How can I capture neon colors in photos?

[Former_Member]

Hello!
I'd need some tips about capturing neon colors with a digital camera. I tried to shoot orange and pink , but colors don't look neon! Look at these earrings, they are neon, but the photo doesn't show it!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/125631696/goldfish-earrings-ombre-jewelry-neon?ref=shop_home_active_21

[Former_Member]

You're not. Digital cameras only capture RGB colour which is a much smaller spectrum of colour than the human eye can perceive and Neon is not within the gamut of RGB which both your camera and everyone's computer monitors use. So even if you camera could take the photo your customers couldn't see it.
Your photo looks fine to me and the earrings are very cute - if I were you I'd just put a note in the description along the lines of "due to limitations of monitor colour reproduction these earrings don't look as bright in the photo as they do in person."

[soasis]

I would try photographing them on a plain white background with different kinds of light to see what happens. You can use natural light or try different bulbs in a metal utility lamp (using a white sheet to diffuse the light). I would think that cooler light would be able to show the neon well. After you take your photos it is also useful to take them into photoshop for a little touch up... raising saturation and vibrance and adjusting the tone curves can help brighten the colors to the desired effect.

Hopefully that helps. I think you can definitely get the neons to show with the right adjustments. A bright white BG with some added brightness and saturation will probably make a big difference.

[Former_Member]

Thank you, girls!
Mela, I'll try to follow your tips, many thanks!

[soasis]

Also, I would maybe consider shining a black light on them... like not as your main light source, but subtly ... just so it brightens the colors.

[Former_Member]

I've found that Neon colours are extremely difficult to photograph.

I take my photos in natural light and take photos from all sorts of angles just to be sure that I get a few that truly show the colours.

I have a few yarns that will actually reflect light light and the only way to show that is to take the photos in total darkness and use a flash.

[SpangGangDesigns]

I think, based on a quick Yahoo search, that you could get your colors to shine a little better. While it may be true that our computers and cameras may not be able to produce true neon colors, there are many colors in the search results on yahoo that show up much brighter than your listing. I agree, play with different lighting and background. I think the photos, especially the closeups, with your fingers as the background take away from the color of the earrings. Be creative; take a look around at how others display earrings. See what you can come up with to showcase your beautiful designs.

ETA: do an Etsy search for "neon earrings". I think there are some good examples of how much better your color could be

[Former_Member]

Great idea, Mela!
Erica, I'll try with other light and backgrounds, thank you! :)

[GirlpowerKnits]

Neon colors are super hard! I take the photo in natural light, and use my photo editor to up the color a bit.

[SweetPeaPurseCompany]

You could always mention "even brighter in person". I have some fabrics that just don't photograph well. For me, it's usually the paler colors. They just look dull and grey.

[SweetPeaPurseCompany]

Your third photo looks pretty bright.