Does anyone else have problems taking pictures of products for their online store?

Question

I run my own website and sell jewelry as well as shoes, sunglasses, and handbags. I'm having a LOT of trouble taking good pics of my jewelry - gold bracelets, earrings, necklaces. I've tried making a makeshift lightbox but it falls apart after a while. The lighting in my house is not perfect and alltogether, the pictures do not come out right. I know I'll probably have to do a lot of photoshop tweeking, but ARRGGGH!!! I'm only a novice at Photoshop and have a lot of learning to do! This whole jewelry photography is driving me crazy! I rather do it myself than take it to a professional studio because I am saving a lot of money. I run the site by myself and work out of my home so I have to make do with what I've got. Has anyone else had these same problems? Are you having the same experience? If so, how did you get around it? How are you coping? Photographing pieces for my site is probably the hardest part of operating my small business.

Answer 1

You need a digital camera. The one I use is a cheap Fuji that sold at the time for $130 and the clear them out at Best Buy for $65. I use the low pixel setting it like .8 Mg. I use a white bed sheet and display the product. I turn off the Flashing and use various lights for back-lighting which is a little dimmer than the front lighting and get excellent pics of the product turning or whatever for better views. With Jewelry you may want a black background. My lights are just cheap desk lamps from yard sales and I use 60 and 100 watt bulbs. I have a few lamps that use a 25 watt. Use a Tripod for you Camera so you not shake it and blur the pics.