It can be overwhelming for some photographers when choosing the right photography equipment when photographing jewellery products and designs. There is a range of overpriced equipment that may not produce your desired results. It can be challenging to find the equipment that suits your photography skills the best and delivers the results you need.

If you are starting to get into jewellery photography, we are here to help. We have made a list of the equipment, tools, props, and accessories you need to take the best shots.

Camera – Essential Photography Equipment

The camera is a mandatory piece of photography equipment. One of the most common questions asked online on Google search or forums is “What’s the best camera for professional jewellery photography?” This question, however, can provide a wide range of different answers. Unfortunately, this can leave people confused and undecided about what’s best for them.

However, most, if not all, DSLR cameras are good enough for the job. However, the primary concern is when deciding on jewellery photography equipment, what is the lighting system and the lens you’ll be using on the camera body.

As an example, the Canon EOS 70D DSLR Camera is an excellent entry-level DSLR camera for jewellery photographers. Equipped with features, such as Wi-Fi, 20-megapixel crop sensor and live picture processing channels. In addition, the camera includes a touch screen with the capacity to auto-focus when contacting your finger. Also, it is straightforward to change the settings with the camera’s touch screen, which is very beneficial for novices in jewellery product photography.

Smartphones can also provide exceptional jewellery photography results near-professional level and are good photography equipment alternatives. Most smartphones are equipped with  Portrait or Aperture mode and different lenses, which you can use to recreate the effect of using a DSLR or mirrorless camera to separate your beaming subject from their background.

Macro Lens

For close-up photography, macro lenses are your best option, so they are an essential piece of jewellery photography equipment. A macro lens can reproduce small subjects at up to 1.0x or 1:1 magnification at the closest focusing distance. So Brand-consciousness is not necessary when deciding which macro lens to buy. However, don’t forget to consider the following factors:

• Focal Length – Focal length is the angle of view and the magnification. For instance, how wide or narrow a scene to capture and how small or large the subject will appear in the frame. The focal length is expressed in mm. The shorter it is, the wider the angle of view produced and the smaller the subject would appear in the frame.
• Image stabilisation – The image stabilisation feature can reduce any vibration commonly caused by handheld photography, essential for preventing blurry images.

Macro Lens

For close-up photography, macro lenses are your best option, so they are an important piece of jewellery photography equipment. A macro lens can reproduce small subjects at up to 1.0x or 1:1 magnification at the closest focusing distance.  Brand-consciousness is not necessary when deciding which macro lens to buy. However, don’t forget to consider the following factors:

• Focal Length – Focal length is the angle of view and the magnification. For instance, how wide or narrow of a scene to capture and how small or large the subject will appear in the frame. The focal length is expressed in mm. The shorter it is, the wider the angle of view produced and the smaller the subject would appear in the frame.
• Image stabilisation – The image stabilisation feature can reduce any vibration commonly caused by handheld photography, essential for preventing blurry images.

Lighting System/sources

While not necessarily photography equipment. Natural lighting is one of the most accessible sources of lighting available for photography. Providing distribution of light in either outdoor or indoor settings, which perfectly illuminates the subject. The downside to natural lighting is finding the perfect time to photograph the jewellery and how it can’t always be controlled due to changes in the weather .etc. Avoid photographing jewellery at midday when the sun is at its fullest as it might be too bright for the subject leading to unwelcoming results.

Artificial lighting can be fine-tuned for the subject, as a result, it’s one of the most recommended Jewellery photography equipment. Artificial lighting sources commonly for jewellery photography are LED fixtures, single light bulbs or multiple LEDs. Ensure that all your light sources are of the same colour temperature. This uniformity will help create beautiful reflections on glossy surfaces and is easy to control.

Jewellery Stand & Other Props

It is recommended to use appropriate jewellery stands and holders for each type of jewellery. For instance, when photographing necklaces, use stands that complement your background and ensure that it is appropriate for the length of your subject. You can use museum putty and other jewellery holding wax including Elmer’s putty to hold rings. Wax is easy to apply and remove without leaving any residue. Make sure to apply as little amount as possible, so the putty is not visible in your images.

The right prop is essential for achieving professional-quality jewellery photography. Only use props that best represent your products. Avoid cluttering props and accessories in your shots as it may take your customer’s attention away from the subject.

White paper & Foam boards

White background photography is most popular for online retail as it makes your online visual display relaxing, pleasing to the eyes and professional. Furthermore, white background photography is best used as the cover photo for an item listing as it more easily attracts the viewer’s attention. As a result, it is an essential piece of photography equipment.

Achieving a white background for your jewellery images does not need to be expensive. You can use a roll of white paper, white foam boards, or fabric as alternatives. As a result, these props are also ideal for creating diffused, soft lighting. They can serve as a reflector or light diffuser.

Lightbox Photography Equipment

A photo lightbox is an open box with translucent sides and a white backdrop. You place a product inside the box letting you take a photo and get a result with professional-quality lighting, with no shadows disrupting the plain, even background. Lightboxes, as a result, provide a convenient, consistent, and simple method of taking jewellery photography.

Shopping practices are becoming more digital and visual following the global pandemic and a general shift to online shopping. In a world where customers are said to have an attention span shorter, the competition for attention begins with the quality of your jewellery product image.

What other jewellery photography equipment and accessories do you use and recommend? Feel free to share in the comment section below.

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