When one of our client’s ask me to shoot  several bracelets, it looked like an easy task, at first.  But when we started to talk about technical requirements, the  photo session become more challenging than I was thinking…

First, he wants a spot-like gradient background, from deep purple to a complete black.
Second, bracelets must be shoot in frontal position, not a simple from-top shoot. Saying that they also mentioned that full bracelet must have as maximum details as possible.

So, how to get the first task done? Hang bracelet on a tiny fishing lines and project a a spot on a dark background? Master background digitally, after the shoot? I am not a big fun of such massive digital post processing, especially when I shoot for a catalog,  hundred of pieces. Same dislike of a complicated to repeat setups because of product’s quantity.

What I did is this: 2 light sources ( Paul. C Buff  monolights) , one mirror and one white paper background on   rails. Plus, unfortunately, one photoshop task for a post production, you’ll see later what I mean.

The setup, was simple: Jewelry was placed on a mirror positioned so it was reflecting a white paper backdrop  when looked from a camera’s angle. However, backdrop was black, as no other light source was pointed on a backdrop.  Narrow rectangular softbox was placed directly on top of the jewelry, so no lights was escaping on a backdrop behind.
Now only spot (honeycomb attachment was used)  needs to be pointed to appropriate place on a backdrop to create a nice gradient.
The same but in drawing:

Lighting schema for jewelry photography

Continue reading Photographing jewelry: the lighting setup, tips and tricks plus bonus video