How to Photograph Jewelry – Common Mistakes to Avoid

“Every piece of jewelry tells a story.” 

– Gem Hunt 

In ancient Rome, people’s status was epitomized by being bejewelled. Over the course of time, the purpose of wearing jewelry has dramatically changed and become more widespread. 

The jewelry market is growing bigger, so is the competition. This has led jewelry companies either to modernize their strategies or to adopt a new one.

Craving for jewelry is an instinct for people. More or less, everyone checks it out to buy either for themselves or their loved ones. And this is where images play its significant role.  

How to photograph Jewelry that will lure your potential clients into reaching you out? By now, you have noticed the influence of good photography to fulfill marketing purposes as well as the client’s desires. 

Photography of jewelry has always been one of the effective measures to lure prospective clients. If your images are eye-catching enough, your future clients are bound to check them out and love them. 

After thoroughly analyzing jewelry marketers and the intent of jewelry clients, we completely understand how you should take jewelry photos, what ideas you need to implement and the tips you require to follow.

Let’s dive deeper. 

How to Photograph Jewelry- Step By Step

For e-commerce product photography, jewelry is one product of intricacy. So, while shooting each piece of jewelry, every subtle design needs to be precisely displayed and make sure the product beams at its best. 

Typically, every product photography has its own distinctive set with style for shooting, so has jewelry. With its minimalist staging, jewelry photography setup has reached the level of commercial demand. 

Let’s look into how you can take stunning photos of your piece of jewelry.

Step 1: Clean the Jewelry Piece

Clean the piece of jewelry cautiously and neatly, use a microfiber cloth to wipe it off. Avoid touching it with bare fingers; it may leave marks. You can use gloves instead. However, cloth gloves will be better. 

Step 2: Light Set-up

In the image, jewelry needs to be shown sharp so that every design becomes obvious. That’s why lightning plays a vital role while taking photos. The pieces of jewelry glow most under a soft and pleasant light. 

Not only jewelry but also for any type of photoshoot, 2 types of lighting sources can be used.  

• Natural light

Like other products, natural light is an excellent source for jewelry photography as well. So, you can choose any time you find suitable for the jewelry to look good and shiny. 

Many people find the best timing for taking such photos is in the morning and throughout the afternoon. Move your subject to the sides where it illuminates the most. 

• Artificial light

If you work with artificial lighting, place the light as close to the jewelry as possible. On-camera flash is not the right choice for jewelry; it is way harsher than usual lights. 

For many jewelry items, 2 lights work enough. Generally, they are positioned on both sides of the jewelry piece keeping it in the middle place. Side lighting is a great way to emphasize texture. 

Try moving the light around to find the sweet spot to enlighten the piece, especially the gemstones. If it is a faceted one, move the light towards it. If the light reflects too much, use a bounce card to make the reflection even. 

Light-box, light tent for such photography are indeed some of the great options. 

Step 3: Background for Jewelry Photography

As for the background, anything is appreciated that suits your taste. Try using backdrops from your customized one to plain simple ones or clothes that beautify that jewelry piece. You can use any reflective surface that makes that piece way shinier. 

For a number of reasons light color, especially the white background is mostly preferable for any e-commerce shooting. The fact is no less important in the photography of jewelry. A light color background brightens up the jewelry piece, making it look professional as well. 

The dark color background for shooting jewelry pieces has been dominating the market as well. For jewelry with white gemstones, a dark, especially black color reflective background creates a luxurious vibe. 

You better test it out which one helps shine your piece of jewelry better. 

Step 4: Jewelry Placement

Product placement is an important aspect for grabbing potential customers’ attention. When you are placing your jewelry for shooting, you have to make sure that the complicated designs, gemstones and the tiny details are manifested properly. 

Jewelry Props and Materials

To prepare your pieces of jewelry for the photoshoot, there are some common props and materials to use. For instance- 

• Jewelry stands (Necklace stand, Pendant Stand) 
• Mannequin busts
• Acrylic stand
• Cardboard
• Glue dots or dental wax 
• String or Thread 
• Hand holder
• Freeze Frame for jewelry
• Anything that holds the jewelry well

How should your jewelry pieces be placed? 

You have your way to decorate the jewelry pieces? Go for it. If you don’t, follow this as we have described below.

• Necklace 

For showcasing necklaces, most people use mannequin busts. It stays as it should be around a human neck. 

You can use cardboards and hang the necklace or pendant, it will stay even. 

You can simply put it on the flat surface. Then use something round like a glass or a can to lay out your chain. 

• Earrings

You can use string or thread to hang it, other than keeping it on the surface. 

• Rings

Usually you can shoot a ring while keeping it on the surface you choose. However, use dental wax, glue dots, or blue-tack while shooting the ring in a stand-up position.  

• Bracelets and Wristwatches

Simply put it on the surface or use hand holders.  

Step 5: Camera Position

For having intricate patterns and designs, gold and silver jewelry shooting is included in macro photography. So, pay heed to how you position your camera. Your piece of jewelry needs to be shown from as close and large as possible in the photo. 

 

Camera Settings: 

• Aperture– For covering full pieces like bracelets, earrings, rings, use a small aperture. If you need to focus on a certain portion like a pendant or necklace, use a big aperture. 

• ISO– Set your ISO around 100-200 and adjust it whenever you need. 

• Shutter speed– For product photography, it is recommended to use slow shutter speed. Hence, you can set the settings around 1/13 and then adjust according to your need. 

For taking shots up-close position, you can use the following camera accessories-  

Macro Lens

A macro lens is one of the widely considered predominant options for capturing jewelry photos. Such lenses are a bit pricey. However, these have great efficacy to produce satisfying quality photos by making the jewelry look way bigger. 

One of the best features of such a lens is that users can take close shots from wherever they stand. While buying a macro lens, choosing a lens of 18-55 mm focal length is suggested as it carries a minimum distance which is appropriate for jewelry. 

Extension Tube 

Apart from macro lenses, there are some other options left for you to get closer to your subject. The extension tube is an inexpensive alternative and a brilliant solution for taking close shots with greater magnification. 

It is a hollow tube attached between the camera body and the lens. There is no glass involved given that it isn’t an optical element. 

It allows you to closely focus your subject that stays in front of the camera. So, you don’t have to be concerned about minimum focusing distance at all. Moreover, its flexibility allows you to use any lens you possess, and thus, you can take as many shots as you want.  

Close-up Filter/ Macro Filter

A close-up filter is another cost-effective option. This is basically a magnifying glass that sits in front of a camera and alters the light to make the photoshoot subject look bigger. 

Place your camera as close as possible. Better use a tripod to have multiple images from equal distance and position. Move your camera for taking images from different angles including horizontal, vertical, etc. 

Step 5: Start Shooting

Now that you have your light, camera and subject are all set, start shooting without delay.

Step 6: Jewelry photography post-production 

If you have gotten your photos, take editing or outsourcing post processing for having some great outcome, which is only possible in photo editing software. 

And that’s it. You get your photos done perfectly!

Why Do You Need Photography Post-production Services for Jewelry?

Post-production services are one mandatory step you must follow for making your jewelry pieces jaw-dropping and sparkling. Being sensitive, having intricate designs, and containing precious stones or gems, jewelry pieces photoshoot is tricky. 

Therefore, when you have to take photos, aside from being prepared from every aspect, make sure you leave no stone unturned. If you prevent yourself from taking photo editing services for your jewelry photoshoot, you will end up losing the race in the first place. 

Why would that happen, you ask? 

Let us clarify for you. 

Your competitors won’t stay still when you refrain from being competitive. If you pay close attention, you will see they are continuously upgrading their ways to showcase jewelry and editing their images.

Thus they are making the images more charming and desirable for their customers. 

Jewelry is not something people randomly try and buy. It is an adornment of beautification. People will buy it only if they are assured that those will prettify them or their loved ones. 

You have the raw images of jewelry pieces in your hand. In the photo, your jewelry may, 

• Contain mannequin bust, a flashy background that steals the show
• Smudges, dust inside the designs or patterns 
• Shadow, reflection, lightening that create an unwanted distraction.  
• Have no flaws, still those seem dull. 

What would you do? 

The most convenient, time-efficient solution is to edit those out. Moreover, a slight touch from color correction, retouch, or edit can significantly enhance the image to entice the viewers. 

Benefits of Having Post-production Services for Jewelry Photos

When it comes to jewelry, clients tend to be meticulous about precision and clarity. So, it is wise not to take a gamble with unedited images. When you edit your photos, you save yourself from uncertainties that may occur from having raw photos. 

 

 

These are the advantages you can get by having your images edited.  

1. Jewelry shines 

Post-production services have some advanced and tremendous features to engrace the jewelry in the images. Such services help the jewelry shine and make it evident that you care for your business value and client’s desires. 

2. Attract more clients 

High-quality images are going to get you access to more clients. They will recognize you and show professionalism as a business brand. If you do it for a long time, you are bound to get respectability and credibility from your potential buyers. 

3. Save yourself from uncertainties

With well-edited images, you can resonate quite well with your customers’ demand, and thus you form an indirect bond. You impart a lot with your photos, so you make interactions to convey what they will get in return. 

4. Stay competitive

Your competitors are vying for stepping ahead with all they got. So why won’t you throw down the gauntlet? 

When you take post-production services for your images, you make a good impression. Regardless of a platform like a social media campaign, websites, or e-commerce sites, you play your cards right. 

6 Common Jewelry Photography Mistakes to Avoid

Jewelry photography is a bit more complicated than other product photography. Such photography is sensitive as well as challenging. Because such photography depends completely on showing details. The better your visual description is, the more you connect your customers.  

Aside from learning all the curves and being cautious, 6 unintentional mistakes should not hamper your artistic creativity.  What are those you should be aware of? 

1. Uncleaned jewelry pieces

Naturally, we tend to show the best to someone, regardless of purpose, don’t we? 

If the purpose involves you to get more customers, you won’t risk any less. No doubt you will show them what is unique about your products and why it is the best. 

Being one product of delicacy, Jewelry requires much more attention. So, check if your jewelry piece contains any smudges, fingerprints, or remained uncleaned before shooting. Otherwise, you may end up having photos that your potential customers reject. 

So make sure you are shooting properly cleaned jewelry pieces. 

2. Excess decoration 

Using unnecessary accessories to decorate jewelry is not a good idea at all. You have to have your marketing platform and promotional purpose for your jewelry to reach more people. 

When you are advertising or marketing through social media, the purpose is different from the e-commerce sites. Here, you may make a sale but your ultimate targets include engaging more people, promoting your brand, and making it recognizable. 

Keep your props as minimal as possible and make it look professional. The same goes for background, don’t overload it with items that take the attention away from the main jewel piece. If you find something goes along well, only then suit yourself. 

Then again, if you follow sites of jewelry like Blue Nile, Jared, REEDS; you probably noticed how plain and simple yet elegant their setups are. If you are a seller of any e-commerce site, you already know that those sites have their own set of image specifications. Even they specified background color as well. 

3. Reflective gemstones

Jewelry pieces are shiny, may contain gemstones and all these will make them hard to get images without reflection. You have to make sure to remove it.

In that case, you can either move your jewelry piece where it won’t reflect or take photos and then edit the reflection out.

4. Heed to camera functionality

If you do not focus on your jewelry piece properly, of course, you won’t get the result you expected. As said earlier, camera settings play a vital role while taking jewelry photographs. So, take steps for focusing accurately on your product. 

In addition to that, pay heed to take consistent images. If you take images that users cannot connect to the dot, then you won’t get the usual response. 

Moreover, make sure your images are not out of white balance. Lack of such settings will create confusion among the viewers. 

5. Not providing enough images

One of the blunders is not providing ample images for the jewelry. Many people think only one or two images will do the job. 

No! 

Your potential clients are going to pay a great sum of money for a piece of jewelry after being assured that it will look good on them. You have to consider their mindset as well. Provide images that manifest the piece of jewelry overall without leaving any vague conception.

6. Not having an editing service

Jewelry pieces are so sensitive. To make it as lucrative as possible, you have to take post-production services for your photos. 

By allowing editing, every subtle flaw will be removed and your images will receive more attractable appeal. If you don’t take this service, chances are you will miss some vital points which needed to be enhanced in the image.

Tips for Photographing Jewelry

There are some other tips you need to watch out. These will help you have some great photos in your hand. 

Emphasize on details

Highlight the precision. While shooting a jewelry piece, your focal point is likely to be fixated on the gems, diamonds, or pendant. However, make sure to focus on the entire jewelry piece properly. 

Lighting set

Do not combine light color variations while shooting jewelry. As different color lights have different wavelengths and temperatures, it won’t help your shooting at all. 

Use a light with warm and soft rays (like a fluorescent light), comfortable and convenient. Use a lightbox or light tent to have even lighting. 

Background matters

For social media, you have the liberty to use your background. You can use contrasting colors; if it is highly reflective, you can use the black or dark color background. 

Many e-commerce sites have flexible guidelines for their product image optimization. Even Amazon permits any variations in the rest of the images other than the hero or main image. 

Enable zoom feature

Zoom enabled image receives high reciprocity from its potential clients. It allows them to observe every precise design. In a nutshell, an online shopper experiences better. He/she can check as he/she would do for real. So, allow the advantage of zoom in/out for your customers’ benefit. 

Multiple images

Don’t just put a single image of a jewelry piece.

Let your clients see the product from every point. 

Take photos of different angles. 

 

Add 3D/360-degree images

360-degree/3d image has a crucial role when it comes to influencing customer’s buying decisions. A survey showed that 360-degree images help to boost conversion rates. It allows users to relate easily with the product to fulfill their needs. Therefore, give it a try if you haven’t yet. 

Final Verdicts

There you go. You have the equipment, subject, and proper direction. Take time and think. What are the ideas you can implement? 

What is the output you are looking for?  Each piece of jewelry is unique in its way. 

Follow our guidelines to stand yourself out. Make sure your shootings are distinguishing that fact. 

And your editing is bringing that out precisely.