Photographing Your Wire Jewelry

Answer:

Yes, Robin taking good photos of your work is very important, and it doesn't have to be difficult.

Before investing in equipment, ask yourself:

Where will the photos be used?

Will they be for online sales, jury submissions, or printed articles?

Do the images need to be large or print-ready?

I personally use a digital light box for taking step-by-step photos for patterns, so there's no background to distract the viewer.

It's also great when I need to cut out the entire background using software like Adobe Photoshop.

For most jewelry shots, I use a neutral, non-shiny background that enhances rather than distracts from the design.

Driftwood or interesting stones work well. (I find that using crystals tends to take attention away from the main piece.)

As for camera choice: I've used an expensive camera with interchangeable lenses in the past, but now I use a simple digital camera with auto-focus and manual options.

My first camera cost over $400 my current one was just $130!

I'm not a professional photographer. Everything I've learned has come from trial and error.

The two most important features in a jewelry photography camera are:

A Macro setting

The ability to turn off the flash

Investing in an inexpensive tripod is a must!

Pro tip: Don't use the zoom when using Macro. The Macro setting will already enhance your item, and zooming can interfere with the auto-focus.

These articles, Photographing Your Jewelry Using a Lightbox not only show you how to make your own Lightbox but, Take Photos Of Your Wire Jewelry Using A Light - Part 2 shows you how to use it as well!

The best way to select a camera is to go to a camera shop/store (no, not the one at a department store), and ask the experts there. Tell them what you wish to do with your camera and what results you expect, as well as your budget. They will be able to make suggestions, and often you have a week or two to experiment before you can no longer take the camera back. (This is how I made my recent purchase.)

As for hiring a professional photographer, yes, I also do this. When you are ready to apply to some of the major art shows out there, to me, it is worth the cost to have my work shot by a professional. Be careful when choosing a photographer though, because glass and jewelry are the most difficult items to shoot well. I am sure that folks will jump in and share their experiences, this is a great subject. Thanks for asking!

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong