I am still amazed how many photos in online auctions for sometimes quite expensive jewelry are too blurry and out of focus to let potential buyers see clearly what they are bidding on.

Would you bid hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a vague blob that is supposed to be a diamond ring?
Here is what you will need to take improved photos of your jewelry with your digital camera:

1. A tripod (holding the camera in your hand will introduce some blur!)

2. Two or three worklights with 100 W bulbs (can be found at a hardware store for under $10 each)

3. A translucent plastic storage box to set up as a “stage”, in which the object is placed on a display stand or jewelry bust

4. Several pieces of silky cloth as backdrops

You do not need to get a top-of-the-line digital camera with 5 Megapixels or more, but the camera should have a macro setting and should let you adjust the white balance to compensate for different lighting condition. Recharagable batteries are a must, as digital cameras go through batteries quickly, and you could easily spend a lot of money on batteries otherwise.

The plastic box setup, with worklights shining through the sides provides soft shadows, and you can use an extra worklight from the front or top when needed. Do not use your camera’s flash (it tends to make small objects appear flat), and set the white balance to the type of lighting you are using (see your camera’s manual). Some cloth (particularly the kind used for linings) in a nice neutral color (grey, light blue, etc.) makes for an attractive background.

These tips should improve your auction photos, and best of all, they do not require a large investment.

Pamela Bruce lives in Austin, TX. She has been beading since her teens. She is the owner of Love Beads Unlimited and sells the bead jewelry she designs and creates at http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com

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As I mentioned in an earlier article (”Photographing Jewelry for Online Auctions”), taking pictures of small items, such as bead jewelry, for eBay or other auction sites is not always easy. You have to use the proper lighting, keep objects in focus and chose the correct background that enhances the target without distorting its colors or detracting from it.

The smaller the item, the more difficult it can be to take good photos, as cameras might have difficulties focusing on such small targets. I was wrestling with a particularly tricky photo of earrings one day, when I came across the suggestion of using a scanner. I tried it it, and the results were great - very detailed images that preserved even the tiniest features of the object.

The only limitations I have found is that objects should not be too three-dimensional, as that can cause focus problems. Also, in some instances very shiny materials, such as silver, can cause distortions.

Another issue is the background - sometimes the white plastic of the scanner lid just won’t do. In this case, a simple sheet of construction paper (use pastel colors) might be the solution. As the thickness of the scanned object also raises the lid more than a sheet of paper would, you might want to cover the top of the scanner with opaque cloth to shut out stray outside light.

Scanners usually come with software that lets you set resolution, brightness, contrast and other parameters, as well as crop, flip and rotate the object. Play around with these settings until you achive the desired results.

What scanner should you get? There are reviews of scanners on many online sites, such as epinions.com. I personally like multifunction devices that also serve as printers and copiers (saves on desk space) and have achieved good results with the very inexpensive Hewlett-Packard PSC 1315.

While my experience has been primarily with jewelry, other types of items also lend themselves to scanning: books, photographs, coins, CD and DVD covers, etc. Scanners can thus be a real time-saver in preparing your auction pictures.

Pamela Bruce lives in Austin, TX. She has been beading since her teens. She is the owner of Love Beads Unlimited and sells the bead jewelry she designs and creates at http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com

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