How to Photograph Jewelry: 4 Top Tips for Perfect Shots
April 26
10 min. to read
If you have worked in this field and wondered how to photograph jewelry, this article is for you. We have collected for you top tips which will definitely come in handy. Professional jewelry photography isn’t as simple as it looks like. In this type of photography, the specialist needs to attach or dangle the piece of jewellery so that it stays at a steady position. There are also difficulties with creative jewellery photography ideas because it is very important to stand out. In just a few simple steps, we'll tell you how to take good pictures of jewelry so that you become a real pro.
It seems like a daunting task to photograph an entire piece of jewelry because it may be too tiny, having shaded stones attached to it. Mostly, you're attempting to capture the fine details and depth in three or four square inches, could be more. At first, it may seem very hard to learn how to photograph small sparkling things. But do not worry, here are some factors that you need to keep an eye on while making jewellery product shoots, and with quite some practice, you’ll eventually learn the art of photographing shiny jewelry.
It may seem difficult at first, so take one step at a time. Just read the article about how to take pictures of jewelry and try to follow the tips below clearly.
1. Selecting A Background That Enhances Your Jewelry Shots
You can shoot a necklace, ring, brooch, pendant or other small item. Set up a background that compliments your product.. Be sure to consider the type of item, because you have to show all its advantages. Note to yourself that the background for silver jewelry and gold pieces should be different. This is one of the main jewelry photography tips.
A fitting ideal background will rely upon the type of jewellery you are trying to capture, whether it's all metal or an intense shaded gem. You can choose a spotless white background, a deep black backdrop, or utilize dark paper or dark acrylic.
2. Understanding The Lighting Setup in Jewlery Photography
If you don't know at all how to take pictures of jewelry, you first need to figure out the optimal lighting. It is very important to choose the right light source because the success of the photograph directly depends on it. The first thing to look out for is to never use rough or unpleasant illumination. It is major error photographers make when it comes to photographing jewellery. Let's say right away that you should look for natural soft light and make the main emphasis on it.
Make a habit to photograph your jewellery in delicate, characteristic daylight spilling in from a window, or manufactured studio lighting. You can also use the light tent or even a diffuser. It would be helpful if you go through your camera's manual mode, so you can control how much or how minimal light your camera pulls into making your photos. One of the jewellery photography ideas is to take proper advantage of one light source. Also, hold the camera directly in front of the jewelry. If the item is positioned toward the back of the sweep, you may see some shadow.
There are some problems when shooting highly reflective products, but they can be solved and achieve glossiness without glare. Eliminating reflections is a trial-and-error process when it comes to jewelry. Placing a paper around and at the bottom of your camera lens will help block off reflections and bounce more light back toward your subject.
3. Capturing Fine Details in Jewellery Product Photography
Let's understand a little bit about the jewellery photography setup that you will need to use. Capturing tiny in-depth details is important. In order to do that you need to use a quick shutter speed (1/125 - 1/250), set your aperture at f/8 or better (you will benefit from a greater depth of field, better sharpness, and better reproduction of details). Using a tripod is a plus when it it comes to capturing at different angles because your customers need to be able to see the jewellery from all angles, however no need to utilize it when you’re shooting straight down. Hold your breath as you click the shutter to avoid camera shake. Don't forget to manually adjust the white balance.
If you do not know how to take jewelry photos, it is good to use a macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1:1 and a focal length of at least 60mm (35mm format equivalent). This is one of the best lenses that makes it easy to bring all your jewellery photography ideas to life.
4. Editing Your Jewellery Product Shoot
At the mention of a photo editor, many people immediately think of Photoshop, but it's quite a complicated option. Adobe programs require a long study of all the functionality, and sometimes you need to edit a good frame quickly and efficiently. Luminar Neo is an all-in-one photo editor intended to guarantee an enhancement to your captures. Luminar Neo can provide perfect photo editing thanks to AI. With Enhance AI and Accent AI you can quickly and easily find the right color balance, change contrast, tone and saturation. Even if you don't know how to take jewelry photos and edit good shots, you'll never have a problem with this editor. Luminar Neo provides you with user interface configurations and options that match your editing style and needs.
Using Luminar Neo for editing is one of the great jewelry photography ideas. This software can be installed on a trial version basis and you can also choose monthly and yearly subscription, or one-time purchase. The price for a month ranges from $6.58 to $9.08, and for a year from $79 to $109 (depending on the plan) which is a lot cheaper than other photo-editing software. You will need good editing software if you are clicking jewels as editing can remove blemishes and improve light to make your pictures stand out.
Best Way to Photograph Jewelry: Final Verdict
You need to give careful consideration to lighting, various angles are also necessary while capturing tiny jewellery because customers want to examine it from all angles. Maintain a strategic distance from your product, warming up by taking some test photos would give an idea about the environment and the adjustments that need to be made. So, how to make jewelry sparkle in photos:
- a balance between soft and hard light;
- use a separate light source, such as multiple LEDs in a single light fixture, and place it close to the camera;
- avoid mixing different light sources;
- sparkling lights can add sparkle to your diamonds.
Another important point: before you take the pictures, be sure to thoroughly clean the jewelry.
And finally, don’t forget to edit the photo if you want it to get a professional look. We hope that this article was useful and that you will not have any further questions about how to take photos of jewelry.
