A Few Thoughts on Jewelry Photography
The week leading up to a show, especially one that means so much to me like the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, is always a whirlwind. I'm trying to create as much fresh, new work as possible so I can bring my top-tier A game to the show. At the same time, I want to keep my far-flung audience in the loop by getting my newest pieces online, giving my collectors who can't attend a chance to see them and have first dibs.
If you've been following me for a while, you may have noticed that my product pages follow a photography formula I've developed over time. I take several images of each piece from different angles, include a model shot for scale and perspective, and, weather permitting, take at least one photo outside in natural light.
But let's address the elephant in the room: product photography.
I do edit my images, but my goal is always to make the photograph as close as possible to what my eye sees in person. Jewelry photography is a bit of a peculiar business. A close-up photograph can make a ring look as large as a computer monitor, when in reality it's sitting comfortably on your finger. And sometimes the camera reads a piece darker, lighter, more yellow, or more blue than it actually is.
My editing process includes removing dust or debris that wasn't visible when I set up the shot, and adjusting color while looking at the actual piece in front of me. I'm trying to get what I see on my monitor as close as possible to the real thing.
Of course, there's one thing I can't control: monitor calibration. All screens display color a little differently, so even with my best efforts, the colors you see on your screen may not be an exact match for the piece in person. I do everything I can to get them as close as possible, but there's a limit to what I can control once the image leaves my studio.
Thankfully, I hear quite often that people are pleasantly surprised when their jewelry arrives and looks even better in person. That's always wonderful to hear, and honestly, exactly the kind of surprise I hope for.
Some of you already know that I'm happy to take things a step further. If you're trying to decide between two pieces, feel free to text or email me and ask for a video. I'm always happy to grab the jewelry and run out into my yard for a quick video in natural light, especially if it helps you make up your mind.
I used to try to have a video of every piece on my website, but with so many one-of-a-kind pieces, keeping up with that became incredibly time-consuming and slowed down my site. So now, if you'd like a closer look at something, just ask. I'm happy to help!
I never want someone to open a package and feel disappointed because the piece doesn't look like the photographs. That would be the ultimate stab in the gut.
If you ever have a question about a piece that the photographs don't quite answer, please reach out. I'd much rather help you feel confident about a purchase than have you wonder. Whether it's a question about color, scale, or a particular detail, I'm happy to help.
And one more thing, because I think it's important:
I never use AI on my product images. Ever.
No generated jewelry, no digitally altered gemstones, no artificial embellishments. What you see is the actual piece I made, photographed and edited by me.
Just when I thought I was finished, I managed to photograph a few more pieces to add to my site. Now it’s time to tag everything and pack up for the show!
