Tips on Taking Good Jewelry Product Shots from a Professional Photographer – Part 1.

Tips on Taking Good Jewelry Product Shots from a Professional Photographer – Part 1.  

By: Amy Juneau

Phoenix Photographer, Sage, of Desert Sage Photography, met with me recently to share some basic tips on how to shoot good jewelry product shots. She has 6 years of experience as a jewelry product photographer and 10 years of experience photographing weddings.  She’s been a real gem (pun intended) in creating quality photos for Harold Jewelry.  

Check out her advice in answer to my questions below:

AJ: What do you recommend for removing/avoiding dust and debris in close up shots?

S:    It depends on what background you wish to photograph the jewelry on. A white background looks professional, but it can be tricky, as it shows lint and random debris easily. Keep a lint roller and or tape handy (Sage always asks her jewelry artist clients what is their preference for a background before a shoot).

If you have a photo editing software, like Photoshop, and are somewhat knowledgeable of it, you can remove flecks of debris or lint easily that way.

Lastly, though It seems obvious, it’s helpful to wash hands before taking any jewelry photos. It keeps the oil from your skin from appearing on the jewelry, particularly on close-up shots.

AJ: What do you advise for removing weird or distracting shadows in a jewelry product shot?

S: If the jewelry isn’t a reflective piece, a light box is helpful. 
If you don't have one, you can use a cardboard box with a square cut out of the side covered with white fabric.  Place your light source, (remote flash or clamp lamp) outside the fabric covered cut out square and directed inside the box.  The fabric will act as a light diffuser and even out the shadows on your jewelry.   It's good to try to keep your light source relative to the size of your jewelry.

AJ: What do you recommend in regard to indoor vs. outdoor lighting when limited to a home studio?

S: A clamp light with powerful bulb is best if you're stuck with indoor shots. Use a white board/paper opposing the light/flash source to even out the light source.

As for outdoor shots, there are optimal times of day. Avoid twilight, sunset and high-noon. Mid-morning around 9 am and Mid-afternoon between 2 and 3 pm are best.

AJ: Thank you, Sage! You’re such a wealth of information, and we ran out of time, so this will be followed by a ‘Product Photo Tips - part 2’ next month.

S: Thank you, Amy! I look forward to it.

 Check out some of Sage’s photography for Harold Jewelry and for her other clients here.