Photography Tips for Showing Off Your Jewels

[djm195]

Hey Everyone,

I thought I'd start this thread to help us non techy types take some kick a$$ photos. Any help would be appreciated.

Having just taken a few long overdue pics, I am not really happy with the results. The yellow looks blurry, the white looks grey and the brown looks muddy, not to mention the horrible skin tones. Is it that I took these indoor with a flash? My camera has a manual and auto focus yet I wasn't able to get it to focus on the center stone. I used the little flower icon for macro images ( I remember DJ saying this once in a thread).

Anyhow, a few bad pics are better than none....right?

[joia]

Very timely djm, I want to know why my most sparkly sparklies don´t sparkle.
I use the little flower too and I manage to focus the camera ok but why oh why no sparkle.
Joia

[djm195]

Yeah Joia--I think we'll have to start calling people out.

Let's start with AZ...how did you do this? So much fire in this pic.

[djm195]

Next up...DJ

What kind of digital camera are you using? How many pixels etc?
Look at the sparkle in these guys...

[joia]

Come on everyone we need help.
Joia

[webmistress]

I use an old sony camera I got off ebay. I love it. Anything with a Carl Zeiss lens will take good photos. Take with natural light not a flash.

The rest of you? There are great photos out there.

[joia]

Wow AZ, mine is a Kodak Easyshare too.  Perhaps the sunshine and no flash will do the trick.  I´ll let everyone know tomorrow, it is late afternoon here but I am going to get out in the sunshine tomorrow.  (That is if the weatherman doesn´t make it rain).
Thanks for the advice.
Joia

[robin]

I use a Canon Digital Rebel (SLR) with a 50mm/1.4 f lens.   The minimum focal length is a couple of feet, though, so then I crop waaaay down.

And DJM, flash pics will likely need substantial post-processing (in photoshop, say) for color.  In fact, since I don't adjust the white balance on my camera as I should, almost all of my indoor pics have to be adjusted for color, even though I rarely use a flash (because I have this 1.4f lens).

Unless you have some really nice filtered natural light indoors (I don't; my 1968-vintage house is fairly dark inside), you're better off taking outdoor photographs.

--Robin

[diamondjunkie]

Next up...DJ

What kind of digital camera are you using? How many pixels etc?
Look at the sparkle in these guys...

Thanks djm!

I use a Canon EOS Digital Rebel and I don't have a clue on pixels!  I use either the macro setting or the 'flash off' setting.  I try to take my pics either outside or near a window with good light.  If you want to take pics inside, it helps to have actual sunlight coming in rather than just daylight.

My best tip though is to use a tripod - it really helps to get sharp pictures.

I would love to get a camera with a 'super macro' feature.  I have seen some incredible close ups with that setting.

Just remember that you will often have to take many pics to get just a few that are up to standard.  That's normal!

[Snooper]

I never use a flash as they get all weird! I think the key is a steady hand (or tripod) and good light.  Very seldom do I take pics at night near lamp light... Too dark.

I have a 2 year old Canon A610 with 5 mega pixels, 4x zoom.  I never use the zoom.  I just put the tulip on (macro), get close to my precious, gently press the button, wait for the macro to focus, and take about 100 pics and have 20 that look decent.

No tripod with my pics, but I should get one!

[Diamondluvr]

I use a Canon PowerShot G6, it has 7.1megapixals and has the SuperMacro function---which is awesome, but I don't use it enough to remember which sequence of buttons to push to turn on that function and have to pull the book out when I need it(there for most of my sparklie pics aren't taken with it).

I do think a tripod is a must, my hubby can take awesome pics without it, I on the other hand desperately need it for sparklie pictures!

I think it takes alot of practice

[GracefulLion]

I wish I had the patience for a tripod, but I usually take pictures in a pretty big rush.  So I do not pictures as lovely as DJ's and some of the others, but for me it really comes down to lighting, background and the macro feature.

[joia]

Have a look at my cute little tripod.  I tried taking pictures of my sparklies out in the sun and they came out beautifully.  Only problem is that I took a picture of an old ring and when I saw the inclusions and a few chips I decided not to post but will wait until tomorrow  and get some better stuff out to model.
Cute tripod though isn´t it?
Joia

[djm195]

Have a look at my cute little tripod.  I tried taking pictures of my sparklies out in the sun and they came out beautifully.  Only problem is that I took a picture of an old ring and when I saw the inclusions and a few chips I decided not to post but will wait until tomorrow  and get some better stuff out to model.
Cute tripod though isn´t it?
Joia

JOIA!!!!! Awesome!! You're making me jealous-LOL! I can't wait to see your pics. From amateur to professional. Really glad the recommendations from the others helped. It's been raining and grey here for the last few days--arrgh.

[djm195]

BTW Joia, where did you get the cute little tripod?

[joia]

We have a German Supermarket near where I live called Lidl, they have specials  every week  to get you to go in and load up your trolley,  and this week this was one of the specials.
I have never heard the brandname before it is Tronic.  I looked on the package and they have   www.kompernass.com   and they call it a mini camera support, perhaps they have them near you, if you look them up.
Joia

[djm195]

Hey Joia--I tried looking this up at the web site but no mini camera support. They did have a traveling toothbrush though. 

[Snooper]

That's a really cute tripod!! Looks like something I could handle!

[joia]

Hey Joia--I tried looking this up at the web site but no mini camera support. They did have a traveling toothbrush though. 

OK OK,  djm Where does the toothbrush travel to?
Joia

[webmistress]

Okay, you guys. At the bottom of this page, I've added each of your camera recommendations and either copy that I got from your posts. Let me know if you are not okay with this. Just PM me and I'll remove your screen name and quote if you have one.

I have to tell you that I get PMs about the photos you guys take pretty often. And they are often on the front page. David gets this question a lot, too. But his are tightly held secrets. The actual document with his photo notes is at the bottom of a deeply dug latrine, covered in bonfire ashes. Then there are 17 guard dogs.

I'll make a page of these as well with some examples of photos you guys have taken. But djm, this work for you? You've probably already made a decision, but for all the others who ask.

Got photo editing suggestions. We had a thread on that but I can't find it. That's another question I get rather often.

---------one more thing. You'll see the little button at the bottom as there are TWO pages. Don't want anyone to think I forgot them.

[luvnjewelry]

Thanks for adding those reviews/links to the bottom of this page WM!   That is a great idea!       I also wanted to add to the rest of my review since I know that you could only fit in so many characters as to what I sent in a PM.   

I chose my FUJI Finepix camera (after months of research) for the ease of use, great picture quality ,and price.    For taking pictures of jewelry- a macro setting is a must!   I find the best pics involve lots of natural light and no flash.    Taking pictures of jewelry really does involve a little patience and lots of practice.   I prefer outdoor pictures the most!  Diamonds and nature go hand and hand! 

When I purchased my camera, I went to a Camera store.  The salepeople are quite knowledgable and can steer you in the right direction.       

Be careful when buying online.  There is a "grey" market out there that sells camera......but does not come with a "USA" warranty.   It doesn't make sense to save $20 only to have to send it back to the manufacturer in another country where the warranty is from.    Even "if" you purchased it from a seller in the U.S.     

 To me, it only makes since to buy a camera locally.  If you have a problem with the camera-you can go straight to the source.

[djm195]

Okay, you guys. At the bottom of this page, I've added each of your camera recommendations and either copy that I got from your posts. Let me know if you are not okay with this....

Webmistress, what a great idea--nice job!!! I am sure that this will be helpful to alot of people. I just wish this was here before I purchased my camera-LOL!
 
I have a Canon Powershot SD850. I will reserve comment until I follow the recommendations from DJ (& others) and retake the diamond shots outside or direct sunlight.

[webmistress]

Let me know how you like it djm. If it's a go, I'll include your endorsement, too. It does take practice.

[djm195]

Let me know how you like it djm. If it's a go, I'll include your endorsement, too. It does take practice.

Exactly--it's not the camera it's the photographer. (I'll probably just have to face facts and admit that I suck at taking pictures!)

[webmistress]

Actually, I'm not a great photographer but I manage to take some decent shots of diamond rings. It will stay still and I don't have to coerce someone to get in the photo. It can't speak so it's a photo victim.