reflectivenightmare Photographing Swarovski jewellery- help!

[Louise]

Hi everyone,

I make Swarovski jewellery in my home and I am desperate now to know how to take a good picture of my jewellery using artificial light. At the moment, my best photographic efforts have been produced in flat light (cloudy) in the garden. I have lights that have 5000k daylight bulbs in them and they are diffused. I always find the light is too harsh and causes reflections on the stones. Swarovski stones do not like harsh bright light as they are not displayed at their best in this type of light. I have tried taking pictures by a window that hasn’t got bright sunlight streaming in through it. But found the pictures were too dark and at this time of year, the light is not bright enough even at midday. 

I have a Cannon EOS 1300D and a EF-S18-55 DC III F3.5-5.6 Lens Plus, a Sigma one which I can’t remember what one it is (will find out) 

Most of the time I have resorted to using the iPhone 7 camera as I get frustrated with the Canon and find the iPhone is quicker. When I do use the camera I am capable of taking pictures in manual mode and my pictures are correctly exposed. I can take a good picture of anything else but Swarovski jewellery grrrr 

I look at other people’s pictures of their jewellery and think, if they can take a good picture so can I.

I am convinced I am using the wrong lighting, or it’s not diffused enough.

help

 

 

[fuzzyedges]

Hi Louise welcome to the forum 

Whilst I cant help there are some flash people  people that use flash on here and I have no doubt they will be along shortly

Why not introduce yourself in the welcome center which always gets a wider audience and hint about your crystal problem   

You seem to have picked a very hard thing to photograph I dont know if this article helps or makes it worse 

http://thejewelryloupe.com/how-to-photograph-jewelry-tips-from-the-pros/

Edited November 20, 2017 by fuzzyedges

[kev7d]

I am no expert.  But whenever I shoot images of jewellery I find a bit trial error often plays a part.  I use an off cam flash and umbrella.  I will vary the position and distance of the umbrella from my subject.  I will also play with the strength of the flash and make adjustments to aperture and shutter speed.  I will sometimes reverse the umbrella and point the flash into it.  It can take me several attempts to get it right with reflective objects.  Oh and welcome.   

[Louise]

Thank you so much for your reply. I have read that you should never use a flash with Swarovski jewellery (shame desperate for advice)  What sort of jewellery do you photograph? Swarovski seems to be a completely different beast to anything else I have taken a photograph of. I also make leather bracelets and have no problem taking nice photos of them lol

[Louise]

44 minutes ago, fuzzyedges said:

Hi Louise welcome to the forum 

Whilst I cant help there are some flash people  people that use flash on here and I have no doubt they will be along shortly

Why not introduce yourself in the welcome center which always gets a wider audience and hint about your crystal problem   

You seem to have picked a very hard thing to photograph I dont know if this article helps or makes it worse 

http://thejewelryloupe.com/how-to-photograph-jewelry-tips-from-the-pros/

 

45 minutes ago, fuzzyedges said:

Hi Louise welcome to the forum 

Whilst I cant help there are some flash people  people that use flash on here and I have no doubt they will be along shortly

Why not introduce yourself in the welcome center which always gets a wider audience and hint about your crystal problem   

You seem to have picked a very hard thing to photograph I dont know if this article helps or makes it worse 

http://thejewelryloupe.com/how-to-photograph-jewelry-tips-from-the-pros/

Hi Fuzzyedges, thank you for your suggestion about the welcome Center will try that  Yes Swarovski is an utter nightmare to photograph lol I made a pair of earrings for myself and friends then wanted a pair ... sort of grew into a business lol Now I am trying to sell it online ( so it sort of picked me) Like I said in my original post, I managed to take some nice photos outside on a cloudy day. Of course, this time of year the weather is horrible and the cloudy days are very dull. 

I will watch the video you have suggested. Hopefully, it will be of some help. Thank you  

[Clicker]

Hi Louise...,  Wonder if this is any help ...

http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/swarovski_crystal_photography.htm

Welcome to the  forum ... as Fuzzy said ...it may pay you to introduce yourself on the welcome Forum ...and post a link to this post .