HOW TO PHOTO JEWELERY WITHOUT A STUDIO. GUIDE TO ACTION
Many online store owners are worried about how to convey the beauty of sparkling jewelry in photographs. However, shooting jewelry is not as difficult as it might seem. Here is a checklist of simple items that will be useful to complete in order to get good photos.
How to photograph jewelry without a studio. Guide to action
Prepare props and materials
Window and natural light
How to photograph jewelry without a studio. Guide to action
Photographing shiny jewelry using a flash is not a good idea, because jewelry will reflect bright light, create glare and sharp shadows in the background, as the two examples below demonstrate.
If you are not an experienced photographer with the ability to shoot in a professional studio, take pictures of jewelry using natural light, such as light from a window. Although bright sunlight will create glare and sharp shadows, this light can be scattered by covering the window with a white screen. Please note – any other than white, the color of such a screen will change the shade of the light itself.
How to photograph jewelry without a studio. Guide to action
Background for shooting: white sheet or paper
The reflectivity of the surfaces of most jewelry means that all other colors will be absorbed, so in order to avoid changing the color of the product, you need to remove objects on a white background. White color reflects rays of light, while dark colors absorb them, so your subject will be better illuminated if you use a white background, for example, a white sheet of paper.
How to photograph jewelry without a studio. Guide to action
Camera and Tripod
When photographing jewelry, it is not so much about the camera itself, but about the lens. When buying the first lens as a macro, we recommend choosing a lens with a focal length of 60 mm. This focal length will allow you to get a magnification of 0.5x, while more expensive macro lenses provide an increase in full size (1: 1). And the use of a good tripod guarantees clear focus and sharpness of photos.
Dummy
Most hand-made stores sell bust mannequins, which are a great way to give jewelry a beautiful and realistic look. Most stores sell black busts that highlight jewelry and give them elegance. However, it is better to photograph the jewelry on a white background, so you can cover the mannequin with a white cloth.
Cardboard
Don’t you have a mannequin? Create a unique jewelry tablet stand. Take a piece of cardboard, wrap it in white paper, attach or seal the ends of the necklace on its back side. So, for example, you can adjust the length of the chain and not worry about its size if you do not have a large tablet.
How to photograph jewelry without a studio. Guide to action
Using a glue gun or double-sided tape
When photographing jewelry rings, it is convenient to fix them using a drop of glue from a glue gun or double-sided tape. In this case, you can fix the rings at the desired angle, as shown in the photo below.
How to photograph jewelry without a studio. Guide to action
Fishing line
We recommend using a fishing line for photographing items such as earrings with pendants. You can use a piece of cardboard folded in half and pull the fishing line from one plane to another, as shown in the figure below. When photographing, make sure that the jewelry does not swing on such a suspension.
How to photograph jewelry without a studio. Guide to action
Jewelry shot
Use a special lens
If you purchased a digital SLR or mirrorless camera, then you will have a lens that is usually wide-angle with a short zoom. Numerically, the focal length most often ranges from 18 to 55 mm. These lenses are great for household photography, but they are not suitable for photographing small objects such as rings or earrings.
For such purposes, you will need to purchase a special lens. Look for a model that has a focal length of about 60 mm for sale. You can mount the camera a short distance from the subject, the magnification will be 0.5x. If you have the financial ability, buy a macro lens that provides shooting at a scale of 1: 1.
Use a sturdy tripod
Camera shake is the photographer’s worst enemy. When working with small objects, such as jewelry, any slight fluctuation caused by holding the camera with your hand will look like a blur in the final photograph. To avoid this, choose a sturdy tripod. In a tripod, pay attention to the presence of a removable ball head compatible with the platform camera and the presence of an alcohol level in the legs or on the tripod head.
