Need some tips for photographing jewellery

[enduro]

I've never shot jewellery but can say that almost always it is shot with a white background in a light box/tent. I would suggest that the greater amount of ambient light would increase the diffracted light through the stones and improve their appearance.

Larger images would be appropriate to invite more critiques.

[Charmed]

From someone who use to be in the direct selling game with jewellery, your best friends are

rolled up hand towel & upside down bowl.
Place these under a very large piece of valvete type material.

These were taken a fair while ago, but gives you some idea. (light is crap)

[enduro]

(light is crap)

You are right, they look terrible.

Have you got any inspirational ones to post?

[Charmed]

You are right, they look terrible.

Have you got any inspirational ones to post?

LOL nope these were taken when I got out of the game YEARS ago, & to get rid of the stock quick.
People just wanted to see what pieces I had left & saw a bargin. Didnt care on the quaility of the shot.
Had to go diggin in photobucket to reserect these gems

[bobt]

Here's a sample of the stuff I used to make and photograph - it shows up nicely on the black background I think.

[bobt]

Not sure that I agree entirely with the other posters as far as the black is concerned. I made and sold bridal headwear for a while and did my own images - and I often used black. Black can be quite striking and focus attention on the shining jewellery. I also used royal blue effectively.

The lighting can be pretty simple really as you should always use a tripod and you can adjust the white balance afterward s if needs be. I used a 50 mm lens effectively, but sometimes used others as well. DOF is very useful as you can uses it to effect to highlight a specific part of the item.

One alternative for some things can be using a scanner instread of a camera - it's very useful for coins in particular.