When you are a part of the jewellery business, it’s all about lighting for jewellery photography and presenting the quality of each piece. There are a few simple tricks that can make jewellery look shinier and with the right tools and tips, you’ll find that it is not impossible to have beautiful photography. In this article, we’ll be giving you a crash course on how to take pictures like a pro.
Jewellery photography equipment
When taking photographs, it’s not all about purchasing high-quality gear. With a few essentials and good lighting, you can create beautiful images of your product. Below are the necessities that you would first need in order to do jewellery photography.
Camera
Not to discourage you, but the highest price you would pay is your camera. A good quality camera isn’t too expensive but can be pricy. However, I suggest using whatever camera you have handy, whether it is a digital camera, your phone, etc. The magic happens with lighting and also Photoshop.
Tripod
Jewellery can be dainty and delicate, it is important to get any sort of tripod because you’re going to shake your camera a lot during photoshoots. Tripods hold the camera steady and help you focus on different angles. You can find a basic one on Amazon for as less than $20.
Foam board
Foam boards are very cheap and can help soften your lighting by putting a white foam board to reflect the light back into the shadow. You can also build a lightbox using foam boards which is a great easy task to do and you can create great shots.
Table
A simple, standard table is great to have when doing your photoshoots. Being able to lay all your jewellery out and organized helps you save time and can even be a part of your jewellery photoshoot.
If you want your jewellery photography to have more aesthetically pleasing backgrounds rather than a blank canvas, be sure to read our article about simple props you can use on a budget.
Position your lighting
If you are using a light source like LED strips or light stands, the composition of lighting plays a crucial role in jewellery photography. If you’re shooting with natural light (which we highly recommend), you’re already set with lighting. Do not have a cool or warm color scheme but instead be in the middle and your lighting should be faced either at the front or 45-degree angle. Never have lighting coming from behind.
