Learn to be a pro in taking photos of your jewelry pieces.

[caption id="attachment_2099" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Be your own jewelry photographer![/caption]

Some businesses still do not have the means to hire services like advertising, marketing, and photography. This is particularly the case with startup businesses. The first two, however, are becoming easier with the help of social media. One can maximize your business' exposure by utilizing free social media tools. As for photography, you will need to hire a professional if you want gorgeous photos.

To solve this problem, we have gathered some product photography tips for you to take great pictures of your wholesale fashion jewelry without having to spend much. Without further ado, here are the five do's and five don't's of jewelry photography.

Do's

1. Natural light

[caption id="attachment_2098" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The light of the setting sun gives off a warm vibe in photos.[/caption]

Yes, natural lighting is the way to go! I especially like the light of the setting sun because pictures look warming and more inviting. Avoid direct sunlight, though, as it casts ugly shadows to the pieces and hence creating much contrast. If you need to take photos at night, use a lightbox to diffuse bulb lighting. Use the daylight bulbs instead of warm whites to avoid yellow looking jewelry. Lastly, don't ever use the camera flash as it's too bright, especially if you need close-up shots.

2. Macro

[caption id="attachment_2097" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The macro setting gives you a detailed shot of the jewelry piece.[/caption]

Always use the macro setting when taking photos of jewelry. With this setting, your customers will be able to see the intricate designs of your pieces. The details are important, especially if you have picky customers. The macro setting is available in almost all cameras, even on your camera phones and tablets.

3. Lots of shots

[caption id="attachment_2101" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Take lots of shots in different angles to showcase your wholesale fashion jewelry pieces.[/caption]

One or two shots are not enough. Remember that aside from getting the perfect shot, you also need to take photos in different angles for the benefit of your customers. Allow them so see the product in various views to further convince them how beautiful your products are. Taking many shots also gives you more pictures to use in your marketing or advertising campaigns without having to use the same photo over and over again.

4. Tripod

[caption id="attachment_2102" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Invest in a steady tripod for clearer photos.[/caption]

To avoid ending up with blurry shots, use a handy dandy tripod. Get sharp and crisp clear images with a sturdy camera support. Don't settle for the cheap ones as they tend to be flimsy. Invest in a good quality tripod that will last for longer.

5. Edit

[caption id="attachment_2103" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Always edit your product photos.[/caption]

Edit the photos to make them look crisper and sharper. Remember not to overdo it, though, as they might not look real or natural. Even if you're not a skilled photo editor, you can easily tweak your photos. Just adjust the light levels, color balance, and use the cropping tool. And of course, you can always watch a YouTube video on Photoshop editing if you need any help.

Don't's

1. Bad background

[caption id="attachment_2104" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Avoid a complex, busy background for your product shots.[/caption]

Avoid a busy, complex background! Product photos should be made as clean as possible, and the focus of the eyes should only be on the product. White or any neutral background is the best choice as it makes the jewelry, or any product for that matter, stand out. Stay away from clutter!

2. Unnecessary props

[caption id="attachment_2105" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Do not include unnecessary stuff in the frame to avoid losing focus.[/caption]

Putting unnecessary props leads to getting a busy, complex background. Customers will be distracted with too much going on in the photo and hence, the focus is lost. If you need props, just use jewelry displays or take macro shots of a model wearing the pieces.

3. Blurry shots

[caption id="attachment_2106" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Don't use blurry photos; they hurt the eyes![/caption]

Don't use blurry pictures! Even if you think the photo captured the best angle of the jewelry, a blurry picture will do you no good. Your customers will lose interest in the product because they cannot see a clear representation of the piece they are about to buy. Worst case scenario is, they'll think that you're a scam business selling low-quality products.

4. Inconsistent style

[caption id="attachment_2107" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A product page with photos of Inconsistent style looks incompetent.[/caption]

Never go for an inconsistent style; cohesiveness is the key. Your product photos should have the same lighting, camera settings, background, props, and size. Otherwise, the product category page of your website or photo gallery will look all messed up. Follow the likes of style influencers on Instagram. All the photos have one color palette and photo style. Doing the same with your product photos will be aesthetically pleasing and will attract more customers.

5. Unedited photos

[caption id="attachment_2108" align="aligncenter" width="600"] This dark photo needs to be brightened up and sharpened![/caption]

Never settle for unedited photos! Tweaking them is important, as you would want crisp, clear photos for your customers to look at. Check the brightness and contrast, as well as the size. Same goes for bad photoshop editing. Poor retouching screams fake so take your time in editing your photos.