How to Photograph Jewelry for Etsy
Since 2005, Etsy has become the destination site for crafters and artisans looking to sell their wares in a handmade-friendly, simple-setup e-shop. Of all the selling categories, jewelry is one of the most popular, and it is essential for shop owners to make the photos of their wares as clear and detailed as possible to stand out and entice buyers. Taking good jewelry photos just takes some simple equipment and practice.
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Things You'll Need
- Jewelry to photograph
- Digital camera with USB connection
- Display upon which to hang jewelry
- Light box
- Computer
- Photo editing software, such as Picasa or Photoshop
Instructions
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1
Learn the features on your digital camera, including its macro or zoom functions, which will allow you to take close-up photos of your jewelry pieces. Take test shots until you feel comfortable using the functions and learning to center your shots on specific targets.
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2
Set up your jewelry displays to highlight your jewelry, not detract from it. Many photographers recommend using an off-white background (you can use a piece of paper or fabric) rather than scenery, patterned backdrops or displaying jewelry on a model that might be visually confusing. However, you should display your jewelry in a way that you, the artisan, find most pleasing.
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3
Time your photo shoots to take advantage of natural light as much as possible. Good, soft white light is the key to a crisp photograph, and sunlight trumps artificial lighting every time.
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4
Build a simple light box (see Resources) if natural light is scarce or you want flexibility in timing your shoots. Essentially, a light box is a cardboard or wooden structure that filters artificial light across anything placed inside it, so that when you shoot photographs, the image is clear and sharp.
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5
Shoot a number of photos of each item from different angles. You probably will not use each shot, but shooting multiple times gives you options in choosing your best photographs.
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6
Remove the jewelry from display stand. Place next piece of jewelry onto display and repeat step 5 as necessary.
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7
Connect your camera using its USB port to your computer, upload your "raw" photographs, and process each one using the photo editing software of your choice. Crop off any edges so that your jewelry is centered, correct color and contrast, and resize as necessary. Many expert photographers suggest overexposing or oversaturating your images in editing software to brighten up the photo and make it more appealing.
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8
Choose two or three of the best shots of each piece of jewelry and upload it to your Etsy listing.
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Tips & Warnings
The key to good jewelry photography is experimentation. Look at other Etsy sellers whose work you admire and study their photographs to use for inspiration.
Don't shoot your photos in direct sunlight, which can be too harsh. If you are using natural light, use the softer light of a reflected sunbeam or slight shade.
Clear and sharp is better than creative. Remember, while you want to look distinctive, buyers want to see a good photo of the product before purchasing.
