HELP! Photographing small items....

[Former_Member]

I have recently been making several rose earring studs to sell in my shop and have some pretty not-so-great photos up currently, just because I can't figure out how to make my camera work with the small items and take decent photos {much less good and attractive!}. Whenever I zoom in to get close up, my camera will NOT focus {no matter what the setting, I've literally tried every single one of them to no avail! SOOOOO frustrating!} so I have to back out and take a far away shot and crop it later, which doesn't work so well. I'm also having the hardest time with my lighting...how do you get it perfect? I try going outside but then I've got shadows, but inside there just isn't enough light! I always seem to get either too bright or too dark......really needing help! I've been so frustrated over it lately and have almost felt like quitting because if you can't get good photos of your items, it won't sell. I mean the first thing that will grab my attention on a listing is the picture. Sometimes I even heart things I may not buy or even like in general, but I heart it just because the photos are so awesome and professional looking! Does ANYONE have any advice for taking photos of smaller items and getting a good focus and lighting in general? Or maybe you could share any other photography tips you might have? Thanks so much!

[Former_Member]

Oh, forgot to add that I've got a Kodak HD Easy Share Camera....not sure if that's ideal compared to all the great cameras out there.....

[ChantelandMe]

The first 3 listings I looked at were not bad at all. Good job. The one that looks blurry to me is the teal one.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92460508/teal-blue-petite-rose-earring-studs

Your camera should have a macro setting; it's usually the one with the flower icon. That setting requires focus right in the middle of your lens. Even using the macro setting you can't be up on your item, you still have to step back a step. Keep inching back until your camera beeps at you or turns green or whatever it does to let you know it's in focus. That is as close as you are going to get, period. You will have to do the rest of the cropping in your editing software.

You cannot edit a cruddy photo and expect to crop it to a nice crisp closeup, it just can't be done well.

I think you are doing a really good job overall. You just seem to have a few that could use a bit more attention.

Another suggestion is to use up all your photo spaces. Give us different angles, show their dimension maybe by holding them in your hand, etc...

[Former_Member]

Have you read your camera's user instructions? I checked this camera online and it seems like even the cheapest ones have a 3x zoom feature. Last, if you're really not satisfied with your camera, you can get a great one for very low $$ on Ebay or Amazon.com. Also, look for online tutorials. This one is about photographing food but I found it great for anything small: http://www.veggiebelly.com/2010/08/food-photography-tips-tutorial-bright-white-seamless-background.h...

[Former_Member]

Hi, hopefully someone with more experience will chime in too, but I'll offer what help I can.

I agree, taking pictures of the small stuff is hard. For me, I get the best results outside in either some light but even shade or on a day that has just enough clouds to take the glare off the sun. Mornings are easier to get those conditions in my opinion.

I'm not familiar with your camera, but does it have a super macro setting? (Flower with an S in front of it for me.) That's what I use for my pictures. The macro settings on point and shoot cameras have a specific focal length and you have to be within that range for the picture to be in focus. It can be a VERY small focal range too. Move the camera closer or further away, just a little bit at a time, until it focuses on what you want it to focus on. Sorry if you already know all this. It's the first thing I think of when someone says their macro pictures are all out of focus.

Another possibility is that with the small focal length of the macro, your camera may be focusing on the words of the book that your earrings are sitting on instead of the earrings themselves. That would make the words crisper than the earrings. Maybe do a test run on another background just to see if that might be the problem?

[Former_Member]

I just took a look at your shop and I really like it. The only thing I'd advise you to do is never to use flashlight or if you must, wrap the flashlight in a white handkerchief to soften the light. Same for the sun, never shoot anything with sunlight on it. If you want to get sharper images, try using a tripod (you can find used ones very cheap) or, if not, set your camera on a chair, table or other firm surface instead of holding it in your hand.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much for all your help! I really appreciate it a lot!

[HullStreetStudio]

Wanted to add to what Laura said, if you set your camera to take large photos then even if you have to crop it should still look okay. :) Good luck. I definitely agree learning your camera is the best thing anyone can do for their photographs :D

[Former_Member]

Hi Bethany,
Here is some of my inexpert advice: : )

*For controlling light & shadow, consider building yourself a light box or screen (use a cardboard box painted white inside or white matt board or cardboard). Light reflects off of the white surfaces, which softens the shadows, but it gives the camera more to work with -- meaning a wider focal range for you. Surround your photo area with the white screen, or for small objects, place within a light box. Photograph in a sunny area or try aiming other lights to reflect off of your screen/box.

*Make sure you are focusing directly on the objects and not the background.

*I like photoshop.com (free online) for editing. I have found it easy to use, and it can work wonders for correcting (especially brightening) exposure and highlights or adding fill light.

(I don't know if you will find my own photography to be any good, but if you do, and want more help, I am happy to answer any questions here or via convo.)

[Former_Member]

It takes practice learning to take good photos...just keep at it. You CAN go back and retake them at a later date to :)

[starlightwoods]

Get as close as you can then crop the best image, if your photo is clear enough, you should not lose too much clarity. Also, how about lining your earrings up , all different colors in sort of a wavy snake pattern that goes from front to back, having the one you are listing in the front and having the rest naturally blur as they get farther away. would make an interesting photo, I think wortha try. On white background, maybe not on the book, only because there will be enough interest with the different color earrings trailing off into the background. As you shoot each one, move a different color to the front of the line for it's close up. Just an idea.... Also as far as the shadowy lighting goes, experiment with different times of the day, i find for product shots that noon, when light is right above us is a great time. A little less shadowy. Just some of my ideas...

[Former_Member]

SHARP.... Not blurred
LIGHT..... Not hard to distinguish what it is
COMPLIMENTARY BACKGROUND..... add some flavour...
DIFFERENT ANGLES
LARGE.... not a where's wally puzzlefinder

If you follow those rules then I guarantee your views and sales will improve...
well if the price is right too....

I took many of my photos in a hurry so I need to do a few reshoots as well.....

You do not need a fancy schmancy camera or a grand setup.
There are many You Tube videos around if you search for Photographing Jewelry

Some of the best photos I have taken are on the dining room table next to the window or out on the garden table in the shade....

And the beauty of todays digital cameras is that you can take heaps and pick the best at no extra cost...

My suggestions:
1. Look around etsy at the good photos of jewelry and the bad ones, which product would you purchase? If the photos are dark and dingy I move on very quickly and do not go to the next page!!!! And if I do so do others

2. Use Props... Shells, Books, Paper, Dolls, plates, cups, glasses, pencils, lace, material, doilies and so on..... choose to drape your jewelry on something that pleases you or just have something close..
There is nothing wrong with a plain background but get your lighting and sharpness spot on if you go for this option

The Nautical Necklace thatI have photographed in my shop was very difficult to photograph until I put it on the velvet... you should have seen the other results... boring . Not saying this is perfect but I think it is acceptable for etsy and is clearly defined.

3. Lighting.... Daylight is perfect. Choose a table next to a window that does not have sun streaming in though it... East is good for me in the afternoons. South is good too.

Outside: in light shade is fantastic, just like a light tent, especially for pearls.....
Direct sun rarely works

Mirror.- Once you have your piece placed and set up then get a small mirror and prop it on the opposite side to the window light.... it will reflect light back into the darker side of your piece. Do not let it completely flatten it.. a little difference between the two sides is good. When you look through the lens and move the mirror around you will see the difference is huge.

Daylight Globes are also acceptable as a light source but, and especially on pearls, that without a light tent setup then they are still a little harsh. You can put tissue paper over the globe to soften it but I reckon that the window light is less mucking around and always there.

4. FOCUS..
make sure that your piece is the thing that is in focus... everything else can be out but better to take a smaller photo where most is in focus and then go into Picassa or Photoshop to crop it down....

5. Make your item large in the frame, not so small we have to go look for it

6. Take as many angles of your piece as possilble......


Use photoshop, Elements or Picassa to adjust your image... lightness, brightness, contrast, color balance and size.....


There I hope that is of some assistance

[MyDistinctDesigns]

Don't give up bethany. I have spent hundreds of hours photographing jewelry.
If you do not have a light box. Try photographing inside a sunny window. You will have to cover the window with a sheer, tracing paper or parchment paper. Something sheer that will cut the glare. You may want to try a less distracting background than the book.
I am still working on this myself so I am certainly no expert.

[Former_Member]

One last question: I have been told to use my flower icon setting for the macro setting {am I getting this right? Still learning what all the symbol sand combined letters mean...:D} but when I use that setting it makes my photos WAY dark. So dark that if I edit it later on it degrades the quality and true color. Any suggestions?

[Former_Member]

Hi Bethany,
Yes on the flower icon for macro.

I've never run into the lighting problem. So other than the obvious - add more light - I'm not sure what to tell you. Are you taking your pictures inside or outside? I get better lighting outside, but that's me. Maybe try using a mirror (out of the frame of vision) to bounce more light onto the item?

Good luck!