#Jewellery Product Photography: Common Mistake and How to avoid them

[modellingagenciesmumbai-blog]

Get to know how to avoid common mistakes in

jewellery photography

and make your

jewellery product photos

shine in just 10 simple steps listed below.

When you are talking about jewellery, it’s all about the details. Beautiful, high quality photos to showcase these details are essential for a professional, consistent, and reputable site. True representation of your product is key important thing, because customers need to be able to learn as much about your product as they possibly can, before they can make a decision about whether or not to purchase it. With that in mind, let’s discuss how to avoid the ten most common snags that jewellery product photographers often fall into, while photographing their products.

1.   Unsystematic Preparation

Most imperfections and extraneous details can be removed from your product in post-production, that type of advanced editing is time-consuming and requires a fair amount of technical skill. Instead, remember to remove all tags, strings, and stickers from your product before you photograph it.

Next, you might want to inspect your product and repair any imperfections that you find; sometimes jewellery comes in missing stones or gems, and it can be a bummer not to notice those hand-fixable details until you pull up the image in Photoshop, because cloning isn’t as easy as it looks, and re-shooting requires time that could be spent elsewhere. After repairing damages, it’s time to give the product a thorough cleaning and dusting. Even the smallest spot of dust will be visible to viewers if you execute the photographs with the correct amount of sharpness, and in jewellery product photography, the shinier a product is, the better!

2.   Inconsistency

Inconsistency is never a good thing, even when it comes to jewellery images. When your images change too often in relation to your other product photos, the lack of consistency confuses and distracts customers, and lowers the professional appearance of your website and business. Instead of cropping and sizing each photo differently or varying other settings, such as lighting or background colors, you should create a “template” of guidelines to ensure that each image is taken and edited the same way.

For example: you don’t have to use a white background, although that’s what we recommend. What you need to do is choose one “style” for your jewellery photos and stick with it!

3. Busy Backgrounds

The best way to keep your images modest and clean in order to provide your customers with a unified shopping experience, is to photograph your products against a white background. Light background colors like white and grey will give your jewellery a “timeless” feel, and avoid possible distractions that might be brought on by a patterned backdrop. As mentioned earlier, you’ll need to pick a style and use only that style throughout your product images.

All three of these product image styles are appropriately clean and uncluttered. Choose one and go with it.

4.  Unnecessary Props

You won’t need to worry about locating props or mannequins or live models for your jewellery photography, because props tend only to distract from the product and spoil the “clean” and professional look you should be going for in your product photos. In fact, it’s actually best not to hang the jewellery from anything at all, but rather to lay it flat on the white backdrop.

Keep everything in the frame simple and clean so that your jewellery really shines. Here the mannequin is only a distraction, because it impedes the viewer’s ability to see the entire necklace.

“Light background colors like white and grey give jewellery a timeless feel and prevents distractions”.

5.  Inaccurate white balance

These two images have neither clean backgrounds nor appropriate white balance.

Believe it or not, the two images above portray the same exact necklace, but in different lighting states. The metal in the image on the left appears golden yellow, while the metal in the image on the right appears to be a gradient of colors with blue as the defining color. Had the photographer selected the proper white balance settings for each individual image, the colors would have been the same in both frames. You can set the white balance manually, but we recommend simply setting your camera to “automatic” white balance mode; this will allow your camera to recognize the type of light source (natural sunlight, light bulb, flash, etc.) and capture colors as close to how they actually appear in real life as possible.

The white balance menu in your camera usually looks something like this.

6.  Reflections

Let’s face it, jewellery is shiny, and while sparkle is great, camera lens reflections and white highlight spots visible on your jewellery is not. Take great care not to create these distractions on your jewellery while photographing them. If you’re having trouble with reflections, try changing the jewellery’s position, or yours, in relation to the light source. You will possibly need to zoom in to closely examine the product to ensure that you haven’t captured any reflections.

7.  Soft focus

Keep everything in focus by shooting with an aperture of f/11 or greater. In order to really capture your customers’ affections, your jewellery product images need to be as sharp and crisp as possible. The more “fall-off” or soft focus you have, the less the customer will be able to see your product, as shown in the two images below.

As you can see, the left image has a short depth of field and the focus “falls off” fairly fast, the further the product is to the camera. The image on the right keeps all of the product in relatively sharp focus, even the areas that are farthest away from the camera. Soft focus can be artsy, but in jewellery photography, it tends to fail because the human eye values sharpness above everything.

Create a “template” of guidelines to ensure that each image is taken and edited the same way.

8.  Contrast Light

Harsh lighting is a big mistake in jewellery product photography. Direct, “contrast” light is notorious for exposing imperfections in products, adding unbecoming shadows, creating unavoidable reflections, and other nuisances that may or may not be able to be fixed in post. Instead of dealing with harsh lighting, photograph your jewellery in soft, natural sunlight streaming in from a window or in soft, artificial studio lighting. As an added lighting side note, we recommend that you learn your camera’s manual mode, so that you are able to control how much or how little light your camera pulls in to make your pictures.

9.  Wishy-washy cropping and sizing

Remember when we mentioned consistency? It’s very important that you crop and size all of your jewellery product images in the same way. Multiple crops and sizes will only confuse customers and reduce the professional “look” of your website and offerings. Develop a template to help you crop and size with accuracy. Many online channels require certain web standards.

Try changing jewellery’s position, or yours, in relation to the light source if reflections appear.

10.  Some angles

As we’ve said before, your customers want and need to be able to see your product from all angles, as if they’re examining it and turning it over in their hands, while standing in a physical storefront. The more angles and images you create to endorse your product, the better is your sale. We recommend shooting at least a straight-on image from the front, an angled image from the front, a close-up detail shot and a top view, as shown above. There are many other angles that you could photograph—just remember to stay consistent! Embracing these principles in jewellery product photography, can really help boost the professional “look” of your website and hopefully, boost your product sales! We also assume that you start getting some great customer response about how your outstanding photos, improved their shopping experiences.

Image source: pixelz

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[eyemediastudios-blog]

Hiring a professional photographer for corporate headshots

Okay, granted, I'm a professional photographer. I am going to say why it is important to hire a professional photographer for corporate headshots. I know it sounds bias. However, allow me to explain the importance of professional headshots and what it means to you or your business.

      Maybe it is your competition?

Maybe it is a product you use or like? What's the photography like on their site? Odds are, if they're crushing it, then they've great photography on their website. Whether we like it or not, the pictures on web sites or our profile pages matters. People want to relate to the faces of the people they work with. As business increase their online presence, it becomes more important to add character to web sites. You need to show prospects who you are.

  What is the competition doing?

If others in your industry have pictures of themselves, so should you. If others in your industry don't, then you certainly should. This will be your chance to stand out from your competition!

  Quality Matters

People can tell the difference between a good or poor headshot. Hire someone competent to take your pictures. A professional photographer knows how to get the best lighting. What backgrounds to utilise, locations, branding, etc. Having inexpensive photography makes you seem like you do not care about how you portray yourself and your company.

      Quality AND Quantity

The number of quality pictures that you may get from a pro photoshoot will far exceed the one Okay one you may get in your garden with your friend taking your photos. 

  I hate having my photo taken!

Trust me. I completely get it! It is uncomfortable for me too. However, I still do it. I find someone I trust who's going to allow me to capture pictures that I am happy with. It is not painful, just uncomfortable. The investment will pay for itself with new jobs or job offers!

  Why Should I hire a pro photographer for corporate headshots?

  What are corporate headshots?

It's just a picture of you, right? Is it that important? Yes! It's important. Your headshot says a ton about you or your company without you ever opening your mouth or writing a phrase. When people look at your headshot, they are getting an idea about you. They see your look, brand, age, style, and professionalism. Some of your character also comes out in your corporate headshot. Yes, your headshot says a good deal about you.

      As you are planning your corporate headshot, you must choose what is important. Let us take a look!

  Your Face

Your face has to be in the shot. But be careful with how you present yourself. A lot could be said about you by how you look. If you are planning for a corporate shoot, then you probably work in some professional industry. For instance, an overgrown beard on an attorney doesn't exactly show attention to details. Your clients are searching for someone that does not cut corners.

You would like to present your best self, but you do not need to overdo it either. For instance, many women might choose to opt-in for a pro-make-up artist for the shoot. But you must look like yourself in the photo. Ask your make-up artist for a flattering, natural look that will not leave people wondering if you are the same person when they see you.

  Your Hair

For corporate headshots, you do not need crazy hairstyles. It's best to help keep your hair away from your face.

But do not go crazy with the style. Headshot day isn't the time of experimentation. You need prospects to see the real you. Try to keep it straight back and out of your face.

  Your Clothes

What you wear is also an integral part of the impression that the photo will make. For corporate headshots, you generally need to stay in neutral colours. If you would like to wear a print, it ought to be low key.

The concept isn't to take the attention away from the face. In the same vein, big flashy jewellery is not the best idea either. Also, the style of your clothing needs to be by whatever work you do. The psychologist wearing a loud Hawaiian print does not convey the reassuring calmness that you need to exhibit.

      Pick a Pro

The right photographer will know how to use light and their experience to show the best side of you. They'll aim for getting the correct expression on your face which will communicate a little about you as well. Looking to go beyond only a headshot? For many businesses, a corporate headshot is a requirement of the executives and also the workers. These pictures are used on company web sites, business cards and promotional materials.

  This usually implies that many individuals are going to see your photograph, and it might not be presenting you in the manner which you feel attractive. Lots of people don't like having their photo taken anyhow, and once it is picture day at the workplace, they dread it. The most typical complaints are that headshots are too generic and unattractive. Well, with these five basic suggestions, your corporate pictures can go from just ok to wow!

  1: Avoid office lighting

Most corporate headshots are taken in a workplace location, where the light is a combination of ambient and fluorescent.

Both of these types of lighting are unflattering. Arrange to have your pictures taken outside, or inside a room with lots of natural light. Even when your photographer brings extra lights, mixing those with natural light is preferable to office lighting.

      2: Schedule your pictures in the afternoon

People rarely look their very best in the morning, especially when they've only arrived in the office and have had their coffee break nevertheless! The optimum time of day to book your photo session is right after lunch. Having a corporate headshot session can be stressful for many individuals.

To lower anxiety, plan for the pictures to be done when everybody had a little time to unwind, to relax and also to get ready to have their photo taken.

  3: Allow lots of time

A common mistake would be to schedule for about five minutes per person. In most situations, it is far better to schedule for 10-fifteen minutes for group or every person. If workers feel hurried and the photographer is feeling rushed, that is going to show in the pictures, especially in people's facial expressions. It can take some time for individuals to unwind and look natural in front of a camera. It is worth scheduling time for it to happen. Remember, these pictures are a representation of your business. Therefore it is essential that everybody looks happy to be there!.

  4: Give people some privacy

If somebody is already feeling stressed about having their picture taken. It is going to be much more strenuous for them if their co-workers are looking at them. Organise to have everyone go in the session one at a time or one group at a time. And whether it is outdoor or indoor, choose a location that is enclosed or personal, away from onlookers.

    5: For company pictures, avoid generic backdrops

In case the tone of one's business is friendly and personable, your pictures should reflect that. Rather than one dull background for everybody's image, have your photographer take photographs of individuals at their work areas, or outdoors or in front of the company logo.

In case your business is youthful and creative, so be creative with your headshots. Have pictures of your workers holding your company goods, or holding something up that represents their job ability or their personality. Fun, attractive shots of the employees and executives of a company, can make all the difference. The power of vision is observed in the present business environment with a prominent emphasis being put on social networking and web sites for image sharing. The social networking or site image is regarded as a profound influence on the state of mind of existing as well as potential clients.

  Please get in touch with us if you are looking to book a corporate headshot of yourself or business.

[jeremystrele]

Does It Spark Joy? Inspired Storage Ideas From Five Great Australian Designers

Does It Spark Joy? Inspired Storage Ideas From Five Great Australian Designers

Interiors

by Miriam McGarry

In this project by Sisällä, the in-built cabinetry slides open on both sides, to reveal a hidden TV behind the bookshelves, and a door though to the guest room beyond! Photo – Tess Kelly.

Interior by Lauren Li of Sisalla. Lauren highlights, ‘My number one storage tip is to start with the entry. When everything has its place where the family enters, the whole house runs smoothly.’ Photo – Tess Kelly.

Lauren recommends storage that has a mix of open and closed compartments incorporated in the design, such as the String System from Great Dane, as seen in Derek Swalwell’s house, captured by Eve Wilson.

‘Built-in storage in kids spaces is so valuable. It can be customized to fit specific school bags, sports bags and library bags. Shoes are stored, ipads charged and notices are noticed’ says Lauren. Photo – Tess Kelly.

Where built-in isn’t an option, a few key pieces can serve a function and still look great. A bench seat, hooks, mirror and a console for keys and to store mail means that the space works and you’ll never lose the keys again. Photo – Tatjana Plitt.

Lauren Li of interior design and decoration firm Sisällä guides us through her strategies for keeping and displaying sentimental items, and using beloved objects as forms of decoration.

Hey Lauren! What is your take on the Marie Kondo craze?

My take away after delving into the Konmari method is, don’t be too hard on yourself or you may live to regret it! Hold onto sentimental things that hold special memories, and instead of throwing them out, move them to a new spot in the house. Those pieces that ‘sparked joy’ when you first laid eyes on them may look a bit tired now, but just store them and bring them out in six months. You’ll feel that spark again and be so thankful you still have it.

Don’t go too extreme. For me, the most depressing thing about ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’ is that an absolutely bare room is celebrated. No-one should live in a house so minimal that the rooms have absolutely no furniture or artwork (what is the purpose of an empty room?). In the process of throwing everything out, the soul of the space is thrown out too.

What’s your advice on storage solutions?

When storing sentimental pieces, keep a combination of closed and open storage. Pieces like vases, candles, ceramics and décor objects can be shown on display on open shelving and occasionally refreshed and swapped out with other pieces stored in cupboards.

Where built-in isn’t an option, a few key pieces can serve a function and still look great. A bench seat, hooks, mirror and a console for keys and to store mail means that the space works and you’ll never lose the keys again. Shelving that has closed storage incorporated in the design is perfect, such as the String System from Great Dane.

MLB residence by Mim Design, with storage under the stairs and concealed cocktail cabinet. Photo – Sharyn Cairns.

Exemplary cellar storage in Mim Design‘s NNH Residence. Photo – Peter Clarke.

Walk in robe designed by Mim Design. Photo – Sharyn Cairns.

MLB residence by Mim Design, with storage behind fireplace for TV, games and technology. Photo – Sharyn Cairns.

Award-winning Melbourne-based interiors practice Mim Design offers direct and succinct storage advice – very Marie Kondo!

What are your top tips on culling?

My top tips are only; keep what you love, and, if you haven’t worn or used an item in the last 12 months, it’s time to cull.

What favourite storage solutions do you turn to time and time again?

There are so many great storage solutions suited for different purposes: I use Blum storage for kitchen cupboards and joinery, Howards storage for make-up and jewellery and Metro storage systems for the garage and store rooms.

Details of the Bilgola House by Louella Boitel-Gill.

Storage design in the Bilgola House by Louella Boitel-Gill.

Louella Boitel-Gill (formerly Louella Tuckey) is a brilliant interior designer and stylist whose stunning Bilgola House renovation caught our eye recently on instagram!  She offers some solutions for keeping items you love, while avoiding clutter.

Hey Louella! What is your take on the Marie Kondo craze?

A tidy house is an easy house to read, and when you can read a space easily it has a calming effect on you. Marie Kondo is spot on! In saying that, I’m a magpie and I struggle with letting go of things!

My trick is to rotate things and to group things clearly. I block things into groups of colour and texture. I have shelves with groups of bits and bobs in whites, wood, orange for example. If I group them together it simplifies what you’re reading when you scan the space. It’s easier on the eye, and the brain.

When I worked in London for Terence Conran I remember his wise words, which were that if you want to organise a space, take everything out, and only put back what you really want/need.

What’s your advice on choosing storage solutions?

I love a good set of pigeon holes – they create order and structure. You can store and display things at the same time with a calm sense of order.

I also love the Spencer 2 Drawer cabinets from Officeworks in white. You can line them up along a shelf from easy filing!

This inspired shelving display at Flack Studio’s Fitzroy HQ is designed to keep the team inspired!  It showcases a constantly rotating edit of favourite magazines, imagery, materials and textures inspiring the studio’s current projects.

As with every Flack studio project, The Malvern House project features distinctive bespoke cabinetry, with a mix of open and closed shelving for storage and display. Photography – Sharyn Cairns, Styling – Marsha Golemac.

Bespoke cabinetry in The Malvern House project by Flack Studio. Photography – Sharyn Cairns, Styling – Marsha Golemac.

Bendigo home by Flack Studio, utilising the sleek USM from Anibou storage unit. Photo – Brooke Holm, Styling – Styling – Marsha Golemac.

Melbourne’s Flack studio are not known for their minimalist aesthetic, self identifying as ‘equal parts Gio Ponti and Vincent Van Duysen with a dash of Dame Edna…’! So it is refreshing to hear how a maximalist vibe can respond to the minimalist trend!

Hey David, what is your take on the Marie Kondo craze?

Firstly it’s important to remember it’s a craze. I’m a maximalist at heart – but I agree with the sentiment of only purchasing things of joy. The common mistake I witness when people are either setting up new homes or renovating – they want it to be perfect straight away, we always recommend layering a home slowly and through consideration.

Rather than thinking ‘will it bring me joy?’ – I ask clients to think about whether they will still love it in years to come – this will prevent costly mistakes and landfill.

Can you recommend a favourite storage product?

We love designing custom joinery – however when we specify furniture we can’t go past USM from Anibou or Vitsoe shelving units.

Sleek cabinetry  brings a contemporary edge to this heritage designed by Carole Whiting. Photo – Jack Shelton.

Carole Whiting explains. ‘I often conceal joinery – or give it a double use – for example a dividing wall that doubles as a pantry. The door handles are also hooks which help conceal the fact that it is essentially a cupboard.’ Photo – Jack Shelton.

Clever storage solutions abound in the compact O’Grady House by Whiting Architects and Carole Whiting Interior Design. Photo – Sharyn Cairns. Styling – Carole Whiting.

Storage solutions in the O’Grady House by Whiting Architects and Carole Whiting Interior Design. Photo – Sharyn Cairns. Styling – Carole Whiting.

Carole Whiting Interiors and Design is a Melbourne based multi-disciplinary firm, with a particular knack for designing beautiful custom cabinetry, and squeezing the most out of a small space (remember this exquisite house?). Carole takes us through her strategies for keeping clutter to a minimum.

What are your top tips on culling?

It’s great to have a cull every year or two. But even better to stop buying things that you don’t need.
 Don’t buy ugly!  By that I mean, think about what you’re purchasing. If you are buying something – anything from a dress to a pair of scissors – think carefully first. If you have beautiful things, you are more likely to look after them, and love them for longer.

Can you offer advice on storage solutions?

Think about your storage needs. If you have the correct space for things, its much easier to be tidy. There needs to be a space specifically for each item. Give yourself some hanging space in your laundry for underwear or shirts to hang on a rainy day. 
Design it so you either don’t see it or it adds to the aesthetic of the space.

On the flip side – I usually give my clients a cupboard or drawer for the ‘I don’t know what to do with this’ things. We all have them – string, old keys, pens etc. BUT clean it out regularly. It’s a space for shoving things when
 you need a quick tidy up, but don’t let it get out of hand.