I’ve received a couple emails last week with questions about my photography set up. I thought it would be easier to show than explain, so I took a few pictures of my bench.
First, let me say, I don’t recommend anything that I do, per se. It works for me and it’s relatively easy, so I’ll probably not change my set up anytime soon. That said, I don’t use a light box. I don’t have ott lights. I don’t use a tripod. I have my trusty Sony camera, a couple of slate tiles, some photo props from the backyard and my book shelf and my jewelry. Plus some ancient photo editing software (I use MS Picture It. Truth be told, I have PhotoShop installed on my pc, I’ve just never got around to learning how to use it. )
This is what my set up looks like today. You can see my work table, the tile, and the ubiquitous stick (highlighted by the big red arrow) from my backyard.
Two of my favorite photo props on my slate tile.
The real trick for me, is putting the camera in macro mode and then putting the lens right up close to whatever I’m taking a picture of. By the way, the camera in the photo below is NOT the camera I use. I just put a disposable in the shot to illustrate what I was talking about. I use a fully automated Sony DSC F828. I love that I can put the lens right up close to whatever I am shooting. And its almost completely automatic so I don’t have to learn how to use an SLR. Yep, I know, lazy. 
After downloading the images to my pc, I crop them square, increase the focus a bit if needed and lighten them, again if needed.
The finished products look like this
Good luck in your photographing endeavors!
Don’t miss a single post.
Follow this blog: Click here
Follow via email: Click here
Want to be notified of subscriber only sales and other special events from ShinyAdornments? Sign up for my newsletter
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/silver/t24_ag_en_usoz_2.gif)
Great insight! I love seeing “behind the scenes” and how its done, its inspiring. When I take my photos I have a macro setting on my camera but I dont get as close as Id like so I have to crop the imiges on my computer, is this how you do it or do you acutally get that close so the jewellery fills the whole photo?
Lynsey
I still have to crop each picture. My camera is set up as a rectangular image, and I crop to square for both my etsy and my artfire shop photos.
K
Excellent way to illustrate a great way to take photos!
This is wonderful information. Your photos are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
) button
I am starting to do this, and it really does make a huge different. Photos are SO incredibly important. Yours are lovely.
Rhiannon
Daily Paint Journal
Great tips and photos. The macro setting is key to getting it to focus that close. It looks like a little flower. And the auto settings like that are so useful and easy.
I see that you tilt your slate surface… what keeps the jewelry from sliding? I’ve tried this and I get the jewelry avalanche thing happening.
You are very fortunate to have such a nice big window that seems to get enough sun so you don’t need to worry about a lightbox and lights. The way I see it is if it works for you then more power to ya! I’m wondering the same thing Vicki is though….how the heck do you keep the jewelry from staying nicely in place??
This is so ironic, I just talked about this topic in my radio show yesterday! Great photos! I love the slate background!
Vicki and Theresa..
The tile is tilted only slightly. Maybe an inch or less. Plus, although it might not appear so, the slate is slightly textured, so the jewelry doesn’t really go anywhere.
I’ve tried more smooth tiles..
(you know the ones that are less matte but more shiny?)
and I get jewelry avalanche too. I think the trick is that the tile is slightly textured and the tilt height is so low, that I don’t experience any issues.
Hi Kristy
Great illustration photos of your bench. Shows you have more talent than just photographing jewelry
Have you ever tried scanning your pieces on a flatbed scanner? This can be quite an effective and easy way to capture them as well to a clear background.
If you, or any of your other readers are interested, there is a free jewelry ebook here that you can download which has info on photographing jewelry as well as plenty of other information useful to run a jewelry business from home.
All the best
Gary
Seems that he link didnt work properly in my first comment for the ebook, heres the full url – http://www.beading-software.com/blog/free-stuff/jewelry-book/
great post!Enjoyed a look around your blog.
I host a different “studio tour” on my blog each Saturday. Would you be interested in a Saturday feature? I have openings starting in January
Your photos are always so awesome! Thanks so much for sharing your little secrets with us!