How to Shoot Jewelry Like a Pro
Nov 10, 2022
Jewelry can often be difficult to shoot due to its delicate nature and intricate detail. Whether you’re shooting with the Foldio Lightbox Series or Foldio360 Smart Dome, we hope these jewelry photography tips will help you get high quality images during your photography session.
1. Don’t use your camera’s flash
Using your camera’s flash when taking photos can often create unwanted reflections and harsh shadows. Instead, try to take advantage of natural light or adjust the brightness coming from your light source. You could try using our products that have a dimmable LED lighting system such as Foldio2 Plus, Foldio3, or Foldio360 Smart Dome. For extra lighting needs, try the Halo Bars to go along with the Foldio2 Plus or Foldio3. This will help create more of a diffused look which will help bring out the shine and sparkles of your pieces.
2. Fishing string can come a long way
If you’ve been taking a lot of flat lay images, try changing it up by hanging your jewelry with a fish string which creates some sort of a floating effect. An alternative to this would be to use the Foldio360 Smart Dome’s necklace hanging cover to display any necklaces.
3. A ring holder can do wonders
Use a ring holder, double-sided tape, or even putty to have your rings sit upright. You could even use a drop of glue from a hot glue gun as a tool to position your ring to your liking.
4. Add an Extra Touch with Reflective Boards OR Mirrors
If you’ve been taking a lot of flat lay images, try changing it up by hanging your jewelry with a fish string which creates some sort of a floating effect. An alternative to this would be to use the Foldio360 Smart Dome’s necklace hanging cover to display any necklaces.
5. When in Doubt, Use a White Background
Although other colored backgrounds are fun and different, if you’re shooting for a main product image, we recommend that you use a white background. A white background will help reflect light which will help viewers to see the most accurate representation of your piece, especially when it comes to color or texture.
6. Check Your Camera Settings
When shooting with your DSLR, pay close attention to your camera settings. Especially for product photography, try to:
- Keep your ISO fairly low (around ISO100 or ISO200)
- Adjust the shutter speed only if you want to alter the brightness of the image
- Keep your aperture in the mid-range values (f/11.0 - f/18.0) to get a good depth of field which means your image will turn out sharper and more detailed.
7. Macro Lens for the Win
To get maximum precision and detail, use a DSLR and invest in a macro lens. Macro lenses are specifically designed for detailed and close-up shots of smaller objects such as rings or earrings. This will maximize the amount of focus you can get in your shots.
8. Stabilize With a Tripod
When taking photos of such dainty and small objects, blurriness or shakiness is the last thing you want. It can definitely be tempting to quickly snap a shot without a tripod, but please refrain from this. Even if your camera shakes a tiny bit, the quality of your photo will be affected. Definitely use a tripod for every shoot! Our Tripod50V is one you can use that works for DSLR and smartphones.
