Product- Jewelry.

[smudge]

My friends daughter has started designing and making, by hand, her own Jewelry. I think it's really cool stuff and told her she should put a portfolio together and a website. She said she wasn't sure that spending the money to do so would be worth while. So we came to a compromise where I'd take the pics for her ( saving her money) then she'd show them around to buyers. If there was a favourable response she will get it done properly. So I've taken some and with only a 300d and a 18-55kit with a built in flash I wasn't expecting much. My question is and I need brutal honesty. Should she show these or forget it and wait till she can get it done properly. I know that some have you have a lot of experience with pro standards and i respect your opinions. I don't want to ruin her chances later by presenting poor images now.

Secondly which do you prefer this is basically the same shot with and without flash. The DOF was deliberate, to try and give the shots some character rather than have flatter looking images with the whole product in focus.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL581/2631269/5244917/71608722.jpg

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL581/2631269/5244917/71608715.jpg

[malum]

IMHO

You need a different background (dark grey maybe)

Get a light and put some tissue paper or something over the front (try not to set fire to it) Doesn't matter what the light is you can set the WB up to correct it. then you can light it from the side, put a reflector on the other side to bounce the light back (piece of white paper taped to a box will do)

I'd go F8 with the kit lens for maximum sharpness.

Option 2 is to get a big white translucent plastic bowl and cut one side out (enough to point the lens at without restricting the view). put jewellery down put bowl upside down over the top then point a bright light at the top of the bowl to get a nice soft light inside the bowl.

I'd also be tempted to get the whole piece in frame. If you want a close up do another shot closer.

Just my two pence worth

BTW tripod essential

[Muffin Princess]

Did you say these 2 were of the same piece? You need to choose whichever one most closely represents the true colour as, in the bottom photo, it looks silver and in the top one it looks a kind of coppery colour.

[smudge]

Thank you very much Malum I'll try those tips this weekend, see if they make a difference, if not I'll tell her to wait and go Pro.

Muffin Princess, ( great name, weird but great ) your right I hadn't thought of that duh! I was still thinking like an artist i.e which representation do I prefer. However it needs to accurately show the colour of the product. Thanks for the reality check. Incidently the bracelet is silver. So I guess 2 is closest.

I'll let you know how the revised shoot goes, thanks for your help. :D

[retro]

I also recommend a tripod and a higher F-value. You may lose some of the connecting colors (grey and silver links) in a grey background, but white would work. Nice piece of work though. What type of camera are you shooting with?

[ecobo]

The black is a classic background for Jewelry advertising photos. I like this. But looking for improvement, i'd suggest two things:
1. Try to get all in focus.
All the necklace must be in focus coz you try to sell it, right? No one would buy a piece that isn't entirely visible on the photo. Shoot perpendicular to the surface where your object is. Shoot with smaller aperture to get greater DOF.
2. Try to get the perfect light.
That isn't too hard. Even if you do not have studio lights, you can get closer-to-studio results with one or two ordinary incandescent or fluorescent (better) lamps. Try to direct the light to the object from a smaller angle - this will help you obtain a better 3D effect and make the metal surface shining. Custom WB or RAW is strongly recommended.

Nice photos, but they will not sell the Jewelry. Keep trying and you will soon get the perfect photo.
Regards!

[smudge]

oops

[smudge]

Thanks all for your time and response.

Retro, I used a 300d and kit lens 18-55. Now have a 50mm 1.8 as well so I'll try some with that too.

Ecobo, thanks for your advice and encouragement. The increased DOF was also one of Malums tips, so I'll definitely try that also. I'll post the new ones next week, see if I can improve on these.
:D

[smudge]

Thanks all for your time and response.

Retro, I used a 300d and kit lens 18-55. Now have a 50mm 1.8 as well so I'll try some with that too.

Ecobo, thanks for your advice and encouragement. The increased DOF was also one of Malums tips, so I'll definitely try that also. I'll post the new ones next week, see if I can improve on these.
:D

[jobe]

Try this, it has great tips and techniques of shooting jewelry it may help.

http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/Free_Lessons/Techniques_for_Shooting_Jewelry/index.html

[ecobo]

I've noticed one big mistake with the two photos - you must never crop a part of a merchandise that you're trying to sell. The customers will think that there's some hidden important part and they will not buy.

[Andy_T]

Apart from what the others already said, I'd like to add that the jewellery looks pretty nice :lol:

Artistically, I prefer the first version.
From a seller's viewpoint, however, the item should be displayed as sharp and as accurate as possible.

But ... Why not do both?

Make some 'artsy' shots for the cover and actual representations for the order pages...

Best regards,
Andy