Top Mistakes to Avoid in Jewelry Photography

To maximize your product’s impact, you’ll want your jewelry to look as beautiful as possible in photos. That’s why it’s important to take the time to learn about jewelry product photography and avoid making common mistakes that can prevent potential customers from being able to appreciate the beauty of your pieces. We’re here to give you our top jewelry photography tips to make your shoot a breeze!

Let’s explore twelve of these jewelry photography mistakes and how to avoid them.

What Mistakes Should I Avoid in Jewelry Photography?

1. Poor Lighting Conditions

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of photography, including jewelry photography. Natural light will always be your best friend when taking a photo, but if you don’t have access to natural lighting for this purpose, then make sure you use artificial light wisely. Take care not to overexpose or underexpose the piece and try different angles until you find what works best for each particular piece.

2. Ignoring Natural Light

As any jewelry photographer knows, light is one of the most important elements in creating a beautiful image. The right light can make a piece of jewelry sparkle and come to life, while the wrong light can flatten out the details and make the image seem dull. Natural light is always the best choice for jewelry photography, as it is soft and evenly distributed.

Shooting near windows during the day or outside if possible will ensure that you get plenty of natural light to work with. Another benefit of using natural light is that it won’t create any harsh shadows or reflections, which can often be distracting.

3. Unwanted Reflections and Glare

Another common jewelry photography mistake is unwanted reflections.

Reflections and glare can ruin an otherwise great photo, so it’s important to reduce them as much as possible. One way you can do this is by using dark backgrounds – black velvet is a great option here – which will help draw attention away from any reflections that may occur on shiny surfaces like gold and silver jewelry pieces.

Try angling your lights and camera lens away from any reflective surfaces like glass cases or antique mirrors that may be reflecting off the piece itself.

4. Poor Image Quality

When shooting jewelry photos, quality should always be your top priority! Ensure your camera is set up correctly so that the images are crisp and clear with no pixelation or blurriness visible. Investing in a good quality DSLR camera might be worth it if you plan on taking lots of jewelry photos regularly!

Additionally, use manual focus rather than auto-focus when photographing close-up shots of small pieces such as earrings or rings which require more precision than larger items like necklaces or bracelets would need. 

5. Too Much Clutter

When photographing jewelry pieces, it’s important to keep the background clean and free of distractions so that viewers can focus on the piece itself without being overwhelmed by other visual elements in the frame. Keep furniture or plants out of view if possible and make sure there are no other items competing for attention within the shot itself – this will ensure that viewers don’t get distracted by anything other than what they came for – your beautiful jewelry! 

6. Too Many Pieces

Another common mistake to avoid in jewelry photography is having too many pieces in the shot!

When attempting to showcase multiple pieces in a single photo, it’s important to keep the number of items to a minimum – too many items can make the image look cluttered and unfocused which will distract from the beauty of each piece. Instead, try showcasing one or two pieces at a time so that viewers can appreciate them without being overwhelmed by a bunch of items all at once.

7. Not Showing Scale

It can often be difficult to determine how big (or small!) a piece really is just from looking at a photograph alone – this is especially true when photographing smaller items such as earrings or rings which often look much bigger (or smaller) than they actually are once photographed due to perspective distortion caused by camera lenses.

To combat this issue, try including something recognizable next to your pieces such as coins or even fingers or hands which will give viewers an idea of how large/small it really is compared with everyday objects! 

8. Unsteady Hands

When taking photos of jewelry, it’s important to keep your hands as still as possible in order to avoid blurriness or camera shake which can ruin an image. If you don’t have a tripod available, try resting your elbows on a steady surface such as a table or countertop while taking the picture to keep your hands still and reduce unwanted movement.

Additionally, try using the timer setting if available so that you don’t have to press the shutter button with your hand which can often cause camera shake if not done properly.

9.  Lack of Details

When photographing close-up shots of jewelry pieces, it’s important to show any intricate details that may be present – this is especially true for antique or vintage items which often have unique engravings and designs that viewers won’t be able to appreciate unless they can see them clearly.

Try taking several images from different angles and distances to capture any details that may be present – this will allow viewers to appreciate the beauty of the piece without having to physically inspect it themselves!

10. No Story

When showcasing your jewelry photos, it can be helpful to create a story for each piece – this could include details about the source of the material, how long it took to create it, or even why you chose to make it in the first place! Providing a backstory will help viewers appreciate and connect to the piece in a more meaningful way which can turn them into loyal customers.

11. Unfinished Photos

It’s important to take the time to finish your photos before you share them with viewers – this may include cropping, adjusting saturation/contrast levels, or even adding a text overlay with details about the piece. Proper jewelry editing will ensure that your images look professional and presentable, making them more appealing to viewers.

12. Over-Editing

Although you want your jewelry photos to look their best, it’s important to avoid over-editing them. Too much artificial lighting or filters can make the image appear ‘flattened’ and unrealistic which will take away from the beauty of the piece itself – instead, try using natural light and minimal editing to enhance the piece and make it look more vibrant and alive!

If you don’t know how to edit jewelry photos properly, it’s best to leave it to the experts!

By avoiding these twelve common mistakes when taking jewelry photography for your business, you can ensure that potential customers have an accurate representation of your beautiful pieces before they make their purchase decisions!

Professional jewelry photography can make all the difference when it comes to selling your wares. A good photo can capture the attention of potential customers and highlight the features of your jewelry that you want to emphasize. However, even the best photos can benefit from a little bit of retouching. That’s where Jewelry Retouchers come in.

Jewelry Retouchers is a jewelry retouching company that specializes in enhancing jewelry photography. We can remove unwanted blemishes, add sparkle and shine, and even change the color of metals and gemstones. Talk to us today to learn more about our services!