How to Take Good Pictures of Jewelry

Having a quality product is only half of the work involved in generating profit, which also involves effectively marketing the product. Because jewelry is a highly visual product, photography is an integral part of marketing it. Whether they are used to sell jewelry on a retailer's website or for promotional materials such as fliers and brochures, high-quality jewelry images can contribute to an increase in sales and brand awareness.

Things You'll Need

• Soft toothbrush or jewelry brush
• Jewelry cleaning solution
• Photograph background such as fabric or paper
• Camera and/or scanner
• Light system

Instructions

1. Clean and polish the piece with a soft toothbrush, jewelry brush or a lint-free jewelry cloth. Some types of jewelry may need to be submerged in a cleaning solution (see Resources).

2. Choose a photo background for the jewelry. Examples include a textured piece of fabric, natural or silk leaves, and a sheet of paper.

3. Use a scanner to photograph jewelry pieces that look best when lying flat--for example, drop earrings that do not have many forward-protruding elements. Examples of items that are not suited for scanner photography include rings and cuff bracelets, which should be photographed with a camera.

4. Use a macro lens when taking up-close shots of items with a camera. You will be better able to capture up close-fine details, such as filigree engraving.

5. Ask a friend to model the jewelry for your photographs. Seeing how the jewelry looks on a person can increase the product's appeal in the customer's eyes.

6. Distribute light over an item with the help of a dome, light box, light tent or a white sheet. These materials are suitable for both outdoor and indoor use.

Tips & Warnings

• Refer to jewelry catalogs for inspiration. Pay attention to how the jewelry is displayed and how several photos of different items are used to create a cohesive collection. To prevent the scanner lid from touching or moving the jewelry displayed on the scanner glass once closed, use a small box to prop up the lid at an angle measuring approximately 45 degrees. The jewelry arrangement will remain intact as you close the lid and scan the items.

References

• Tips for Photographing Jewelry
• Getting Your Friends to Model Your Jewelry

Resources

• How to Clean Jewelry