scooter1 wrote:
I have some loose diamonds I'm going to sell but when I photograph them they don't sparkle. When I look at them with the naked eye I see the sparkle but when I photograph them the photos are dull and boring. They don't show the sparkle. Does anyone here know what I can do to show these sparkling diamonds sparkle? I've tried under a bright light and with the flash but it still comes out dull. I put them on black velvet also but no luck.
What works for me:
1. I use at least 2 sources of constant on light, not flash. A main light and a fill.
Best position is from the sides and slightly high, not from the same direction as the camera.
2. Do not use too much light and burn highlight. It's better to use long exposure & tripod.
3. I look into live view and adjust items position. Use something to hold it in place or adjust light position to get the best sparkle.
4. I use a dedicated macro lens or a long lens (at least 140mm). This creates a flat image and predictable reflection/sparkle from the item.
5. Single point focus
6. Stacking focus to get more depth
7. Take as sharp as possible image. Sharpness & contrast creates the best sparkle.
8. Edit the photo. Get the best photo possible but also edit afterwards to make it pop even more.
Things to consider.
1. Clean the items before taking photo. Make it look its best. Is hard to edit dust & fingerprints out.
2. Be careful of reflections. Oftentimes you will see yourself or stuffs around you in the item and may need to be edited out.
3. The color of light and the background the the item is resting on will affect the reflections. A colored background may be used to enhance the stone, then edited out. Replace with black background.
4. Sharpness & Contrast does a lot to make a jewelry look awesome. Try to find the right balance of this in taking the picture and in editing.
5. If using a lightbox, try having one of the panels (the base or the back wall or front wall) provide some contrast.
6. Use Low ISO. Base ISO if possible.
Hope this helps.