your product.
Tip #3: Sparkle is good, reflections are mot
It looks nice for your jewelry to have a nice sparkle and glow, but you should try as much as you can to manage reflections. When you take jewelry photos, especially since you want them close up, you may make the mistake of allowing your reflection and that of your camera to show. Try to avoid this mistake as much as you can.
There is no clear cut way for you to totally eliminate reflection in your jewelry photo, but you can use a series of trial-and-error methods to get the desired results. For example, you can change your position with respect to the direction of the light and see if that eliminates reflection. If it doesn’t, you can also try placing a paper around and at the bottom of your camera lens. This works sometimes to block reflections and allow more light to bounce back towards your subject.
When in doubt, always remember: sparkle is good, reflection should be avoided like a plague.
Tip #4: Avoid Unnecessary distractions
Sometimes, when you are trying to shoot jewelry, simplicity is key. All you need is a good, clear white surface to shoot, and your camera. Sometimes, you can add jewelry holder or white foam, but that should be enough. Resist the urge to add portraits as wallpapers or even use props and mannequins to hold your jewelry. These things are not necessary, and most times can distract from the main focus of the picture: the jewelry itself.
Mannequins may look cool and sound like a great idea, but it is better to use a simple surface. This is because mannequins take lots of space, space that should have been taken by the jewelry itself. Also, portraits in the background take away the attention from the jewelry itself, which is something you don’t want if you are trying to get people to notice the jewelry.
Conclusion
There is no perfect way to engage in jewelry photography, but with some good pointers, you can get something ideal or close to perfect. Remember, in jewelry photography, looks matter a lot. Most times, people will order a product online because of what they can see on the internet, so you must be willing to give them the best possible impression and convince them with all the tools available to you.
Also, jewelry photography is an investment in your brand, so remember to follow up all these tips with consistency so that you can build a brand that people will trust and want to buy from.