Monday, August 24, 2009

Photography Phaux Pas

Can we talk photography? Photos can really make or break your work when you sell on line. You need good photos to replace the ability to see a piece in person. I've invested in good quality photo equipment, camera with a great macro, photo booth set up, lighting and backgrounds. Many of the photos I take are very good yet there is one style of jewelry that is eluding the great photograph - long (40"+) necklaces.

I'm going to use my recent experience entering the fabulous Use the Muse II contest. BTW be sure to visit the gallery and see the winning entries - amazing and lovely work!



I participated in Use the Muse II to push myself. I made glass links to complement the lovely selection of beads I received in the kit. I love to create long chain-y style necklaces but the problem I have is how to photograph them. My entry for the Use the Muse II is a great example of the photography phaux pas I commit with long necklaces. Here are a couple of the photos I submitted....




Kind of blah, huh? Honestly, I didn't like the above pictures when I sent them but they were the best photos I seemed to be able to get. You don't get a sense of the scope of the necklace or how it all fits together or hangs on the body. The above pictures were only two of the 100 pictures I took but I just couldn't get a good photo even with the macro and my mini-cube set up and photographers lights.

I tried different backgrounds and ways to display it but just can't seem to hit on the right combination.

Is it better to pool the long necklace onto a flat surface?



The black seemed to wash out the color of the necklace yet the white above was just so so.



So help me out, dear Readers - how do you photograph long necklaces or are you committing a photography phaux pas?

7 comments:

Leslie @ Bei Mondi said...

Great topic! This is something I find challenging every time. I've tried photos up close if there is a focal piece, that's easy enough, but for the whole piece... I'm clueless. Can't wait to see what others have done.

sharon said...

I would be of no help, I have the same problem! But I think it's a great question, if anyone has any good or helpful ideas!

Silver Parrot said...

I, too, struggle with photography and keep swearing I'm going to take a class one of these days, but the one thing that DOES seem to work for me is a neutral gray background. I've found that just about everything looks good on it.

Anonymous said...

I personally loves the ones on the black background! My photography is always an issue too, and being new at this, I don't have any pointers, but good luck!

TesoriTrovati said...

That is a tough one Cindy. I find that when I shoot them outside in the natural light that it comes out better. There simply is no good way to get all of a long necklace in a shot. What I find is if I focus on part of it and let the rest trail away into a blurry artsy fartsy manner that it complements it best. Leaves a bit to the imagination, but makes for a much more artistic shot. Best of luck with that! Enjoy the day! Erin

rosebud101 said...

No comment! I have a long way to go!

Patty said...

Coiling the extra length of the necklace is an option...