Jewelry photography is a huge market and digital cameras can make it much easier to take photos of jewelry. It’s not as easy as you might think though. There are many digital camera settings that need to be adjusted before taking shots of jewelry, such as the aperture, shutter speed, ISO and more. In this article we will go over digital camera settings for jewelry photography so that you can start shopping around for a digital camera that works well with your needs!
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Equipment for jewelry photography
Jewelry photography is a niche of commercial and advertising photography. There are some specific equipment options for jewelry photographers, but many photographers choose to use the same gear they would normally shoot with.
Jewelry photography is a relatively simple craft. The photographer should have a camera that can shoot in manual mode, with the knowledge of how to use it. A tripod will be needed for some shots, and a light meter for others.
If the photographer is shooting in natural light (without using any artificial lighting), they will need to use their camera’s settings for aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
The photographer should set the aperture to be as wide open as possible, but also make sure it’s not so open that they can no longer focus on their subject. The shutter speed will need to be as fast as possible, but not so fast that it causes a blur. ISO should be set to the lowest number that allows for good quality pictures.
Tripod
A tripod can be an essential piece of equipment for shooting jewelry. A good investment is the Manfrotto 190XPROB with 410 Junior Geared Head & 804RC2 Quick Release Plate. This tripod has a head that can be adjusted to many different angles and the leg sections are easily adjustable so you don’t have to worry about it being too tall or short for your needs.
Lighting source
A good jewelry photography light source should be able to illuminate the piece from all directions. The best way for this is by using a soft box because it can produce a directional light that is soft. You can also use a window during the day if it is large enough and you have an easy way to attach your light to it.
Best background for jewelry photography
Jewelry photography is a tricky business. A lot of factors come into play when you are trying to capture that perfect shot, but the most important one is not lighting or camera settings – it’s the background. Generally, it is best to have a white or light colored background, but sometimes it is possible to use darker backgrounds for certain looks.
Jewelry photography is all about showcasing the object. The background should be simple, and it’s best to use a lightbox for more even lighting. For instance, if you’re shooting earrings, try to shoot them against a white background and avoid using window light.
Use less props
Jewelry can be very complicated and layered, making it difficult to photograph. This is why you should use less props. A few of the most common problems that arise when photographing jewelry are glare and reflections, lack of detail in the background, and blurry photos. One way to deal with these problems is by using less props such as flowers or other decorations on a table behind your subject.
What are the different angles to take photos from?
When photographing jewelry, you have a few different angles to choose from. For example, if the subject is on a table or surface of some kind it might be best to take pictures from above. This way, you can avoid distractions and create a clean look.
If the jewelry is on someone (the model), then it might be best to take pictures from their eye level or below.
Retouch your photos
Jewelry photography is a delicate type of work. Pieces are often intricately designed with many small details to consider. It’s important not only to shoot the jewelry well, but also to retouch the photos well using photo editors like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
You may want to adjust your temperature of your photos in post-editing, as gold jewelry often looks much warmer when you shoot in different temperature settings. You may also need to adjust brightness levels or contrast to best reflect the piece of jewelry you’re shooting.
Photographing jewelry FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions pertaining to jewelry photography:
Which is the best lens for jewelry photography?
The best lens for jewelry photography is a macro to shoot close-ups.
What is the best camera for taking jewelry photos?
The best way to photograph jewelry is by using a DSLR camera with macro lens. A good option for people on the go who want professional-quality images of their accessories, but don’t want to take an expensive camera with them, is a macro lens for their phone.
What is the best way to photograph jewelry?
To photograph jewelry well, you need to be aware of a few things. Jewelry is often made from reflective materials and it will reflect the light in your studio or home when photographed with direct light. That means that you will need to have a background behind the jewelry so it doesn’t reflect your walls or furniture, and you’ll want to use indirect light from lamps and white backdrops to reduce the reflection within the gemstones.
How do you photograph jewelry at home?
Jewelry photography can be done in various ways. The most basic and cost-effective way is to use a Camera Phone and natural light.
A tripod or other type of camera support is recommended to reduce camera shake and capture sharper images. You’ll also need a backdrop – white works best, but you can also use black in certain situations.
