| Earrings are difficult to portray exactly as you would | | | | A small gauge of fishing line is one of the best friends |
| like in a photograph. They are small, requiring the | | | | for the photographer of inanimate objects. It is |
| camera to be rock steady as the photos are made, | | | | barely noticeable even in a macro shot, and it can be |
| and a shot with a camera that is not capable of | | | | removed completely via editing software. The trick |
| macro photography is usually a waste of time | | | | comes when trying to get dangling jewelry to remain |
| because there won't be enough detail. | | | | still for the photo. |
| Planning a shot for earring photography must be | | | | One way to have the jewelry turned the exact way |
| based on what a client wants to see. Photographers | | | | you want is by using a clean sheet of glass to back |
| and retailers often want the jewelry hanging from | | | | it. When the earrings are hung in the position desired, |
| the ear lobe of a model to give the relevance of size. | | | | a vertical pane of glass is clamped strategically in |
| This presents challenges to the photographer if a live | | | | place just touching the backside of the jewelry and |
| model is used. | | | | keeping it from turning and twisting. |
| The slight movement of a person's head will render a | | | | A backdrop of colored cloth can be suspended a |
| photograph useless, even if you plan to alter the final | | | | foot or so behind the glass to allow color. This has |
| picture using editing software. Even if you can | | | | your proposed shot in physical position for the |
| achieve correct lighting, exposure, and the earrings in | | | | photograph, but you will need to get your lighting |
| perfect position for the shot, movement will usually | | | | adjusted properly before pushing the shutter. The |
| necessitate more shots to be made than are | | | | glass behind the jewelry will make it very important |
| generally required. | | | | to have light coming directly from the sides to |
| A head bust is often used to give the approximate | | | | prevent a reflection. |
| size of the earring, and there is no attempt made to | | | | The usual front light might not work for this shot, so |
| make the bust appear real. This is mostly for a | | | | you will need to experiment to see if it can be |
| distant shot, and the main detailed photo is an inset. | | | | repositioned lower and not cause a glare. It will not |
| The two shot procedure usually saves time in the | | | | be possible to use flash on this picture, but if you |
| photography session. | | | | have taken many jewelry shots, you already know |
| Photographing earrings was once done by laying | | | | how to control aperture for this kind of photo. |
| them on a soft background and shooting down on | | | | When you have finished your shoot, you will feel |
| them. Although some photographers still attempt this, | | | | pleased with what you have accomplished for your |
| it is very hard to get proper lighting and produce the | | | | earrings photography if you follow the basic lighting |
| best results using this method. If the jewelry is the | | | | and exposure guidelines for this type of jewelry |
| hanging type, better photos are made if they can be | | | | photo. |
| suspended in some way. | | | | |