Need some advice on taking pictures of jewelry!

[KarenAylwood]

I'm figuring that if there's a way to do it right- my DIS photographers will know!

My mom is putting up some jewelry on ebay- it's all rhinestone costume jewelry and she's having major issues taking pictures that capture what the pieces really look like. I don't live near her so I can't help her out but have fiddled around with some jewelry here and realized that it really is hard to do.

She has a normal digital camera. Are there any tricks to this? All I could think of was telling her to use no flash with good lighting.

I'm really trying to help her out because I know she won't put them up for auction if she can't get good pictures of them.

TIA!

 

[PrincessSophie'sMom]

Not sure how much your Mom wants to invest in Ebay, but have you heard of light tents? Here is a link to one of the many brands of them:

EZ Cube

 

[0bli0]

it's quite easy to make a light tent using PVC pipe and decent diffusing fabric. the white showercurtain liners work well or pick up some nylon or other bright white synthetic material. you can use a sheet, but they aren't generally white enough and they get dirty easy.

there are lots of links to building them out on the net.

 

[geetey]

I don't have any tips but I did find this page on the web. It is a how to on taking jewerly photos. I know they are trying to sell something but you might get some ideas from their techniques. Good luck to your Mom! http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/jewelry_photography.htm

 

[KarenAylwood]

Thanks for the tips! I sent the site you posted, geetey- hopefully it will help her out.

0bli0- I hadn't thought of her making her own after seeing the first post from PrincessSophie'sMom. She definitely wouldn't be up for spending much on a light tent but could probably make her own for cheap.

I hope she uses some of these hints! Thanks again!

 

[skr8pn]

I'm kinda needing to do the same thing, so with much inspiration and less than $10 I hit home depot and walmart last night. I indeed made my own tent for less thatn $10. I already have the lights of various types, I still need to get some poster board or something. I ended up getting a fitted sheet by accident but it worked ok I just put the corners under then legs. I might have taken 10 mins to make. Pretty cool idea. When I get some pictures of the tent I'll post it, when I get some WITH the tent, I'll post them too.