Your product images can make or break your success in the jewelry business.
If shoppers cannot see detailed photos of the jewelry on your website, how will you convince them to buy the products?
Jewelry photography is challenging. You need to avoid reflections and fingerprints, manipulate lighting, and adjust shutter speed and aperture to capture the jewelry in a way that highlights its beauty.
This guide will walk you through tips on lighting, positioning, and photo editing – so it looks like you hired a professional.
Jewelry Photography Equipment
The equipment you use will depend on your budget. You can keep costs low by purchasing some of the following items. Or you can buy more expensive equipment like lighting or displays for your jewelry.
Here are some essential items for your jewelry photography equipment that you will need:
Camera
You don’t need an expensive camera to take pictures of your jewelry. New jewelry store owners can also use an iPhone or Android. If you have a smartphone on hand, use it. If you already have a DSLR camera with a good lens, you can use that.
Tripod
If you take photos without a tripod, it won’t matter what kind of lighting setup you use. Trying to hold the camera or smartphone by hand will result in camera shake.
Always use a tripod. Tripods are inexpensive and effective, improving quality and consistency. When the camera is securely mounted on a tripod, you can use optimal aperture and ISO settings. Mark a spot on the ground for your tripod and it will be easy to replicate your setup, even when shooting on different days.
Lighting
Light is essential for capturing photos of your jewelry. A room with windows next to a wall is a good option. The larger the window, the more light you’ll get. If you don’t have natural lighting, you can buy artificial light sources like a softbox.
You can find photography lighting kits online. Start with a simple setup at first. Once you’re comfortable with the camera, you can experiment with different lighting techniques, such as reflections and fill lights. Get your free product photography template
Table
A standard folding table works best. Look for a table with a width between 24 and 27 inches.
White Background
There are various ways to create a white background for your photos. If you plan to take many different pictures, consider purchasing a white poster board.
The poster board provides a simple, consistent background for your photos. If the board gets dirty, simply cut off the soiled part and unfold the clean part. An alternative to the board is a foam board.
Foam Boards
When photographing your products, there will be a shadowed side versus the side that gets direct light. The shadowed side is usually too dark. But you can place a white foam board to bounce light into the shadowed side to illuminate it.
White foam boards help create bright lighting, highlighting your product. Amazon
Clips or Tape
You will need tape or clips to secure the foam boards and poster board in place when using the table.
Clips and/or tape will keep your poster board steady. Pixc
Free Guide: DIY Product Photography
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How to Photograph Jewelry
Now that you have your equipment, let’s learn how to photograph your jewelry and prepare it for display in your e-commerce store. Set up your table, adjust the lighting, arrange the jewelry, set up the jewelry, adjust the camera, take the picture, edit it, and finalize it.
1. Set Up Your Table
Find the space you want to use as your photo studio. If you are near a window, set your table at a 90-degree angle to the right or left of it. The closer you are to the window, the softer the light will be. You can use this illustration to guide your setup, adjusting as necessary.
Once
Setting up the Table, you’ll want to prepare your shovel. There are different ways to do this, but the goal is to have your shovel upright. If you are next to a wall, you can lean your shovel against the wall. If not, you will need to create a stand or surface to rest the back of your shovel on.
Place the camera stand in front of your setup. If you are using a smartphone with a short stand, you can place it directly on the shovel. You should have enough space for your jewelry if you are using a sufficiently sized table.
2. Adjusting the Lighting
If you are shooting in natural light, you are already equipped with lighting from your window.
However, if you are using artificial lighting, your setup will be slightly different.
Position a light source and a softbox or umbrella at a 45-degree angle to the product. This will ensure soft and even lighting. Place the camera directly in front of the piece of jewelry. If you position the product near the back of your shovel, some shadows may appear. Move the product toward you to achieve a white background.
3. Arranging the Jewelry
If you are new to jewelry photography, starting with a white background can help you establish a standard. Once you gain more experience, you can add variations to your arrangement.
To make your images more interesting, showcase your jewelry on tools or in front of alternative backgrounds, such as:
- Marble board background
- Simple brown backgrounds
- Ring holders or stands
- Group photos with other pieces of jewelry
Shopify merchant Rara showcases her distinctive brand personality through her jewelry product photos on colorful and creative multi-colored backgrounds.
You can also use models to show how your jewelry looks when worn by someone. For example, Aether uses a combination of simple white backgrounds and models to promote its diamond jewelry. Aether coordinates some product images with models dressed in simple clothing to focus on the jewelry.
The arrangement really depends on how you want to present your products. There is no one way to do it. Start simple, then add and test different things over time.
4. Preparing the Jewelry
It may be obvious that your jewelry should be clean and polished due to the high level of detail captured by a DSLR camera and proper lighting setup. The final image will often be several times larger than the actual size of the jewelry. Details not visible to the naked eye will become apparent when photographed.
Once polished, place your jewelry in the center of the flat part of the shovel. Leave some space to place your white reflection card later.
Wipe your jewelry each time you touch it. Wearing cotton gloves may save you time and reshooting.
5. Adjusting the Camera
Do not take artsy shots with a low aperture for your jewelry that only focuses on one part of the product. Shooting with a high aperture and full focus will create a sharp image that your customers can trust.
Your customers want to see all the details. Provide them with this using the optimal aperture settings of f/11 or greater, and set your ISO as low as possible – preferably ISO 100.
Ensure you adjust the white balance accurately to capture your jewelry in the desired colors. Whether you set it manually or use the camera’s automatic mode, check the results.
6. Capturing the Photo
Position your camera on its stand so that the lens is slightly angled down towards the product. Place the lights (with diffusing umbrellas) above the product on both sides, angling them down towards the product, and set them to the same strength. This setup should fill the frame with even light without creating ugly bright spots on the product.
7.
Refining and Finishing
After taking your photos, you will want to prepare the images for your online store. Post-production processing involves making the images look professional and beautiful.
The easiest way is to hire a professional editor to refine your images. This can save you time and money if you’re learning how to edit photos from scratch.
If you prefer to do it yourself, choose a free online photo editor and learn the basics of photo editing. The basic techniques for photo editing available are enough to help you enhance your photos and make them shareable across all your marketing and sales channels.
Common Jewelry Photography Mistakes to Avoid
Many merchants fall victim to some common mistakes in jewelry photography. Knowing what they are can help you avoid making the same mistakes. Pay attention to the various reflections.
You want your customers to view your jewelry without distractions from reflections. They may wonder whether the reflection is the photographer’s image in the jewelry or a flaw in the product.
The presence of gemstones and metal poses a technical challenge for photographing jewelry products. It is difficult to capture highly reflective objects without being distracted by reflections. Follow this guide for photographing reflective products and try double lighting for metallic jewelry.
Capturing images of reflective materials like stone or metal presents unique challenges.
Avoid Overly Creative Backgrounds
Some inexperienced merchants look at a white background and think it is “boring” or “a missed branding opportunity.” They try to differentiate themselves with colorful and vibrant backgrounds. This is a mistake.
There is a reason why Amazon, eBay, and many other marketplaces require or recommend a white or neutral background. A simple white or light gray background keeps the focus where it should be: on your product.
White backgrounds are inexpensive and easy to create, and you can easily edit your photo backgrounds. You can use smooth white paper, create a lightbox, or even shoot white products against white backgrounds. If your temporary background has flaws or anything else that needs fixing, you can also use free photo editing software for precise adjustments during post-production.
Black is also popular in jewelry photography, but be aware that you may encounter difficulties presenting images with a black background to some marketplaces. They may work better for your Shopify store.
Distraction from Too Many Props
Distraction from too many props is a mistake based on the same “keeping the focus” principle we discussed earlier. Props can detract attention from your product and may not be needed.
Most props draw attention away from your product. There are times when using sleek props, models, and eye-catching settings in images that include your product is appropriate. Those images are editorial photos meant to promote the brand. They belong in magazine covers and splash images on websites and banners in emails. They do not belong on product pages.
Remember, when it comes to your website, you want your jewelry images to be consistent and focused on your product. Most props create inconsistency and distraction.
Start Taking Beautiful Jewelry Photos Today
The best online jewelry stores share one thing in common: stunning product images. By following this tutorial, you will create compelling images that sell and build your brand. Once you gain experience in jewelry photography, you can add elements to your photo shoots and compose your images in creative ways.
By investing in high-quality photos and showcasing your jewelry the right way, you will soon see the benefits through increased sales and revenue.
Are you ready to launch your business? Start your free trial of Shopify – no credit card required.
Questions
Rumors about Jewelry Photography
What is the best way to photograph jewelry?
The best way to photograph jewelry is by using a mirrorless camera or a DSLR camera. You will need a tripod to avoid camera shake and ensure even and consistent lighting for your jewelry. Set the camera to the correct aperture and make sure to focus on the product.
How can I photograph jewelry at home?
Set up your table and backdrop. Adjust the lighting. Arrange your jewelry. Get your jewelry ready. Set up the camera. Capture the image. Edit and finish it.
What is the best lighting for jewelry photography?
Soft lighting works best for photographing jewelry. You can take photos next to a window or diffuse artificial light to get high-quality images of your brand. Avoid using the camera’s built-in flash as it will be too bright and not suitable for your jewelry.
How can I photograph jewelry in natural light?
Find a spot to take your jewelry photos near a window. Position your setup at a 90-degree angle to the left or right of the window. Direct sunlight can create harsh shadows. You can soften them using a diffuser. If you don’t have a diffuser, you can use something translucent like a sheer shower curtain, baking paper, or a thin sheet.
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