Are you already browsing for holiday gifts just to avoid the madness of the holiday rush at Christmas time? Or, are you dreading it because some of your loved ones are hard to shop for? Maybe some combination of these? Harold Studio can help you reduce your pre-holiday stress! We offer classes throughout the year. We have options for every skill level. From beginner, to intermediate and seasoned jewelry designer.   We also sell jewelry design supplies and tools at our studio in Phoenix, AZ.  All of these make great gifts! Here’s a list of gift ideas for the creative soul in your life. For the Beginner Jewelry Artist: Jewelry 1 Class --This class covers all the basics a metalsmith jewelry artist needs to know to develop their craft. Hand sawing earrings, soldering to make a ring, to creating patinas textures and more. This 8-week class will help your novice loved one become proficient at the art of metal jewelry design.   For the Mid-level to...

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...