I looked through all of your pictures and not only is the jewelry beautiful, but the pictures are so clear.  I use a digital camera (actually 2 different ones with diff. megapixls) and NONE of mine are coming out so close and clear.  What are the secrets?  Please help!

I am definitely not an expert on photo taking, but I have learned through this forum that you need a photo box, a camera with a macro setting and good lighting.  I do not have a photo box, but I have started using an area with all white background and a reading lamp positioned so not to have a glare off the beads.  It is so hard to do with out a photo box, but if you play with it you should get the hang of it.  I swear it takes me longer to take pics than to make the jewelry heehee!  I also like taking pics outside.  The sun I feel is the best light source.  Good luck!

here is an example of an outside pic" align="left"> 

Hi Beadr2 I am definitely not an expert in photo taking, however I have learned everything I know about it here on the forum.  I learned you need a photo box, which I still do not have, a camera with a macro setting and good lighting.  I use an area of all white and a reading lamp set in a direction not to give a glare off the beads.  It takes a lot of practice and I swear it takes me longer to take pics sometime than make the jewelry heehee.  I also like to take my pics outside because the sun is the best lighting of all.

Good Luck!

Vita 

Here is an example of an outside pic

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Edited too many times, because I can't figure out how to make this pic smaller.  Sorry.  ;( ARRRRGH! 

I think your picture is quite nice and clear.  I have been struggling with taking clear pictures with my digital camera. I have taken some that were good and then some that were terrible.  I was looking on the web and found a site that is pretty informative. I hope it helps you too.

www.shopnd.com/prairieworks/taking_pictures.pdf

Good luck and keep up the good work..

Thank you for the suggestions and hints.  Much appreciated!!  :)

beadr2 (Kelly)

I have a light box, which I use in bright sunlight.  I also take pictures in the shade without using the light box.  You can also use a frosted clear plastic file box - I bought one at office depot for about $15 - I have used that as well.  Just keep experimenting and work with the white balance on your camera.  You can also adjust some lighting problems with your photo editing software.

Lynne

www.shinejewelry.wordpress.com

Hello to all!

Okay, here goes,  ANOTHER newbie.   I have seen reference to a LIGHT BOX being used to improve the clarity of pictures.   I'll just ask the question,  Is this a piece of equipment specific to cameras, or are we talking about the crafting light box.  I apologize for the ignorant question, however, for me it is fairly relevent. 

Thanks for your reply

Hi Playermiller, Check out Matthew Nix's page on Light Box for photographing your work:

http://www.createapendant.com/photobox.htm

 As you can see it is not the same as a crafting light box that you would use for tracing and doing embossing etc.  hope this helps. Jeanie

Hello Jeanie   

Thanks so much for your reply.  I will check out the website you suggested.  AT least I'll know how it works and be able to see if it might work for me.

Sue

hey hi, i use an olympus digital camera, which is 5 mega pixels. i just take pictures at daytime, using only the superclose setting (macro) and the pics really turn out great and very clear and sharp. u can also use it in the sunlight outside but then u would hav to remove the shadows. and this is without using a light box. hope it helps. Amna

 Thanks for the wonderful tips!

Taking good pics is so hard to do....

:] 

I'm a photographer, and I built my own photo light box for just a few dollars. I have two Ott Lights (craft lights that are daylight balanced) that I use with it, but you can also go to Home Depot or Lowes and get one of those silver metal clamp lights and buy a couple of daylight balanced flourescent bulbs. Here's the link to make the photo light box:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

 Have fun with it!

That is where I went to make my own photo box.  It's a good site to use.  My pictures did come out better, IMO.  Still need some good props however. 

Hi,

  I was going to build a light box, but I really didn't have that kind of time....especially with a five year old.....I did however find at wal-mart of all places, a Portable Lighting Studio....which is in it's own case?...if that makes sence....it comes with 2 prop lights and a mini tri-pod..and two different color backgrounds....blue and grey....I have cut a piece of white fleece and attach to the velco already there for my white background.....the walls are white ...below is a link to what they look like.....I got mine at walmart for 49.99 at the time.  Prices may have gone up slightly since I got mine....

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=380974

Love it alot....and yes, natural lighting is always the best way to go!...If you can take them outside do it.....

 I really dislike the new forums, and just finally saw this thread, but here is an old tutorial I had posted on photography on the old site:

http://cs.beadandbutton.com/beadingforumarchive/forums/t/39650.aspx

Hi Kelly,

I went through a whole year of trying to learn to take good pictures of jewelry (of my student's work as well as mine). They went from blurry to better with some hard earned lessons along the way.  I don't use a lightbox because the set up does not suit my particular circumstance but I rely on natural light with the right camera settings. 

In fact, when I wrote my blog post on the "13 things I learnt about jewelry photography", some readers emailed me or wrote in to say that their experiences with non-lightbox photography were the same - they got good results in natural light - either on a cloudy day outside or under shade. I hope this helps others too : http://www.beadinggem.com/2008/01/13-things-i-learnt-about-jewelry.html

Pearl

Thank you! 

I have to say I finally splurged and bought a new camera.  What a difference!  I am still having trouble with blue pictures though.  Still learning the camera.  But taking pictures outside when it is -30 below wind chill just doesn't do it for me, I do have to spend extra time either taking many pictures or using a photo shop program.  But my pictures are turning out so much better!  So it's worth it!

Thanks agian for all of the tips, I hope I can actually contribute some tips to this post and we can all keep adding our tips here for others to reference. 

Hi Kelly,

Check your white balance setting on your camera. If you are taking pictures indoors, it should be set to match your lighting. Personally, the best setting for me is the cloudy (or equivalent). It should greatly reduce the blueness of your photos.

Good Luck!

Pearl