Photographing jewelry, or beads for that matter, can be a daunting task to most beginners. But we all know how photos can actually make or break a sale. Right on.
So, why not treat each photo as a thing of beauty. Your special art. After all, beauty can emanate from even the simplest of things like beads. However, there are some things to consider in capturing a bead’s beauty with your favorite Nikon or even a compact point-and-shoot camera.
Here are a few practical tips that worked well for me…
- Size matters.Macro shooting allows for showing closeup details of small objects. However, macro shots can be very misleading. So, when photographing smaller objects (like beads), it helps to use a “reference object” which, can be easily identified with and is of relative size with the object/s in focus to show scale.
- Demonstrate the object’s uses.Surely, you’re going to use the beads for something. A model wearing the finished products such as bead-embellished bags, jewelry, and whatnot’s is a great way to show the different ways on how the beads are used to illustrate context. The beaded design can serve as your focal point.
- Be relevant. Your composition must translate cross-culturally. Work with themes that are easily understood such as the seasons and color trends. Use props that are readily available and as much as possible, must not be offensive. Focus on how the object fits in the theme and not the other way around.
Well, a good photograph, really, is all about focus, focus, and focus. Got tips, too? Share it with us…
(Disclaimer: This post is not intended as a precise, or standard operating procedure in digital photography. The topic is lightly treated as a D.I.Y. sort of thing. Jan works for Beads and Pieces as its official photographer and graphic artist. She is passionate about digital photography and punk rock music. And oh, she loves pasta, too.)