Grey Ghost

Get yourself an iPhone 11. It is capable of taking exceptional pictures and is easy to use.

Traveller_Jeff

You know, the smartest thing you did was to come to this site and seek help and support. How did you find out about Ugly Hedgehog?

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

I think the general trend of the answers is correct--just shoot, shoot, shoot... Turn the power on and set to either A or P. Don't forget to take the lens cap off (I'm not being condescending--many of us have failed that simple test). Then just point the camera at something and push the button.

At first I'd suggest just shooting anything--the view out your window, flowers, your house, your car and specially your jewelry. One of the biggest obstacles for many of us who started with film was learning that digital pictures don't cost anything so no matter how many mistakes you make you can just delete the ones you don't like.

Also, experiment by twisting the lens to change your magnification--you can see it right through the viewfinder. Take the same picture as maximum magnification and minimum and in the middle and compare.

Download the images to your computer so you can see what you are getting.

I think once you break the ice you'll find a great deal of fun and fulfillment in taking pictures and then you can start seriously taking pictures of your jewelry. Have fun!

ecurb Loc: Metro Chicago Area

As many responses have suggested, just set your camera to one of the automatic modes, A or P, and start shooting everything, to get comfortable using your camera. You can have so much fun, I envy your discoveries to come.😁
Once you become comfortable with your equipment, you may find the lens does not focus close enough to get a decent size image of your jewelry. Then I suggest you look for another lens, the Canon EFS 35mm f2.8 Macro.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

The dial on your camera has an a. Turn the dial to that a and then it's basically all automatic all you need to do then is focus take the picture, but there's more to photographing jewelry then the camera. To get detail you need to get a close to full size image a large enough to show detail that's where your lens comes in. If you don't have a macro lens then somewheres around a hundred mm would do it. But don't go by a lens. You probably have one that will work.

if there's a local camera store I would take my camera and lens or lenses with me and they would be more than glad or should be to help you and show you how to use it. There's also lots of videos online. You could also just try trial and error and see what works best. But don't be afraid of it you can't hurt it.

Here's a link on photographing jewelry if you need it.

https://picupmedia.com/jewelry-photography/

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Don't let covid 19 keep you locked up inside. You are actually safer outside. Just social distance and wear a mask.

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

Set the camera on auto “A” on the dial. Point and shoot

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Why don't you think about joining a local camera club. They can be very helpful and almost all their members are your age.

tnturk Loc: Gallatin Tennessee

Hey use felt or fleece for a background. Try shooting by a sunlit window. North facing is most forgiving. This isn’t going to stop you.YOU CAN DO THIS!

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

No need to fear, it can't hurt you. When I approach fear I think what's the worst possible thing that can happen. The worst thing in this case is you take a bad photo that you can erase.

You have already received lots of good, simple advice. The next step I've not seen answered is how do you plan to move the photos of jewelry to your computer to include in the online listing. When I post something online for sale I take photos with my cell phone and share to my computer using a web site called "dropbox". There are many others and I don't know what you have and are comfortable using. If you use your SL1 camera the photo files will be stored on a removable SD card which can be transferred to your computer if you have a SD card reader connected. Some may say you can transfer the photo files using wifi but I don'y know if you're comfortable with that process.

I suggest you find some friend or family locally to come over assess your computer configuration/software and determine what would be the easiest process for you whether you use your camera or cell phone.

In any event I hope you do start taking photos with your camera because it's a beautiful world around us.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

I sold cameras many years and we were always glad to show people how to use their equipment. If you can find a store near you (even a discount store), there is probably somebody who can help you get started. A few minutes should get you started--don't take all day. (Take a sample of jewelry with you, because that sort of photo is different from ordinary snapshots.)
Your camera is a good one, but because it is meant to cover all occasions, there are many things you can set--and if you don't set everything right, it won't work as expected. There are many settings that depend on the situation--for instance, pictures of jewelry for eBay are not hard at all, but they need a lens that can get closer than normal lenses (like yours), they need good light (like sun), and other considerations. There are dozens of mistakes, maybe hundreds, so it helps to have a helper at first.

However, any experienced camera hobbyist can show you what to do for a start. Once you see how to shoot jewelry, it will all (or almost all) be the same after that. At that point, you look in the camera to find your subject, and press the button when you see what you want in the picture.

For jewelry, you need to get close or it will be too small in the picture. They make lenses for that, but you can use your lens if you add a simple magnifier to the front of it--a store clerk will see what you need and they are not expensive. The flash on your camera is plenty of light for you, and you can use the automatic settings for the lighting and focusing, once somebody shows you how. You will also improve by experience--when I sell small things on eBay, I prefer to step out onto the patio where there is plenty of light, but you will see what you like best by experiments. Mistakes are free because you don't have to pay for more film or developing charges for negatives and prints.

Don't worry about whether you have the best camera or lens--once you see how to use yours, it will do very well indeed, and you may or may not want to use it for a diary of your life. If you do, you can still use the automatic settings all the time (leave them set)--just point and shoot. You will find out all the mistakes that can be made--so what? If something does not work, you can ask others how to solve the problem--live, or here. Most of us here can see what went wrong on any picture, such as not holding the camera still, or not enough light, or too far away (birds, etc.) But automatic settings cover a multitude of sins (not all). I have a Canon very much like yours, with your lens, and only later did I add other items I wanted--when I found out I wanted them. I have other cameras that are far more difficult to use than yours. Simple shots will be second nature very soon indeed. Cameras are much easier than driving a car--you don't have to use your feet, and almost never kill anybody.

srg

Also, in case you are anything like me, don't forget to take the lens cap off first.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

If you click "quote reply" as I did here, we can tell who you are speaking to.

eagle76sct Loc: 10930

Since you are a people person look around for a local camera club and see if there is someone in a club that has some time to help you and mentor you. Also on FB there are groups called meet up's look around for on's in your area. There might be a group in your area that is meeting virtually ( at least right now ) and can help. Don't give up. Practice practice practice. That's what they told me.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

Step one, set dial on top that has P, Tv, Av, M on it to P or since you are photographing jewelry, move it to the flower symbol. Turn the camera on, I'm not familiar with this camera exactly so I don't know how to tell you to turn on the flash, but turn on the flash unless you are photographing under bright lights or the sun, and start taking pictures. If you don't like, post pictures on forum and ask what to do to improve.