Showing posts with label jewelry photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry photography. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Baring it All - Just for YOU

Fancy Photo Studio
Yes, many people have asked for pictures, so today I'm baring it all for you!

I've tried many, many different methods and continue to read blog posts and articles about how to take the best photos of handcrafted jewelry.  Last summer I took advantage of all the nature around me and took outside photos.  I really loved bring that organic element into my photos.

But I live in WI and summer leads to fall... and then WINTER.  And I'll be gol darn it I'm not going to freeze my fingers off taking outside photos through the winter. 

So I needed to find a solution that worked indoors.  My good friend Stacy who's an excellent photographer shares anytime she finds great articles about photographing our items and one in particular really helped me.  (Sorry, I don't still have the link, but it was great!)
With some of my props

The article said use natural lighting from a window, but filter it with a sheet of tracing paper.  Put a table right up to the window and cover it with aluminum foil... with full sunlight coming in, this will appear white.

They also had a number of other "reflective elements" to shift the light back on the item you are photographing.  My challenge, in an old house, most of my windows are multi-pane and leaded glass.  Not good because of the shadows that it throws behind the paper.

I have two windows that I've found work great... one worked all winter, but then when the trees bloomed, I no longer got direct sun.  So I found a better window which happens to be right by my desk. 

So using the M setting on my little point & shoot Canon camera, and using a mirror to capture light on the front of the object with the natural backlighting, this is my "photo studio" set up.  Nothing fancy... trust me. 

Click photo to enlarge
At some point I will set up a silly photo tent, so I'm not reliant on Mother Nature to give me sunshine so I can take good photos.  Note in the photo the lilac bushes outside of my window.  Yes, the period of time I can capture just the right light for my photos is from about 11 a.m. until about 1:30 p.m. 

How do you photograph your pieces?  It's not just jewelry, it's any of us that are creating artistic treasures and marketing or blogging about them online.

Hope your day is terrific!
{Hugs!}
Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles: Take Great Digital Photos for Portfolios, Documentation, or Selling on the Web (A Lark Photography Book)

Friday, May 6, 2011

Time for a makeover

A listing make over that is.  I've become a perpetual student of photography.  Always learning something new, reading online articles and blogs trying to gain more insight into the wonderful world of photographing inanimate objects - i.e. my jewelry.

So after learning a few new tricks, then the seasons change here in WI which also means my natural light changes and I find myself re-evaluating my current listing photos, seeing which ones I can improve and giving said listings makeovers... all while wearing pink fuzzy slippers. :)

Isn't it funny how just 30 days can make such a difference in the lighting in your home?  I find myself amazed (and seriously laughing at myself) as I take my special photo set up... you'd laugh if you really saw it... to the "BEST" spot for the perfect light that I'm looking for.  It's a seasonal thing, so for now it's about 4 times a year. 


Am I the only one that gives listing makeovers?  Seriously though... here's why:
Before Photo
After photo
See... isn't it so much better?
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65394121/purple-lampwork-glass-and-seed-bead 


So whether you think I'm crazy... or you're joining me on the USS CrazyShip I hope you take a moment to appreciate those simple things around you... like sunlight!

Have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Mother's Day to all the mom's out there.  My fur children have promised I get to sleep in on Sunday! :)
{Hugs!}