{"id":50192,"date":"2021-03-01T01:25:07","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T06:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=50192"},"modified":"2022-09-23T12:15:43","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T16:15:43","slug":"how-to-photograph-jewelry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/how-to-photograph-jewelry\/","title":{"rendered":"Jewelry Photography: How to Photograph Jewelry?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jewelry photography isn\u2019t as easy as it sounds until the photographer understands and masters the keys to taking great pictures of them\u2014sharpness, lighting, and exposure\u2014and how to adjust them in each situation in order to achieve the best photos possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t worry\u2014it\u2019s also not as complicated as it sounds! As long as you\u2019ve already gained ample experience in shooting in Manual Mode<\/a> on your digital camera<\/a>, you can start taking more impressive photos of jewelry with the tips below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 Tips for Better Jewelry Photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1) Choose the Right Camera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any camera can work well for jewelry photography, as long as you can manually adjust the aperture and shutter speed and shoot in RAW<\/a>. It helps to be familiar with the camera you intend to use, so you can quickly and easily make adjustments to get a look you\u2019re happy with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re using a DSLR or mirrorless camera<\/a>, make sure your lens of choice has a wide aperture. Many introductory or kit lenses have a maximum aperture that is too narrow for macro and product photography. Plan to use a lens in the range of f\/1.8-f\/4 for best results.<\/p>\n\n\n

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2) Choose the Right Surfaces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Try placing the jewelry piece on top of a wooden table, a plain white or reflective surface, or simply zoom in on key features to exclude the rest of the object while you use a wide aperture to blur out the background.<\/p>\n\n\n

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3) Find a Sturdy Tripod<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best way to ensure that your images come out tack-sharp is to use a tripod<\/a> and preferably a remote shutter release<\/a> to stabilize your camera. Not only will it eliminate camera shake, but it will also help keep your subjects framed in the same exact way so you can have an easier time adjusting your focus and modifying your lighting (more on these below).<\/p>\n\n\n

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4) Adjust White Balance Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when photographing jewelry is not being aware of your white balance settings<\/a>. When shooting jewelry for documentation and sales, it\u2019s crucial that you capture accurate colors in your images. You wouldn\u2019t want to photograph silver rings and submit them looking like gold rings and vice versa!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevent this by manually adjusting the camera\u2019s white balance until the jewelry in your photos start looking like they do in real life. You may try using a gray card to correct the white balance for your current lighting condition. You can also shoot in RAW so you can easily adjust the white balance in post-processing without sacrificing the quality of your images.<\/p>\n\n\n

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5) Use Off Camera Flashes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even for jewelry, many photographers would advise that you use natural light. But for a more professional result, you\u2019ll want to use off-camera flashes<\/a> to create a more controlled lighting setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever you decide to use, what\u2019s important is that you are able to create soft and even lighting to eliminate as much shadow as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can further improve your lighting setup by making the most out of your available light sources, such as with reflectors, light cones, or light boxes. A good example of a professional light box is the Glow LED Studio-Cube<\/a> ($65 for the 17-inch cube<\/a>, and $95 for a larger 27-inch cube<\/a>), wherein you can place the product to achieve soft illumination from all directions. This helps take the guesswork out of highly complicated lighting setups for jewelry photography. You can also use a light cone, such as these V-FLAT WORLD options<\/a>, to diminish distracting highlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re at it, turn off all other unnecessary light sources in the room. Also, don\u2019t mix different types of lighting that may produce different color temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n

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6) Manage Reflections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gemstones and metals are highly reflective, so you\u2019re likely to find yourself (and your camera) reflected in the jewelry\u2014which is obviously something you don\u2019t want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eliminating reflections is a trial-and-error process when it comes to jewelry. As previously mentioned, placing a paper around and at the bottom of your camera lens will help block off reflections and bounce more light back towards your subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No need for expensive setups. And then, use a diffused overhead light on each side to provide enough lighting without creating overly reflective spots, and slightly elevate your camera (with the tripod) so you\u2019re shooting slightly down at your product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Control Reflections: Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey: AdoramaTV<\/div><\/div>
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