More About Jewellery Photography

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More About Jewellery Photography

Creating Stunning Jewellery Images

The keys to great jewellery photography are:

Light Diffusion - use an EZcube® for perfect light diffusion, thereby reducing or eliminating reflections, shadows, hotspots and glare.

Perfect Daylight Lighting - TableTop Studio's perfect daylight compact fluorescent lighting is ideal. Our 5000K bulbs provide lovely natural white light. They produce very little heat so they can be left on for long photo sessions without over heating the light tent, camera or the photographer. Continuous lighting is essential - an on-camera flash does not lead to good jewellery photos. Not only is the camera's flash too bright at such a close distance, but it is probably in the wrong position to actually light up the jewellery properly. Further, when using flash you are unable to see how the final image will appear until the flash goes off, leading to much wasted time in trial and error.

Add Sparkle - use a Sparkler Light (all colours of gemstones) or Diamond Dazzler (extra brilliance for all colourless gemstones). These specialist lights are positioned at the front so that you see the stones sparkle. The Sparkler Light can add depth and quality to the image. The Diamond Dazzler adds an extra dazzle and brings out the fire of diamonds.

Focus - use spot focus mode (see your camera manual). It's better for close up photography to put the camera into spot focus mode, this will allow you to see exactly what the camera will be focusing on. For jewellery photography you ideally need a camera with good macro focus capability

Exposure - appropriate exposure is essential (see your camera manual)

To read more about the ideal camera for jewellery photography click here

Displaying Jewellery for Perfect Images

With the EZcube EZstaging System

Jewellery products can be displayer in many unusual ways using our innovative EZcube EZstaging System.

In this example, a pair of Swarovski chandelier earrings are suspended inside the 20" 2007 EZcube using the new EZrigging support system and the EZrigging Accessory Kit. The earrings are suspended using "invisible thread" held by two EZclips, whilst a small black background is held in place behind the earrings using one EZclip suspended from the support rod. The "invisible thread" is then easily removed from the final image.

To see more examples of what is possible with the new 2007 EZcube and the new EZrigging System click here

With Our Invisible Prop Wax

To display small jewellery items invisibly, you can also use our Prop Wax. You only need a small amount, warmed between your fingers so it becomes more pliable, and your small jewellery items will stand up as if by magic! You can create a great jewellery composition shot like the one below. To read more about Prop Wax click here

Gold photography

With our Jewellery Displayers

Finally, traditional displayers can be used to position your jewellery items ready for photographing. You can either include the entire displayer in the image, or you can crop the image to exclude the edge of the displayer. White Frosted displayers can blend into the background with any small edges being easily removed from the final image if required.

Our Jewellery Displayer Kits include a range of Displayers, in a choice of White Frosted or Black Shiny finish. To read more about our Jewellery Displayers click here

Adding Sparkle to Jewellery Images

Whilst we generally require a soft, diffused light for product photography, to add glitter and sparkle to gemstones, a direct light source can be used. The direct light source should be weaker than the main lighting. Our Sparkler Light is used in addition to the regular two side lights.

The Sparkler Light is placed at the front of the EZcube, as close as possible to the camera. The Sparkler Light should be positioned so that you can see the gems sparkle (make sure that you are looking through the camera view finder as you position the Sparkler as you need to see the sparkler from the same angle that the a camera will see it to ensure that the sparkler appears on the image).

Adding Extra Dazzle.....

The Diamond Dazzler has been specially developed by TableTop Studio to unleash the fire (technically known as "dispersion") of Cut Diamonds. The Diamond Dazzler is 5000K to match our other lighting. It is important to always use lighting that matches to avoid creating colour imbalance. We recommend 5000K lighting since it is the ideal colour temperature of light because it provides light identical to Northern Hemisphere natural daylight

diamond dazzler diamond photography

Sparkler Light to give sparkle to gemstones Our Diamond Dazzler Bulb contains 18 5000K LEDs The Diamond Dazzler fits into the Sparkler Light Diamond Rings photographed using the Diamond Dazzler

Adding Reflections to Jewellery Images

Reflective Risers can add subtle or dramatic special effects that work well for a range of products but are especially effective for jewellery

The Clear Reflective Riser surface creates a soft reflection of the jewellery placed on top. The elevation of the platform also reduces shadows beneath the jewellery

Moving the subject away from the background material (by raising it) throws the background out of focus which helps the background "disappear"

A White Shiny Riser surface gives very similar results

The Black Shiny Riser surface creates a dramatic reflection of the jewellery placed on top

By inserting a black piece of paper curved along the back and inside top of the cube we can eliminate all of the unwanted reflections

Now the only reflection that will show in the final cropped image is of the the gems sitting on top of the Black Riser

Left: there are more reflections than we would like

Right: black paper is inserted inside of the EZcube to eliminate unwanted reflections

Reflections work great for watches too

To read more about our new innovative Riser Platform System with interchangeable, reversible Tablets, giving a choice of surfaces for special effects click here

Adding Stars to Jewellery Images

Another way to add special effects is in post photography production. Our EZStar Software CD is a fast and EZ way to add glamour to your images in post production. This effect is often seen in printed, television or online ads for luxury items like cars, jewellery and other precious objects. Now you can add similar effects to your own images using this easy-to-use software. To read more about the EZstar Software click here

Using a Single Light Source

Some types of jewellery can benefit from the use of a single light source. In the example below, pearls are made to appear rounder and more three dimensional


Photographed with two lights, pearls appear flat	Using a single light	Pearls have more definition and dimension

Our Jewellery Kits

The EZcube® is the most advanced light tent on the market. To read all about the EZcube's amazing features click here

Our Professional TableTop Studio Lighting has been developed with the optimum 5000K colour temperature for perfect product photography. To read more about product photography lighting click here

Our amazing Sparkler Light is positioned at the front and adds glitter and sparkle to gemstones of all colours. It adds depth to the image, giving a more three dimensional effect and making the image stand out from the page or screen. It works great for all coloured and colourless gems. To read more about our Sparkler Light click here

The Diamond Dazzler is an LED bulb containing 18 tiny bulbs to add an extra dazzle to Diamonds, CZ and all colourless gemstones. The Diamond Dazzler Bulb fits nicely into the Sparkler Light. To read more about the Diamond Dazzler click here

Our totally new Riser concept has been designed and innovated by TableTop Studio. This set includes the Riser Platform Base and three Tablets providing five surfaces: white shiny, white frosted, black shiny, black matt and silver mirror. To read more about our new Riser Platform System click here

Illuminated Flat Panels are used to light items from beneath. Under lighting can give very dramatic results, highlighting inner details that would otherwise go unnoticed. It also gives a crisp edge to the image and virtually eliminates all shadow. It is ideal for laying items flat for easy arrangement and display. To read more about under lighting click here

Jewellery Displayer Kit 1 includes a range of displayer items to display your products for perfect photography. To see the full contents of Jewellery Displayer Kit 1 click here

Our Jewellery Kits are ideal for all types of jewellery, including diamonds and other gemstones, gold, silver, pearls, watches.... To see our range of Jewellery Photography Kits click here

Our Bead Kits are ideal for glass beads and all translucent jewellery items. To see our range of Bead Photography Kits click here

Our Gems, Crystal and Glass Jewellery Kit combines the best of both the Jewellery Kits and the Bead Kits by enabling you to create both brilliant under lighting and add sparkle at the same time. To see the Gems, Crystal and Glass Jewellery Photography Kit click here

To see our range of Jewellery Kits click here

To see our range of Bead Photography Kits click here

For more product photography tips click here

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