I just started redoing the photos in my shop and I have been so happy with the outcome and I think my items are showcased better. here are some tips from my experience on how I made them brighter and more detail.
non-reflective background- I use a roll of white paper (wrapping type paper but non-shiny) that I unroll like at a photo studio as a backdrop. I do this near a window.
The background is behind and under the item- I know your items are small but still it would give you options in how to photograph.
I use a tiny tripod- it's a flexible one that you can actually "grab" or clamp onto things, which if you need to take a photo from an odd angle is great, or it can just stand up like a tripod- only it's small and only goes up to around 6 inches tall.
No flash- turn the flash off.
Most digital cameras have a +/- feature- so you can over or underexpose. I use the +.7 or +.3 (usually the +.7) to brighten them up a bit w/o flash. What this does is slow the shutter speed to allow in a little more light- This is also why tripod is necessary. No blurring from moving the camera during slow shutter speed.
Then I turn on the macro setting (again most digital cameras have this- mine is a little flower symbol and is called macro- but the flower is the symbol for it)
Lastly- I use the timer function to take every shot. I only have to take a few shots- and doing it this way, the above steps plus timer means I don't have to take a bunch- they usually all turn out and they are clear b/c the camera is very still when the pic. is taken.
Then, I have free kodak software and crop them a bit, and add just one step of brightness or highlight if needed- that's about it.
I am happy w/ how they're turning out- some of of my items on the 2nd page still need redone- you can tell a difference. :)
good luck! I'm happy to answer any questions-
