Please help – jewelry pictures

[gejmond]

I need to take quality of pictures of jewelry in consistent conditions for a business I am trying hard to set up (in the UK). Hence my budget is limited and I will have to do it myself, though I am inexperienced.

I have a digital camera (and photoshop which I intend to learn) but need a lighting set up that will be easy to set up and use, and not too big. Natural light can be great but far too unreliable and variable. Apart from getting myself a little tripod, I would be extremely grateful for advice on kit for lighting - what to get, how to use, and where from. I want to take pictures on a white background which I will use on a website and for marketing material. If you can help - in 'layman's terms'! - it would be really appreciated. Thanks!

[malum]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38260&TabID=1&source=15&WorldID=&doy=28m2

this might be good for you.
small spotlight (cheap working jobs would do the trick) on each side

nice and cheap

[kb244]

Hehe , that or get a frosted tupperware bowl, cut a hole in the top, aim the flash near the edge of the bowl and shoot that way if you want a cheap way of doing it.

[PhotosGuy]

You might look at Bloo Dogs posts here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58609
Also do a forum search - it's been covered before.

[Mike Panic]

jewelry product shots are among the hardest to shoot - and sadly, ghetto home brewed lighting isnt always the best answer. id recomend constant lighting as opposed to strobes, and cool lights, not hot ones.

a macro flash would also be extremely helpfull - along w/ a canon 100mm macro

[kb244]

jewelry product shots are among the hardest to shoot - and sadly, ghetto home brewed lighting isnt always the best answer. id recomend constant lighting as opposed to strobes, and cool lights, not hot ones.

a macro flash would also be extremely helpfull - along w/ a canon 100mm macro

Sometimes a ghetto setup works best, if the object is completely surrounded other than the opening from the lens, biggest problem I've found in jewely is reflection, sometimes silver can look black because the top of the studio wasnt covered in white, and when the whole area covered in white the reflections are more smooth. And using a polarizer might not always be a good idea, because part of the jewelry's attractiveness is it's lustre and shinyness.

[elkootcho]

Maybe these might help?:
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/Free_Lessons/Photographing_Rings_the_Easy_Way/index.html
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/Free_Lessons/Techniques_for_Shooting_Jewelry/index.html
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/_0.99_Lessons/Product_Still_Life/Photographing_Jewelry_for_Print_and_the_Web/index.html
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/_0.99_Lessons/Product_Still_Life/Shooting_Jewelry_in_a_Tent/index.html
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/_0.99_Lessons/Product_Still_Life/Shooting_Jewelry_Simply_and_Elegantly/index.html

These lessons are based around Photoflex products but may be good for geting some ideas.