If you're passionate about jewelry and love capturing its beauty in the great outdoors, you've come to the right place. Whether you're a professional photographer or just starting, taking stunning photos of jewelry can be a challenge. In this blog post, Senyda will share 5 tips for stunning outdoor jewelry photography that will make your jewelry pop.
1. Outdoor jewelry photography: Utilizing soft outdoor natural light
In comparison to artificial studio lighting, natural light often introduces enchanting effects, such as soft illumination and sparkling highlights, bringing your jewelry to life in photographs.
- Seek locations where the sun is partially concealed behind clouds for gentle natural light, avoiding excessive glare.
- Experiment with capturing photos under the shade of trees to enjoy soft light without direct sunlight, creating a gentle ambiance.
- Schedule your photography sessions during the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not too intense, providing optimal conditions for jewelry photography.
Having a clear understanding of how to leverage natural light is a crucial key to capturing enchanting outdoor jewelry photos. You can modify shooting angles and experiment with various compositions to craft unique and compelling narratives in each photograph.
Utilizing soft outdoor natural light.
2. Outdoor jewelry photography: Tips for using backlighting
Backlighting is a photography technique that uses light from behind the subject to create a dramatic effect. It can be used to highlight the details of jewelry, create a sense of depth, or add a touch of mystery to your photos.
Tips for using backlighting.
Use backlighting to create a sparkle:
Backlighting can help to highlight the sparkle of diamonds, gemstones, and other reflective materials. To do this, place your subject in front of a bright light source.
Use backlighting to create depth:
Backlighting can help to create depth in your photos by creating shadows. To do this, place your subject in front of a light source, but not directly in front of it.
Use backlighting to create mystery:
Backlighting can add a touch of mystery to your photos by creating silhouettes. To do this, place your subject in front of a light source, and then turn off the lights behind your camera.
3. Finding a beautiful and suitable background
The background plays a crucial role in shaping the overall composition of a photograph. When it comes to outdoor jewelry photography, a beautiful and fitting background can enhance the prominence of the subject, resulting in captivating and eye-catching images. Here are some tips:
- Explore natural settings such as grassy fields, foliage, or under the canopy of trees to serve as your background. This approach creates a space closely connected to nature, making the jewelry appear natural and stand out.
- Opt for a background with neutral colors and minimal details to allow the subject to take center stage. Contrasting or complementary background colors can also create a powerful visual impact.
- Ensure that the background is evenly illuminated, avoiding situations with overly dark shadows or excessively bright spots.
Most importantly, don't hesitate to experiment with various types of backgrounds to discover the perfect combination that complements your jewelry.
Finding a beautiful and suitable background.
4. Capturing jewelry with a model
Capturing jewelry with a model is a photographic technique that demands skill and creativity to showcase the beauty of the jewelry and the allure of the model. Below are some tips:
- Close-up shots of the jewelry allow you to explore every intricate detail of the piece. You can capture images of the model's hand delicately holding a piece of jewelry or focus on the neck as the model adorns a necklace.
- Action shots of the model wearing the jewelry inject vitality into the photograph. Whether it's capturing the model walking, running, or even sitting down, these images bring dynamism to the overall composition.
Note that the choice of clothing and accessories should harmonize with each other and accentuate the beauty of the jewelry. The backdrop also needs to create contrast with both the jewelry and the model to achieve maximum visual impact.
Capturing jewelry with a model.
5. Choosing frames and layout
Frames and layout are crucial elements contributing to the creation of a beautiful and impressive jewelry photograph.
When capturing outdoor jewelry photos, selecting a frame that suits the subject and the style of the photo is essential. For instance, if you aim to capture jewelry with a classic touch, you might opt for a square or rectangular frame. On the other hand, if you're going for a modern style, a circular or oval frame could be more fitting.
Layout refers to how elements are arranged within the photograph. You can explore and apply various popular layout techniques, such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry, and balance, foreground and depth, etc.
With these five tips for taking stunning outdoor jewelry photography, you'll be well on your way to creating images that will make your jewelry pop. Remember to experiment with different techniques and find what works best for you. And most importantly, have fun!